Should I turn off my return during the day? Heat issues

SeeCrabRun · 05/11/2015, 11:07 AM

I already knew my tank would be at risk of running hot because I live in a very hot climate with high humidity. So the central AC can only do so much...

I'm trying to avoid a costly chiller and am currently running a nano tank that has only 1 power head(mp10) and 1 return pump. It also has 1 kessil that is about 12" from the surface. I've got some added air circulation, but not a fan directly on the water surface.

I'm wondering if turning my return off during the day would help keep the tank closer to room temperature. Currently it is running 2 degrees higher and the room is 77. The overflow feeds a refugium, no equipment, no sump. So the refugium and tank would probably be fine without each other for 12 hours a day.

Or would getting a larger return and running it on a lower setting produce less heat?

Thanks for any advise! I'm already looking at additional fans, I've looked at chillers, and am considering a window AC to put immediately next to the tank. The room it is in does get warmer than the rest of the house, so I can't turn the AC down until the room is cool enough or the rest of the house will be freezing.

billdogg · 05/11/2015, 11:12 AM

As long as it is stable, anywhere between 76 and 82 is ok. I try to keep my tank about 78. You could try a fan blowing across the surface , but evaporation will increase. I would not turn off the return pump - the water left in the return section that will then just be sitting there will become stagnant.

ryeguyy84 · 05/11/2015, 11:16 AM

Pickup a cheap clip on fan, clip it to the back of the tank and have it blow across the water. Like billdogg said you'll evaporate more but it does work.

This is what I used to use
http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Holmes-...dth-x/44686464

SeeCrabRun · 05/11/2015, 11:17 AM

well there is no return section. It's just a straight up refugium. Overflow drains onto a pile of rock rubble and the return is suctioned to the other side of the tank. It's an open design.

The biggest issue is it isn't stable. It is cooler at night and hotter in the day. Today's example is it went from 77.6 to 79.1 in 12 hours and it isn't even the hottest part of the day yet.

ryeguyy84 · 05/11/2015, 11:23 AM

Above you stated "additional fans", are you currently using a fan? I wouldn't want standing water in the sumo either. You'll have a temp change when all that standing water goes back up to the DT

SeeCrabRun · 05/11/2015, 11:27 AM

I'm not so certain the temp would be any different. I would put a small power head in the refugium to keep it alive during that time.

Would a larger return pump working at half power produce less heat than a small one working at full? If they are moving the same amount of water?

ryeguyy84 · 05/11/2015, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeCrabRun

I'm not so certain the temp would be any different. I would put a small power head in the refugium to keep it alive during that time.

Would a larger return pump working at half power produce less heat than a small one working at full? If they are moving the same amount of water?

a larger pump working at half power would still produce the more heat as usually the adjust-ability is just a valve unless it's a DC pump but I don't know how they are on heat. what return pump are you using currently?

and how exactly does the water get from the DT to the fuge? is there an overflow box or is the tank drilled?

toothybugs · 05/11/2015, 12:06 PM

If the day gets warm, why not set your heater to only run for the 12 hours of night?

Stolireef · 05/11/2015, 12:11 PM

The temp range you are describing shouldn't have any real impact on your livestock. On my 110, it runs a range from about 78-80 degrees over the course of the day. If it goes over 82 degrees, the ligthts shut off and it cools right back down. Despite being LED's I bet they are causing more heat than the return pump.

Sk8r · 05/11/2015, 12:11 PM

Return off would cut off oxygen to the tank, which is even worse with warm water.

They make fan arrays especially FOR a tank canopy or tank rim. That can bust the temp down 10 degrees. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...egb&kpid=60396

In the meanwhile, reverse your lighting cycle to come on at night, be off during the day, and put a room fan to blow on your tank surface. That will handle it until mail order can get you a proper tank fan.

ryeguyy84 · 05/11/2015, 12:48 PM

marine depot put this out last week

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...92885102,d.b2w

SeeCrabRun · 05/11/2015, 01:41 PM

The heater never needs to turn on.

The tank is fully open and currently the stand is too. It uses an overflow box.

I'll just leave it running and see about these fan alternatives. The tank is also directly under the AC vent but my ceilings are super high so it doesn't help that much.

gone fishin · 05/11/2015, 01:47 PM

Personally I don't think a few degree gradual increase throughout the day is anything to get very concerned about.

05/11/2015, 11:07 AM	#1
SeeCrabRun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 552	Should I turn off my return during the day? Heat issues I already knew my tank would be at risk of running hot because I live in a very hot climate with high humidity. So the central AC can only do so much... I'm trying to avoid a costly chiller and am currently running a nano tank that has only 1 power head(mp10) and 1 return pump. It also has 1 kessil that is about 12" from the surface. I've got some added air circulation, but not a fan directly on the water surface. I'm wondering if turning my return off during the day would help keep the tank closer to room temperature. Currently it is running 2 degrees higher and the room is 77. The overflow feeds a refugium, no equipment, no sump. So the refugium and tank would probably be fine without each other for 12 hours a day. Or would getting a larger return and running it on a lower setting produce less heat? Thanks for any advise! I'm already looking at additional fans, I've looked at chillers, and am considering a window AC to put immediately next to the tank. The room it is in does get warmer than the rest of the house, so I can't turn the AC down until the room is cool enough or the rest of the house will be freezing. __________________ Sara ~ Perpetually tinkering with my tanks.

05/11/2015, 11:12 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	As long as it is stable, anywhere between 76 and 82 is ok. I try to keep my tank about 78. You could try a fan blowing across the surface , but evaporation will increase. I would not turn off the return pump - the water left in the return section that will then just be sitting there will become stagnant. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

05/11/2015, 11:16 AM	#3
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	Pickup a cheap clip on fan, clip it to the back of the tank and have it blow across the water. Like billdogg said you'll evaporate more but it does work. This is what I used to use http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Holmes-...dth-x/44686464 __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

05/11/2015, 11:17 AM	#4
SeeCrabRun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 552	well there is no return section. It's just a straight up refugium. Overflow drains onto a pile of rock rubble and the return is suctioned to the other side of the tank. It's an open design. The biggest issue is it isn't stable. It is cooler at night and hotter in the day. Today's example is it went from 77.6 to 79.1 in 12 hours and it isn't even the hottest part of the day yet. __________________ Sara ~ Perpetually tinkering with my tanks.

05/11/2015, 11:23 AM	#5
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	Above you stated "additional fans", are you currently using a fan? I wouldn't want standing water in the sumo either. You'll have a temp change when all that standing water goes back up to the DT __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

05/11/2015, 11:27 AM	#6
SeeCrabRun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 552	I'm not so certain the temp would be any different. I would put a small power head in the refugium to keep it alive during that time. Would a larger return pump working at half power produce less heat than a small one working at full? If they are moving the same amount of water? __________________ Sara ~ Perpetually tinkering with my tanks.

05/11/2015, 12:06 PM	#8
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	If the day gets warm, why not set your heater to only run for the 12 hours of night?

05/11/2015, 12:11 PM	#9
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	The temp range you are describing shouldn't have any real impact on your livestock. On my 110, it runs a range from about 78-80 degrees over the course of the day. If it goes over 82 degrees, the ligthts shut off and it cools right back down. Despite being LED's I bet they are causing more heat than the return pump. __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.

05/11/2015, 12:11 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Return off would cut off oxygen to the tank, which is even worse with warm water. They make fan arrays especially FOR a tank canopy or tank rim. That can bust the temp down 10 degrees. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...egb&kpid=60396 In the meanwhile, reverse your lighting cycle to come on at night, be off during the day, and put a room fan to blow on your tank surface. That will handle it until mail order can get you a proper tank fan. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/11/2015, 12:48 PM	#11
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	marine depot put this out last week https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...92885102,d.b2w

05/11/2015, 01:41 PM	#12
SeeCrabRun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 552	The heater never needs to turn on. The tank is fully open and currently the stand is too. It uses an overflow box. I'll just leave it running and see about these fan alternatives. The tank is also directly under the AC vent but my ceilings are super high so it doesn't help that much. __________________ Sara ~ Perpetually tinkering with my tanks.

05/11/2015, 01:47 PM	#13
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Personally I don't think a few degree gradual increase throughout the day is anything to get very concerned about. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT