Evaporation in a small pond

[420benz]

Pond is 13" x 4ft x 20" dp. 600 Gal. Water Temp 45Deg. Air Temp for the past 3 day's was 55 Deg. In two days the pond went down 1/2". Is this about right or do i have a leak? One waterfall running 24/7

 

[Mmathis]

Do you see water or wet spots that might indicate water was being channeled?

What has your trend been so far since having this pond? Is this the first time you’ve noticed a decrease?

Chances are,you’re fine, but keep an eye on it. Monitor trends.

 

[420benz]

I am trying to raise the water level. So i added water until i found the lowest point in the pond. After the water leveled off i took photos of the water level on the stones. In two days the water dropped 1/2". I hoped it was only evaporation. Is that possible?

 

[Stephen Noble]

Check hose fittings to be sure there are no leaks. Ponds can easily lose 1/2 inch of water on windy and sunny days.

 

[420benz]

OK Thanks

 

[Mmathis]

I am trying to raise the water level. So i added water until i found the lowest point in the pond. After the water leveled off i took photos of the water level on the stones. In two days the water dropped 1/2". I hoped it was only evaporation. Is that possible?

Yes, it’s possible, and a small pond will show it faster than a larger pond.

Not sure what you meant “I added water until I found the lowest point in the pond.”

Taking pics is a good way to keep up with it — it’s easy to compare them. Maybe note on your pics the date and weather conditions at the time.

 

[420benz]

I added water to see where the lowest part of the pond was. So I built up that area so I could rarai the pond depth. I took photos and in 3 days it droped 1/2".No overflow was found.

 

[Stephen Noble]

A 1/2 inch drop in three days would not concern me. Seems very normal. I get that with my ponds. Especially if it is windy.

 

[420benz]

OK Thanks I guess i don't have a leak.

 

[420benz]

Just an idea. Is there a way to keep the water level at the same level using some kind of device similer to the one used in a skimmer?

 

[Stephen Noble]

Just an idea. Is there a way to keep the water level at the same level using some kind of device similer to the one used in a skimmer?

I have never used one. Below is perhaps what you are asking about.
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+10124+9495&pcatid=9495
I think this might be a good solution if you are going to be out of town in the summer but really, just checking things daily and topping off as needed is best.

 

[420benz]

Great thanks

 

[Linus_Cello]

Do you have frogs? I thought I had a leak. Turned off the pump and added about 50 gallons. A couple days later the water level went down and added another 50 gallons. The water level has been stable last couple of days and there hasn’t been rain.

In the past week Its gotten warm and I noticed the frogs are more active. I thinks the frogs emerging from hibernation from the bottom of my pond, plus the activity of jumping in and out of the pond (splashing) has lead to the water level going down. The pond is covered with netting so a large animal is not responsible.

 

[Lisak1]

I thinks the frogs emerging from hibernation from the bottom of my pond, plus the activity of jumping in and out of the pond (splashing) has lead to the water level going down.

Frogs? Just how many frogs do you have? I don't think a few frogs jumping in and out of your pond would make much of a difference... unless we're talking about a very tiny pond.

 

[420benz]

I don’t have any Frogs.

 

[Michael from Daytona]

Evaporation is technically one form of "leak." Rates of evaporation depend on several factors. I live in central Florida where my two waterfall-connected 600 gal ponds can develop temperatures in the high 80s (F), which accelerates evaporation to the point where I can lose about an inch of water a day in my 28" deep koi ponds. Relative humidity is another factor. Evaporation is accelerated by low humidity (not a problem here). Surface area is another factor. Smaller, deeper ponds allow less evaporation than wider, shallower ponds. Atomization of water, such as occurs with a waterfall feature, spitter or fountain, creates increased surface area at the interface between water droplets and air and accelerates evaporation. Low barometric pressure increases evaporation rates. Finally, as one reader suggested, wind is a significant contributing factor to evaporation loss.

Ways to retard evaporation include providing pond-side shade plants to keep the sun off the water surface, or utilizing space-occupying semi-submerged plants right in the pond, such as water lilies or water lettuce. Landscaping with dense hedges pond-side can help reduce wind across the pond surface as well.

You can determine how much your waterfall contributes to evaporation by turning off the waterfall for a day and comparing water loss rates. Waterfalls can also lose water in varying amounts at the edges of the feature where splash can go right out of the pond. As you implied, running a waterfall 24/7 can make even a small amount of splash cause a measurable drop in water level over time.

Depending upon the season, I can pretty much predict my evaporation rates. Right now, with the "cool" season upon us, rainfall has been just about offsetting evaporation loss. I don't have access to an irrigation well and for a year had to rely upon city tap water to refill the ponds, and therefore had to pay close attention to chloramine levels so as not to kill my fish (scary to think that the water we're expected to drink will kill fish). So I invested in a rainwater collection system and so far have six connected 55-gallon barrels of additive-free water to top off the ponds.

Good luck with your pond! It looks great.

 

[gwbasley]

We live in Florida and it tends to be very dry in the winter and much warmer than your weather in Georgia. We commonly will add 2 to 3 inches weekly strictly due to evaporation. Our 2 waterfalls probably add to this. During rainy periods, (most of the summer down here), the pond will reach it's overflow run off and we seldom have to add any water.

At one point we developed a leak and the water would drop significantly overnight, (which was how we located the hole and repaired it). I am not suggesting that you ingore it completely, but it seems like normal evaporation.

 

[bggenie]

Here's a thought.... thirsty animals. I have had my pond (3' x 4' x 3 feet deep) go down by 10" overnight when the deer came for drinks!

 

[gwbasley]

However the water loss is occurring, other than a mechanical problem, here is how we solved it so that it takes care of itself.

I rigged up some "works" from a toilet tank using a planting pot, a refrigerator icemaker kit and a few hose and tubing adapters. I then permanently submerged it to a point where it shuts off when the pond reaches it fullest level. I ran the tubing to a hose bib on my irrigation pump and just leave it on. Now, whenever my pond drops by about 2" it automatically comes on and brings it up to full again. An added plus is that I can hear when my pump is pulsing and thereby know when the pond is filling.

 

[poconojoe]

Automatic valves for topping off your water are great if your home's water isn't chlorinated.
I would be careful that such a valve doesn't jamb and cause the water to run constantly. That would be a waste and strain your well pump.