Maximum safe temperature

Fishamatank · 11/29/2009, 01:55 PM

What is the maximum temperature for a mixed reef tank, and what are the consequences of the water getting warmer than that?

I was using a gen-x pump for my skimmer and it made waaaay too much noise, so I changed it to a Blue Line Velocity pump and it's added about 4 degrees to my water temperature, I was seeing a max of 82 towards the end of the photo-period, now it's hitting 86. So far no apparent signs of stress from any of the inhabitants, but I know I've got to be pushing it. I really didn't want to mess with a chiller.....

dstacy · 11/29/2009, 02:13 PM

yeah 86 is pretty high, if you could get it back down to around 82 that would be best; i like to keep it around 76-78 and it peaks around 80 during the day. Chiller may not be necessary. I installed a simple computer fan into my hood. Hooked it up to a dimmer switch so I can control the air flow across the surface of the water. More often than not blowing air with a simple fan across the surface is surprisingly enough to control or at least limit temperature rise.

Logzor · 11/29/2009, 02:21 PM

I would try to not let it pass 86 degrees. My tank, as well as many others, have gone this high without any problems. Beyond that, I have no idea, I suspect 87+ would cause serious issues.

Hook up a nice Vornado fan to your system, they are compact and extremely powerful.

Fishamatank · 11/29/2009, 02:42 PM

Should the fan blow directly across the surface of the water? I guess you build some kind of a little stand on the edge for the edge of the tank?

cloak · 11/29/2009, 03:11 PM

My tanks seem to roam anywhere from 75-86 throughout the year. 86 is high, but it took all day to reach that level. I've never experienced any problems with that regimen. Sort of a slow burn if you know what I mean.

gtaylor67 · 11/29/2009, 08:33 PM

Just FWIW, I would check some of your other equipment that maybe putting off some heat somewhere else in the tank.. I had a heater that would hang every few weeks or so till I found it on at 86 myself one day.. Other wise a extra fan should do the trick unless you have a few already. Also if running a sump you could run it across the top of it to help out too... Good luck I've never found a cheap chiller...

boogaman · 11/29/2009, 08:37 PM

I had a blueline pump and it made my water tems very hot as well. I just keep it as an emergency pump for now.

Fishamatank · 11/29/2009, 08:46 PM

I'm not running any fans right now. I am going to run a 6" clip on fan on the sump and see what that does. Rigging up a fan on the pump might help too, it is pretty warm to the touch. I thought blueline was supposed to be comparable to iwaki, but I guess not. It is nearly silent though.

am3gross · 11/29/2009, 08:54 PM

yeah i have 3 of the clip on fans in my canopy and it does really well getting the heat out of the canopy... if it is for sure the pump theni think i would switch out the pump... but that is just me.

HUNGER · 11/29/2009, 08:56 PM

i would just keep it steady as posable

danceswithfish · 11/30/2009, 12:50 AM

86 might be ok but the problem is you have less room before you get to temp that is dangerous for your critters. Also at that temp you are going to have a much larger temp swing if the heat source stops.

Fans can go a long way in reducing your temp. Evaporation equals cooler water.

Eric45 · 11/30/2009, 01:19 PM

86 degrees is fine if you want your corals to bleach out. That's what happpened to me when I discovered my coralife thermometer was 5 to 6 degrees off. I had been keeping the temp at a steady 79 until I realized it was only reading 79, the actual temp, based on two other thermometers was 85-86. I only noticed the problem when my cynarina, trachys and acros started bleaching for no apparent reason. Also my gonio stopped opening as did my acans. 86 is too high.

baja_01 · 11/30/2009, 01:27 PM

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=GroundTemp

Best investment I made for my tank. Dont have to worry about heaters getting stuck and it minimizes the evap from fan cooling.

Names Brucey · 11/30/2009, 02:23 PM

Couldn't you just use a RKL or similar and program it for less money? I don't have one personally but am looking into the RKL for this as well as other reasons.

Fishamatank · 11/30/2009, 07:31 PM

That's half of the cost of a chiller to control fans??? I would much rather just buy a chiller than spend that much on a controller.

Reefobsession · 11/30/2009, 08:42 PM

Do you have a canopy? I would take it off if you do. You really shouldn't have it get past 82. Mine gets up to 81. I am thinking about getting a chiller. If I were you, I would get a chiller. Worth the $300 to $400.

Fishamatank · 11/30/2009, 08:43 PM

No canopy. I added a small radio shack computer fan to the sump, and ordered a 6" clip on fan. We'll see how that goes, if it doesn't work maybe a chiller is in order....

littlebigaj · 11/30/2009, 08:57 PM

I wouldn't mess around with temperature. I made that mistake not long ago and I saw what seemed like overnight damage to some of my corals, not a fun thing. Some of them are still recovering from it. My problem was the opposite though, I let the tank get way too cold.

A clip on fan could be the difference of a few degrees temperature though, i think you'll be in good shape once you get your fans. Just make sure you blow it across the surface of your water and not the bulbs/fixture and be ready to add RO water more regularly as the fan does increase evaporation.

Reefobsession · 11/30/2009, 09:05 PM

I find it hard to beleive that fans will be able to knock off 4 degrees. That is alot. Hope it works for ya. I think in my future setup I will have a chiller mind, so I don't have to mess with a bunch of fans. I also worry that a fan will fall in if it is a clip on. Just my .02

Eric45 · 11/30/2009, 09:20 PM

i've had great success with the 6 inch electric fans and reducing the water temp. by four degrees is no problem. I've got a 72 bowfront. Often I have to move the fan so as to blow less directly across the length of the tank in order to reduce the cooling effect. I think most folks could get along just fine w/one or possibly two fans blowing across the length of the tank. Of course you will replace lots of water to evap.

Fishamatank · 11/30/2009, 09:21 PM

Adding R/O water is not a problem, I have a system and a 35 gallon reservoir outside the house. I have a 8 gallon reservoir for the ATO with lime water in it.
It was a little cooler today, temp leveled off at about 84. I made some R/O ice and cooled it off to 82. Hopefully the 4" computer fan will keep it there.
Might have to put a chiller on the Christmas list....
Any opinions on THIS?
55 gallon tank + ~15 gallon sump, total water volume is probably around 50 gallons.

11/29/2009, 01:55 PM	#1
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	Maximum safe temperature What is the maximum temperature for a mixed reef tank, and what are the consequences of the water getting warmer than that? I was using a gen-x pump for my skimmer and it made waaaay too much noise, so I changed it to a Blue Line Velocity pump and it's added about 4 degrees to my water temperature, I was seeing a max of 82 towards the end of the photo-period, now it's hitting 86. So far no apparent signs of stress from any of the inhabitants, but I know I've got to be pushing it. I really didn't want to mess with a chiller.....

11/30/2009, 12:50 AM	#11
danceswithfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: BC Canada Posts: 491	86 might be ok but the problem is you have less room before you get to temp that is dangerous for your critters. Also at that temp you are going to have a much larger temp swing if the heat source stops. Fans can go a long way in reducing your temp. Evaporation equals cooler water. __________________ Click on my name, "danceswithfish" then click on "visit danaceswithfish's homepage!" to see my 90g build!

11/30/2009, 01:27 PM	#13
baja_01 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: AZ,USA Posts: 887	http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=GroundTemp Best investment I made for my tank. Dont have to worry about heaters getting stuck and it minimizes the evap from fan cooling. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

11/29/2009, 02:13 PM	#2
dstacy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 37	yeah 86 is pretty high, if you could get it back down to around 82 that would be best; i like to keep it around 76-78 and it peaks around 80 during the day. Chiller may not be necessary. I installed a simple computer fan into my hood. Hooked it up to a dimmer switch so I can control the air flow across the surface of the water. More often than not blowing air with a simple fan across the surface is surprisingly enough to control or at least limit temperature rise.

11/29/2009, 02:21 PM	#3
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I would try to not let it pass 86 degrees. My tank, as well as many others, have gone this high without any problems. Beyond that, I have no idea, I suspect 87+ would cause serious issues. Hook up a nice Vornado fan to your system, they are compact and extremely powerful.

11/29/2009, 02:42 PM	#4
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	Should the fan blow directly across the surface of the water? I guess you build some kind of a little stand on the edge for the edge of the tank?

11/29/2009, 03:11 PM	#5
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	My tanks seem to roam anywhere from 75-86 throughout the year. 86 is high, but it took all day to reach that level. I've never experienced any problems with that regimen. Sort of a slow burn if you know what I mean.

11/29/2009, 08:33 PM	#6
gtaylor67 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 151	Just FWIW, I would check some of your other equipment that maybe putting off some heat somewhere else in the tank.. I had a heater that would hang every few weeks or so till I found it on at 86 myself one day.. Other wise a extra fan should do the trick unless you have a few already. Also if running a sump you could run it across the top of it to help out too... Good luck I've never found a cheap chiller...

11/29/2009, 08:37 PM	#7
boogaman Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Huntsville Texas Posts: 51	I had a blueline pump and it made my water tems very hot as well. I just keep it as an emergency pump for now.

11/29/2009, 08:46 PM	#8
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	I'm not running any fans right now. I am going to run a 6" clip on fan on the sump and see what that does. Rigging up a fan on the pump might help too, it is pretty warm to the touch. I thought blueline was supposed to be comparable to iwaki, but I guess not. It is nearly silent though.

11/29/2009, 08:54 PM	#9
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	yeah i have 3 of the clip on fans in my canopy and it does really well getting the heat out of the canopy... if it is for sure the pump theni think i would switch out the pump... but that is just me.

11/29/2009, 08:56 PM	#10
HUNGER Moved On Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OHIO Posts: 95	i would just keep it steady as posable

11/30/2009, 01:19 PM	#12
Eric45 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 725	86 degrees is fine if you want your corals to bleach out. That's what happpened to me when I discovered my coralife thermometer was 5 to 6 degrees off. I had been keeping the temp at a steady 79 until I realized it was only reading 79, the actual temp, based on two other thermometers was 85-86. I only noticed the problem when my cynarina, trachys and acros started bleaching for no apparent reason. Also my gonio stopped opening as did my acans. 86 is too high.

11/30/2009, 02:23 PM	#14
Names Brucey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Middle River, MD Posts: 272	Couldn't you just use a RKL or similar and program it for less money? I don't have one personally but am looking into the RKL for this as well as other reasons.

11/30/2009, 07:31 PM	#15
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	That's half of the cost of a chiller to control fans??? I would much rather just buy a chiller than spend that much on a controller.

11/30/2009, 08:42 PM	#16
Reefobsession Moved On Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,037	Do you have a canopy? I would take it off if you do. You really shouldn't have it get past 82. Mine gets up to 81. I am thinking about getting a chiller. If I were you, I would get a chiller. Worth the $300 to $400.

11/30/2009, 08:43 PM	#17
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	No canopy. I added a small radio shack computer fan to the sump, and ordered a 6" clip on fan. We'll see how that goes, if it doesn't work maybe a chiller is in order....

11/30/2009, 08:57 PM	#18
littlebigaj Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 136	I wouldn't mess around with temperature. I made that mistake not long ago and I saw what seemed like overnight damage to some of my corals, not a fun thing. Some of them are still recovering from it. My problem was the opposite though, I let the tank get way too cold. A clip on fan could be the difference of a few degrees temperature though, i think you'll be in good shape once you get your fans. Just make sure you blow it across the surface of your water and not the bulbs/fixture and be ready to add RO water more regularly as the fan does increase evaporation.

11/30/2009, 09:05 PM	#19
Reefobsession Moved On Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,037	I find it hard to beleive that fans will be able to knock off 4 degrees. That is alot. Hope it works for ya. I think in my future setup I will have a chiller mind, so I don't have to mess with a bunch of fans. I also worry that a fan will fall in if it is a clip on. Just my .02

11/30/2009, 09:20 PM	#20
Eric45 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 725	i've had great success with the 6 inch electric fans and reducing the water temp. by four degrees is no problem. I've got a 72 bowfront. Often I have to move the fan so as to blow less directly across the length of the tank in order to reduce the cooling effect. I think most folks could get along just fine w/one or possibly two fans blowing across the length of the tank. Of course you will replace lots of water to evap.

11/30/2009, 09:21 PM	#21
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	Adding R/O water is not a problem, I have a system and a 35 gallon reservoir outside the house. I have a 8 gallon reservoir for the ATO with lime water in it. It was a little cooler today, temp leveled off at about 84. I made some R/O ice and cooled it off to 82. Hopefully the 4" computer fan will keep it there. Might have to put a chiller on the Christmas list.... Any opinions on THIS? 55 gallon tank + ~15 gallon sump, total water volume is probably around 50 gallons.