can't keep a constant temp?

Monkey55 · 01/08/2007, 10:36 AM

I have a 29G tank with a 100w jager heater in it. This crazy heater will not keep a constant temp no matter how many times I calibrate it. My Temp always seems to drop at night a couple degrees from 80 to 78. sometimes during the day it climbs to 82. I worry about this because it;'s probably pretty hard on my fish, etc..

What to do?

Randall_James · 01/08/2007, 10:40 AM

I would not give it a second thought, I allow my tanks to go up and down up to 6-8 degrees a day. As long as the swing is not instantaneous your livestock should do just fine.

cristhiam · 01/08/2007, 10:40 AM

A temp controller.

Shagsbeard · 01/08/2007, 10:56 AM

Your daytime temperature isn't the fault of the heater, it's your lights and ventalation. If you really really want to narrow the gap, you need to have some cooling effect in competition with your heater and lights. A cheap fan blowing across the surface will cool your tank quite a bit, though it will also increase evaporation considerably.

Those that stress over a 4 degree variance usually invest in a chiller combined with a thermostat considerably more sensitive than that on your heater... that's part of the temperature controler suggested by cristhiam. I've chosen not to stress over my variation also of 6-8 degrees.

dwculp · 01/08/2007, 11:00 AM

A 2 degree temp swing is nothing to worry about and quite natural.

One thing you can do is set your heater a bit higher, this will compensate for the lights not being on at night.

Monkey55 · 01/08/2007, 11:45 AM

So if I have atwo degree swing all the time. Should I have it between 78-80, or between 80-82. (take into consideration, I will have a lot of corals)

drummereef · 01/08/2007, 12:11 PM

How about 79-81. I target my tank to 80 so a little fluxuation either way won't be bad. Although mine is on a controller so I have no more than 0.5 degrees of flux.

Ti · 01/08/2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randall_James
I would not give it a second thought, I allow my tanks to go up and down up to 6-8 degrees a day. As long as the swing is not instantaneous your livestock should do just fine.

What temps do you run at?

drummereef · 01/08/2007, 01:03 PM

80 degrees

luke33 · 01/08/2007, 01:10 PM

80 Degrees as well

dwculp · 01/08/2007, 01:12 PM

76F-77F

cristhiam · 01/08/2007, 03:11 PM

78-80, summer 80-83

kfowler · 01/08/2007, 03:28 PM

79 here.

Htmack - Sounds to me like you'll be fine. For my 20g, my temps would swing pretty widly after I set it up. While the lights were on they were at 82+. I added a computer fan and they dropped to 72 and couldn't get it higher. So I had to add a 50 watt heater in addition to the 100 watt. Now everything stays within a 1 degree flux.

01/08/2007, 10:36 AM	#1
Monkey55 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 445	can't keep a constant temp? I have a 29G tank with a 100w jager heater in it. This crazy heater will not keep a constant temp no matter how many times I calibrate it. My Temp always seems to drop at night a couple degrees from 80 to 78. sometimes during the day it climbs to 82. I worry about this because it;'s probably pretty hard on my fish, etc.. What to do?

01/08/2007, 10:40 AM	#2
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	I would not give it a second thought, I allow my tanks to go up and down up to 6-8 degrees a day. As long as the swing is not instantaneous your livestock should do just fine. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

01/08/2007, 10:40 AM	#3
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	A temp controller. __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

01/08/2007, 11:00 AM	#5
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	A 2 degree temp swing is nothing to worry about and quite natural. One thing you can do is set your heater a bit higher, this will compensate for the lights not being on at night. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

01/08/2007, 12:11 PM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	How about 79-81. I target my tank to 80 so a little fluxuation either way won't be bad. Although mine is on a controller so I have no more than 0.5 degrees of flux. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/08/2007, 10:56 AM	#4
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Your daytime temperature isn't the fault of the heater, it's your lights and ventalation. If you really really want to narrow the gap, you need to have some cooling effect in competition with your heater and lights. A cheap fan blowing across the surface will cool your tank quite a bit, though it will also increase evaporation considerably. Those that stress over a 4 degree variance usually invest in a chiller combined with a thermostat considerably more sensitive than that on your heater... that's part of the temperature controler suggested by cristhiam. I've chosen not to stress over my variation also of 6-8 degrees.

01/08/2007, 11:45 AM	#6
Monkey55 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 445	So if I have atwo degree swing all the time. Should I have it between 78-80, or between 80-82. (take into consideration, I will have a lot of corals)

01/08/2007, 01:03 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	80 degrees __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/08/2007, 01:10 PM	#10
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	80 Degrees as well

01/08/2007, 01:12 PM	#11
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	76F-77F __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

01/08/2007, 03:11 PM	#12
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	78-80, summer 80-83 __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

01/08/2007, 03:28 PM	#13
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	79 here. Htmack - Sounds to me like you'll be fine. For my 20g, my temps would swing pretty widly after I set it up. While the lights were on they were at 82+. I added a computer fan and they dropped to 72 and couldn't get it higher. So I had to add a 50 watt heater in addition to the 100 watt. Now everything stays within a 1 degree flux. __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef