Issues with room temperature? Bay Area California

Buzz1538 · 05/29/2016, 02:18 PM

This is my first post here on reef central, I have been doing a bunch of research trying to educate myself on reef tanks. I am hoping to start piecing together equipment for my first 120g system but I have 1 possible set back. The wife has only OK'd space in the garage for the aquarium, that being said my garage is not climate controlled so on our few days here that we reach 90*+ the garage can get pretty toasty. Can anyone with experience with warm rooms tell me weither or not I'm going to have an issue keeping the water temps in the exceptable range or do we think a chiller is going to be needed? Thank you for any info or advice.

billdogg · 05/29/2016, 02:23 PM

I would plan on a chiller. I would also plan on somehow convincing the wife that outside is a poor place for an expensive thing like a marine setup.

Buzz1538 · 05/29/2016, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I would also plan on somehow convincing the wife that outside is a poor place for an expensive thing like a marine setup.

Oh I'm trying! Unfortunately we don't have the largest home, so we are a little
limited on open space.

Animagus · 05/29/2016, 02:38 PM

A 40 gallon breeder is nice tank to start with. It won't take up too much space, it will be cheaper to set up etc. Definitely something to think about.

cougareyes · 05/29/2016, 03:45 PM

Room where I keep my tanks gets up to 85 and I can keep them at 80 with fans. I get a lot of evaporated, I use an ato, I consider this to be about Max. At 90 I would think definite chiller.

thegrun · 05/29/2016, 04:04 PM

There are a lot of things you can do to reduce the heat in your system and may negate the absolute need for a chiller. If you use LED lighting which transfers the least amount of heat of the three common lighting systems (the other two being Metal Halide and T-5 bulbs) that will go a long way towards eliminating the chiller. Use efficient pumps, there are big differences in the amount of heat that different pumps produce. Look for pumps that give you your desired water flow with the smallest wattage's. Fans are key to avoiding a chiller. A fan blowing air across the water surface of your display tank and sump will easily reduce water temperatures 4 degrees. Those are the main tank components, so next up is reducing the heat in your garage. Gable fans do a very good job at lowering the garage temperatures. You can set them at a fairly low temperature like 85 degrees so they start to blow out the hot air that collects at the top of garage before it becomes a problem lower in the garage at tank level. You can also add wind driven turbines in the roof. I utilize all the above in tank options I listed and my tank stay well below 82 all year. Last year we went on vacation; I set our house AC at 82 since we were expecting 100 degree weather, but my wife turned off the AC without me knowing before we left. I was worried about the tank the hole trip once I found out my wife had turned off the AC, but I monitored the tank daily and it stayed at or below 82 the whole time. When we got home the house was 92 inside but the tank was still at 81.8 degrees.

Buzz1538 · 05/29/2016, 07:41 PM

Guys thank you so much for info on previous experiences and recommendations, I think I've come up with a solution to convince the old lady to have the aquarium in the house. Unfortunately it's going to involve a small renovation to the living room hahaha. It's just going to set me back a little bit on my timeline for the aquarium but it's ok. I want to make sure I do this right.

Dkuhlmann · 05/30/2016, 02:20 AM

You can buy a small window AC unit much cheaper than a chiller to put in the garage IF you can't convince her to allow it in the house.

Ron Reefman · 05/30/2016, 04:21 AM

Buzz, has she seen a good looking aquarium in person? Is she into Mother Nature? How about pets? Have you guys ever been on a vacation to some place tropical and on the water (Florida Keys, Hawaii, any place in the Caribbean, any islands in the South Pacific...). All those things, plus convincing my wife I needed a new hobby (I gave up racing sports cars due to cost and old age) helped me get my first tank. But it was just a 30g, going for a 120g right off the bat is a big get in terms of concessions from the wife. BTW, maybe calling her the 'old lady' on a public forum when you are asking for her to allow you to do something isn't exactly the way to get there!

You may get by without a chiller in a 90 degree garage, but IMHO, long term it's not a good arrangement. Even a small chiller used more as a back up when temperatures get too high for a week would be a good idea.

kmbyrnes · 05/30/2016, 06:42 AM

You may need a peace offering as well. Perhaps a nice new necklace or bracelet?
Or include something for her in the renovation.

Sk8r · 05/30/2016, 08:48 AM

A new icebox or range might sweeten the deal.

Buzz1538 · 05/30/2016, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

BTW, maybe calling her the 'old lady' on a public forum when you are asking for her to allow you to do something isn't exactly the way to get there!

HAHAHA I see your point but she's only 27 so I don't think she would take offense. "YET"

Our anniversary is coming up so looks like I'm going to have to butter her up with something nice.

Animagus · 05/30/2016, 10:51 AM

Unless that garage was going to be a "man cave" of sorts, I couldn't imagine spending a lot of time out there with the tank and the car. Sounds kind of dismal to me. GL.

aName · 05/31/2016, 01:04 PM

This is why I'm single, I think. I wouldn't accept the garage, I'd say that I'm paying half the rent/bills and I want half the space.

hkgar · 05/31/2016, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz1538

HAHAHA I see your point but she's only 27 so I don't think she would take offense. "YET"

Our anniversary is coming up so looks like I'm going to have to butter her up with something nice.

Contrary to what S8tr said, women generally do not like getting refrigerators or ranges as "special occasions" (birthdays, anniversaries etc. gifts. Nothing that infers housework. Maybe "honey, look what I bought for the house".

GimpyFin · 05/31/2016, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Contrary to what S8tr said, women generally do not like getting refrigerators or ranges as "special occasions" (birthdays, anniversaries etc. gifts. Nothing that infers housework. Maybe "honey, look what I bought for the house".

Lol. I agree, you won't win her over with a new stove. Take her shopping for girly things (Maybe a nice handbag, some shoes, spa treatment, whatever she's into.)

Buzz1538 · 06/04/2016, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animagus

Unless that garage was going to be a "man cave" of sorts, I couldn't imagine spending a lot of time out there with the tank and the car. Sounds kind of dismal to me. GL.

Garage is set up as the man cave already. Pool table, tv, bar, beer fridge!

But we have come to an agreement. A little honey do list, including getting our tv out of the corner and hung over the fireplace, which will in turn give me my spot for the tank. Plus she is already getting a 7 day cruise to the Bahamas for our anniversary so sorry Hun no new handbags hahaha.

05/29/2016, 02:18 PM	#1
Buzz1538 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 6	Issues with room temperature? Bay Area California This is my first post here on reef central, I have been doing a bunch of research trying to educate myself on reef tanks. I am hoping to start piecing together equipment for my first 120g system but I have 1 possible set back. The wife has only OK'd space in the garage for the aquarium, that being said my garage is not climate controlled so on our few days here that we reach 90*+ the garage can get pretty toasty. Can anyone with experience with warm rooms tell me weither or not I'm going to have an issue keeping the water temps in the exceptable range or do we think a chiller is going to be needed? Thank you for any info or advice.

05/29/2016, 02:23 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I would plan on a chiller. I would also plan on somehow convincing the wife that outside is a poor place for an expensive thing like a marine setup. __________________ 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

05/30/2016, 02:20 AM	#8
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	You can buy a small window AC unit much cheaper than a chiller to put in the garage IF you can't convince her to allow it in the house. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

05/30/2016, 04:21 AM	#9
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Buzz, has she seen a good looking aquarium in person? Is she into Mother Nature? How about pets? Have you guys ever been on a vacation to some place tropical and on the water (Florida Keys, Hawaii, any place in the Caribbean, any islands in the South Pacific...). All those things, plus convincing my wife I needed a new hobby (I gave up racing sports cars due to cost and old age) helped me get my first tank. But it was just a 30g, going for a 120g right off the bat is a big get in terms of concessions from the wife. BTW, maybe calling her the 'old lady' on a public forum when you are asking for her to allow you to do something isn't exactly the way to get there! You may get by without a chiller in a 90 degree garage, but IMHO, long term it's not a good arrangement. Even a small chiller used more as a back up when temperatures get too high for a week would be a good idea. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

05/30/2016, 06:42 AM	#10
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	You may need a peace offering as well. Perhaps a nice new necklace or bracelet? Or include something for her in the renovation. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

05/29/2016, 02:38 PM	#4
Animagus Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 296	A 40 gallon breeder is nice tank to start with. It won't take up too much space, it will be cheaper to set up etc. Definitely something to think about.

05/29/2016, 03:45 PM	#5
cougareyes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 713	Room where I keep my tanks gets up to 85 and I can keep them at 80 with fans. I get a lot of evaporated, I use an ato, I consider this to be about Max. At 90 I would think definite chiller.

05/29/2016, 04:04 PM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	There are a lot of things you can do to reduce the heat in your system and may negate the absolute need for a chiller. If you use LED lighting which transfers the least amount of heat of the three common lighting systems (the other two being Metal Halide and T-5 bulbs) that will go a long way towards eliminating the chiller. Use efficient pumps, there are big differences in the amount of heat that different pumps produce. Look for pumps that give you your desired water flow with the smallest wattage's. Fans are key to avoiding a chiller. A fan blowing air across the water surface of your display tank and sump will easily reduce water temperatures 4 degrees. Those are the main tank components, so next up is reducing the heat in your garage. Gable fans do a very good job at lowering the garage temperatures. You can set them at a fairly low temperature like 85 degrees so they start to blow out the hot air that collects at the top of garage before it becomes a problem lower in the garage at tank level. You can also add wind driven turbines in the roof. I utilize all the above in tank options I listed and my tank stay well below 82 all year. Last year we went on vacation; I set our house AC at 82 since we were expecting 100 degree weather, but my wife turned off the AC without me knowing before we left. I was worried about the tank the hole trip once I found out my wife had turned off the AC, but I monitored the tank daily and it stayed at or below 82 the whole time. When we got home the house was 92 inside but the tank was still at 81.8 degrees.

05/29/2016, 07:41 PM	#7
Buzz1538 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 6	Guys thank you so much for info on previous experiences and recommendations, I think I've come up with a solution to convince the old lady to have the aquarium in the house. Unfortunately it's going to involve a small renovation to the living room hahaha. It's just going to set me back a little bit on my timeline for the aquarium but it's ok. I want to make sure I do this right.

05/30/2016, 08:48 AM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A new icebox or range might sweeten the deal. __________________ 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%.

05/30/2016, 10:51 AM	#13
Animagus Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 296	Unless that garage was going to be a "man cave" of sorts, I couldn't imagine spending a lot of time out there with the tank and the car. Sounds kind of dismal to me. GL.

05/31/2016, 01:04 PM	#14
aName Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 60	This is why I'm single, I think. I wouldn't accept the garage, I'd say that I'm paying half the rent/bills and I want half the space.