Multiple Water Dishes Go Dry Quickly

[TayHuck]

I have purchased 4 different water dishes that have all gone dry overnight or within a few days, like they have a slow leak. I bought one shaped like a leaf. Dry the next day. Brought it back got another of the same type, dry the next day. Bought a small rock looking one, dry within a day maybe two or three days at most. Bought a small shallow pink dish of a whole new material, put it in two days ago, and just noticed it's dry!

There's no way my juvenile Suntiger is drinking it all. What's happening to drain the water? I have a hard time believing I've purchased literally 4 different water dishes that have all had holes in them. Is it possible somehow substrate is sucking out water?

 

[DeanoMolly]

Mate I've had this same problem, with numerous dishes, I was topping up daily and one day realised my substrate was wrecked! Iv changed my t's into a new substrate and taken to putting big balls in the water, hoping that I don't have to keep refilling them EVERY day!! This as worked so far, but bug balls are useless, so more a trailed tactic then a solution!

 

[Enn49]

I've had the same problem but one thing I have discovered is if the T gets a bit of substrate over the side of the bowl it will act like a syphon and empty the bowl quickly. I bought quite a lot of those micro bowls for my slings and have had a few of them empty mysteriously overnight.

 

[TayHuck]

I pulled the water dishes out and filled them with water on the counter. They don't empty overnight, so something is drawing the water out. Quite a mystery...I've had this problem in multiple tanks so this has to be a common issue.

 

[TayHuck]

Mate I've had this same problem, with numerous dishes, I was topping up daily and one day realised my substrate was wrecked! Iv changed my t's into a new substrate and taken to putting big balls in the water, hoping that I don't have to keep refilling them EVERY day!! This as worked so far, but bug balls are useless, so more a trailed tactic then a solution!

I'll try a new substrate possibly, maybe put some rocks underneath...

 

[Denny Dee]

Are you using moss around the dish? I found that even one thread touching the water will drain the entire dish quickly.

 

[RedCapTrio]

Wicking by capillary action, just like Denny Dee stated.

 

[Bubbles]

I still have cotton wool in bubbles dish he is 3"is this wrong?

 

[Enn49]

I still have cotton wool in bubbles dish he is 3"is this wrong?

There is no need to put anything in a Ts water bowl, they won't drown and cotton wool. sponges etc. can harbour bacteria.

 

[Enn49]

I still have cotton wool in bubbles dish he is 3"is this wrong?

There is no need to put anything in a Ts water bowl, they won't drown and cotton wool. sponges etc. can harbour bacteria.

 

[Bubbles]

Oh ok thanks Enn I'll change that immediately

 

[Arachnoclown]

When your water dish empties moments after filling it , is a sign that it's time to remove it and wash it out. The slightest string of webbing will siphon out all the water in the dish as well as any substrate or moss close by. I set some of my more troublesome water dishes on a little fish gravel. This seams to help some.

 

[Dave Jay]

Agree 100%, definitely wicking out. As stated, one tiny thread of web or substrate and it will drain overnight. I lost a sling because of this, the substrate was near saturation point and I hadn't noticed, it was on the same food/water schedule as 20 of the same species. Apart from vigilance and washing the dishes each time, or at least wiping the sides both inside and out you can place the dish on something solid, an upside down dish of the same sort is perfect.

 

[RonC]

Don't try to recess the water dish into the coco fiber. Spiders can climb .

 

[Dave Jay]

Don't try to recess the water dish into the coco fiber. Spiders can climb .

So true, I didn't even think to say that! It might be why this problem is so commonly asked.

 

[RonC]

So true, I didn't even think to say that! It might be why this problem is so commonly asked.

I've been watering my small slings using small blister packs I cut apart.. If they get any coco strands in them the water is literally gone in minutes. Ordered some Lego pieces. They will fit in the corners too.
.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Tattoo ink cups...you can get a 100 for one dollar.

 

[Dave Jay]

Tattoo ink cups...you can get a 100 for one dollar. View attachment 34107

Thanks for the tip, I've been buying end caps/hole plugs in bulk from eBay but they aren't as cheap as that.

 

[RonC]

Just got my Lego pieces. The 2x2 square blocks fit the corner of the sling enclosures well. They are 16mm or 5/8 inch square. Have a little plastic piece in the middle for people worrying about drowning. They are a little tall so I did have to partly recess them a little into the sub. The tattoo ink cups are a great idea too. Tried the water bottle caps but it was too big for these small 2 inch(50mm) enclosures.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Personally I use milk jug caps...my slings all get swimming pools.