Temp rising with the changing season

DaveRaz · 04/02/2015, 05:26 PM

My first spring with a reef tank. Inside house warmed up to 74 degrees and I was pretty surprised by how quickly the water temp rose. I caught it around 83.4 degrees. It was very comfortable in the house but forced to turn on the AC for the dang tank.

Guess I didn't realize how much the equipment heats the water up. Top is under a canopy. But only closed on three sides, back is open. I'm running two 300w heaters but turned off one of them. Also (2) maxspect 130 on wave maker 90% alternating every 3 minutes, (2) razors, light on the fuge and ehim pump for the gfo ca reactors, lastly the sicce on the vertex skimmer.

I obviously need to always keep my AC set on 72 huh? Humility must also be a factor as it has been low 70s but rainy and kinda humid.

Any suggestions? My fear is returning from A long weekend at the lake and my tank at 90 degrees due to AC going out.

The expense of this hobby is unreal. Wow.

Rant over.

wetWolger · 04/02/2015, 05:47 PM

Can you hook up any fans to encourage evaporation. Use an apex or other controller to turn them on as needed.

Also I assume when you say "turned off one of the heaters", the heater was on a thermostat and was not running anyways?

kissman · 04/02/2015, 05:49 PM

I run a $10 Walmart clip on fan across my sump drops my tank temp a few degrees

DaveRaz · 04/02/2015, 09:16 PM

Yes just unplugged one. Bad idea? The apex is in the future but not this summer so I will need to just keep it cool in the house and use a fan.

Thank
Dave

l8_apex_it · 04/02/2015, 09:22 PM

I have two 120mm PC fans at the back of my canopy. Exhaust openings at the top off the canopy. They do amazingly well at keeping temps lower!

AZBigJohn · 04/02/2015, 11:08 PM

I have 3 clip-on 4"fans on top of my tank, blowing across the water. Here in Arizona, heat is also a big problem.

With my Apex turning them on and off at set temperatures, I still keep my tank in the 77-78 degree range without a problem. My evaporation is huge (I fill my ATO every other day versus once a week) but other than that no problems.

Peter Eichler · 04/03/2015, 12:52 AM

As long as your tank stays out of the upper 80's you'll be fine. A fan or two and running AC when it gets hot should be enough to keep it out of that range.

bundybear1981 · 04/03/2015, 02:41 AM

I run chillers on my tanks, adds to the power bill but needed here. Fans have a minimal effect (too humid here) Using fans only I'm lucky to get below 83 most days.

DaveRaz · 04/03/2015, 05:36 AM

Great feedback. Much appreciated.

04/02/2015, 05:26 PM	#1
DaveRaz Reef Rookie Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Memphis Posts: 625	Temp rising with the changing season My first spring with a reef tank. Inside house warmed up to 74 degrees and I was pretty surprised by how quickly the water temp rose. I caught it around 83.4 degrees. It was very comfortable in the house but forced to turn on the AC for the dang tank. Guess I didn't realize how much the equipment heats the water up. Top is under a canopy. But only closed on three sides, back is open. I'm running two 300w heaters but turned off one of them. Also (2) maxspect 130 on wave maker 90% alternating every 3 minutes, (2) razors, light on the fuge and ehim pump for the gfo ca reactors, lastly the sicce on the vertex skimmer. I obviously need to always keep my AC set on 72 huh? Humility must also be a factor as it has been low 70s but rainy and kinda humid. Any suggestions? My fear is returning from A long weekend at the lake and my tank at 90 degrees due to AC going out. The expense of this hobby is unreal. Wow. Rant over.

04/02/2015, 05:47 PM	#2
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	Can you hook up any fans to encourage evaporation. Use an apex or other controller to turn them on as needed. Also I assume when you say "turned off one of the heaters", the heater was on a thermostat and was not running anyways? __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

04/02/2015, 11:08 PM	#6
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	I have 3 clip-on 4"fans on top of my tank, blowing across the water. Here in Arizona, heat is also a big problem. With my Apex turning them on and off at set temperatures, I still keep my tank in the 77-78 degree range without a problem. My evaporation is huge (I fill my ATO every other day versus once a week) but other than that no problems. __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

04/03/2015, 02:41 AM	#8
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	I run chillers on my tanks, adds to the power bill but needed here. Fans have a minimal effect (too humid here) Using fans only I'm lucky to get below 83 most days. __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

04/02/2015, 05:49 PM	#3
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	I run a $10 Walmart clip on fan across my sump drops my tank temp a few degrees

04/02/2015, 09:16 PM	#4
DaveRaz Reef Rookie Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Memphis Posts: 625	Yes just unplugged one. Bad idea? The apex is in the future but not this summer so I will need to just keep it cool in the house and use a fan. Thank Dave

04/02/2015, 09:22 PM	#5
l8_apex_it Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 247	I have two 120mm PC fans at the back of my canopy. Exhaust openings at the top off the canopy. They do amazingly well at keeping temps lower!

04/03/2015, 12:52 AM	#7
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	As long as your tank stays out of the upper 80's you'll be fine. A fan or two and running AC when it gets hot should be enough to keep it out of that range.

04/03/2015, 05:36 AM	#9
DaveRaz Reef Rookie Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Memphis Posts: 625	Great feedback. Much appreciated.