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It seems that some toxins would go with the vapor but I dont know for sure. Do you know?

I'm thinking alot of trace elements gets left over. Thanks for asking this because I have been wondering this myself! I try not leave the lid open because I was haveing a good amount of evaporation going on but would just top it off every couple of day. Then I was thinking this may not be good and started keepin the glass lid shut.

No, only pure water evaporates. The toxins (as well as many other things, GH, KH, etc) remain in the water. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to perform water changes.

Nope, which is why water changes, not just topping off your tank is very important. As the water evaporates it leaves behind everything, which will build up to higher and higher concentrations (think of the dead sea ).

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Unless you live next door to a toxic dump site I don't believe "toxic" waste is a factor in your tank...

Keep in mind the same water you pour in your tank is the same water you drink.

--garyroland.

Water evaporates quite readily compared to stuff like nitrate. Unless you've got alcohol in the tank or something, it's not likely anything else is gonna evaporate.:%)

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I think you might consider defining "Toxins"

My understanding is that only moisture evaporates there are many examples of that. The gasses in water rise and are released into the air but they can be syphoned off.

Keith

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Every element known to man has the potential to gain gaseous state. The difference is the temperatures at which different things vapourise. In the case of your tank, which will be sub 40degC, the majority of vaporisation and evapouration will be of water. Certainly, there will be other substances leaving the tank through evapouration, but in the majority it will be water.

You really do have to be more clear about toxins, as well. Don't forget that every compound or chemical has a different vapour point, and this will effect the amount and what is leaving the tank though evapouration. It is generally safest to assume that is the substance you added can exist as a crystal (solid) at romm temp, then it will not evapourate from the tank, and will need to be removed in aqueous solution. That is, you will need to take water out of the tank to reduce the concentration of most chemicals that adversley effect our fish.