temperature change with lights

pong · 05/08/2008, 08:02 AM

was wondering...

my current light setup is a

2 54w t5 ho 11000k and
1 36w actinic

currently, my average temperature is at 86

hood for lighting is 4 inches wide, 4 inches above the water.

======================

im upgrading my lights using a custom hood...

16 inches wide containing around 8 t5's ho and
3 36W no's

do u think this will cause a spike in my tank temperature?

if yes, how many degrees do u think this will spike it up?

rbursek · 05/08/2008, 08:10 AM

It may, what is your heater set at?

Reef-Ski · 05/08/2008, 08:12 AM

I think if youâ€™re current Temp is 86 you might want to look into some form of cooling, like fans or a chiller.

Seems on the high side already.

pong · 05/08/2008, 08:16 AM

heater? i dont need a heater out here...

86 with a big fan running beside it already...

when summer ends, its most probably going back down to maybe 84... hopefully...

was worrying how the lights will spike the temp...

are t5's "hot" like metal halides?

Reef-Ski · 05/08/2008, 10:11 AM

No T5's run much cooler than PC and Metal Halides.

Will the new T-5's be in a custom canopy that will cover the whole top of the tank?

If so I would have to guess that you will see an increase in your Temp since you are going from 3 bulbs to 11.

On a side note I don't think you will be able to fit everything you are talking about into a 16 inch wide space.

What are 36 watt no's? Never heard of them before.

pong · 05/08/2008, 10:17 AM

the whole top of the tank is open by 20 inches, this one is 16 inches... so there is 4 inches there...
i also plan to raise it up by an inch so that there is a gap for air to flow in and out of the top.

36 watt normal output bulbs. t8/t12 regular off the shelf variety 48 inches in length...

the canopy has a max of 11 but i think im going with 9 so that its not too cramped in there...

Reef-Ski · 05/08/2008, 10:26 AM

Do you know why the Temp is so High?

Do you have a sump? If so maybe you need to try a fan in your sump area.

pong · 05/08/2008, 10:30 AM

ambient temp out here is at 34C humidity at 94%

forecast says 30 but thermometers do not indicate this.
yes i have a sump and have tried putting a 75W fan to
blow across it... and it didnt reduce the temp a single bit

Reef-Ski · 05/08/2008, 10:42 AM

Pong:

It's a tough call. I would recommend a chiller for your system. I know they are pricey but I think your inhabitants will be much happier if you can get the Temp in your tank down in the 79 to 81 degree range.

Last year I was caught off guard with a hot day late in the summer, We were gone for the day and did not have our AC going. When I got home the temp in the fish tank was at 86 degrees and my Flame angel was dead. My yellow Hogfish was in shock, breathing very heavy and not moving. Luckily I was able to save him in time. I had to make the investment and purchase a chiller after this happened.

Just my 2 cents.

pong · 05/08/2008, 10:52 AM

with the upgrade coming up and the change from fowlr to host some corals...

im starting to get confused...

here is a thread that i saw... saying thats temps above 84 are ok... one even says that he was at 91 and his critters are still alive

Reef-Ski · 05/08/2008, 11:03 AM

I would recommend starting a new thread asking what ideal Temp ranges in reef tanks are.

Maybe I am wrong but I have always heard that temps above 84 are bad.

Maybe I will start a poll to see what people think.

pong · 05/08/2008, 11:08 AM

i did start a thread on this (actually mixed in one of the other threads)... and that thread was one of the replies...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1386330

here is what i was talking about...

05/08/2008, 08:02 AM	#1
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	temperature change with lights was wondering... my current light setup is a 2 54w t5 ho 11000k and 1 36w actinic currently, my average temperature is at 86 hood for lighting is 4 inches wide, 4 inches above the water. ====================== im upgrading my lights using a custom hood... 16 inches wide containing around 8 t5's ho and 3 36W no's do u think this will cause a spike in my tank temperature? if yes, how many degrees do u think this will spike it up?

05/08/2008, 08:10 AM	#2
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	It may, what is your heater set at?

05/08/2008, 08:12 AM	#3
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	I think if youâ€™re current Temp is 86 you might want to look into some form of cooling, like fans or a chiller. Seems on the high side already.

05/08/2008, 08:16 AM	#4
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	heater? i dont need a heater out here... 86 with a big fan running beside it already... when summer ends, its most probably going back down to maybe 84... hopefully... was worrying how the lights will spike the temp... are t5's "hot" like metal halides?

05/08/2008, 10:11 AM	#5
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	No T5's run much cooler than PC and Metal Halides. Will the new T-5's be in a custom canopy that will cover the whole top of the tank? If so I would have to guess that you will see an increase in your Temp since you are going from 3 bulbs to 11. On a side note I don't think you will be able to fit everything you are talking about into a 16 inch wide space. What are 36 watt no's? Never heard of them before.

05/08/2008, 10:17 AM	#6
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	the whole top of the tank is open by 20 inches, this one is 16 inches... so there is 4 inches there... i also plan to raise it up by an inch so that there is a gap for air to flow in and out of the top. 36 watt normal output bulbs. t8/t12 regular off the shelf variety 48 inches in length... the canopy has a max of 11 but i think im going with 9 so that its not too cramped in there...

05/08/2008, 10:26 AM	#7
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	Do you know why the Temp is so High? Do you have a sump? If so maybe you need to try a fan in your sump area.

05/08/2008, 10:30 AM	#8
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	ambient temp out here is at 34C humidity at 94% forecast says 30 but thermometers do not indicate this. yes i have a sump and have tried putting a 75W fan to blow across it... and it didnt reduce the temp a single bit

05/08/2008, 10:42 AM	#9
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	Pong: It's a tough call. I would recommend a chiller for your system. I know they are pricey but I think your inhabitants will be much happier if you can get the Temp in your tank down in the 79 to 81 degree range. Last year I was caught off guard with a hot day late in the summer, We were gone for the day and did not have our AC going. When I got home the temp in the fish tank was at 86 degrees and my Flame angel was dead. My yellow Hogfish was in shock, breathing very heavy and not moving. Luckily I was able to save him in time. I had to make the investment and purchase a chiller after this happened. Just my 2 cents.

05/08/2008, 10:52 AM	#10
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	with the upgrade coming up and the change from fowlr to host some corals... im starting to get confused... here is a thread that i saw... saying thats temps above 84 are ok... one even says that he was at 91 and his critters are still alive

05/08/2008, 11:03 AM	#11
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	I would recommend starting a new thread asking what ideal Temp ranges in reef tanks are. Maybe I am wrong but I have always heard that temps above 84 are bad. Maybe I will start a poll to see what people think.

05/08/2008, 11:08 AM	#12
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	i did start a thread on this (actually mixed in one of the other threads)... and that thread was one of the replies... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1386330 here is what i was talking about...