So upset, temperature swings killed lots

hwttdz · 07/09/2008, 07:12 PM

So yesterday I got home, and the temperature of my tank was too high (nearly 82). So I figured I'd let a fan blow across the surface today while I was at work. I got home and the temperature was too low (75.something). But the awful thing is that a good portion of my snails are dead. Boo apartment not staying a constant temperature. Boo temperature controllers being so expensive. Boo snails being so expensive ($4 each in NYC). Sorry I just wanted to vent.

SCIFI_3D_zoo · 07/09/2008, 07:40 PM

I let a 4-unit $20 Azoo fan run all night on my tank and it went from 85'F to 72'F. A little fan can do wonders. No question it can drop the temp. Only question is can it control it from going too high. I have HQI lights and I have no problem doing that. And if it is a problem then get more fans.

To make all of this work what you need is a Temp. Controller. A probe will go into your water and it will cut the fans off and on if the temp. gets too high or too low. THey cost about $80-$100.

CyanoMagnet · 07/09/2008, 08:48 PM

I dont see how that temp swing is responsible for the deaths of your snails. How long did it take to get from 82 to 75? 82 is not that high. I have mine at 84 now and everything is doing great.

stagefright13 · 07/09/2008, 08:58 PM

A proper heater will kick on if set properly. Then you can leave a fan on or whatever and it will heat the water below a certain setting. DON'T skimp on your heater. It can kill your tank.

But I suspect your snails died for another reason.

hwttdz · 07/09/2008, 09:06 PM

I have a heater of course, perhaps it just isn't powerful to counteract the fan (which is clearly overkill). Perhaps I should obtain a larger heater and a smaller fan. And of course as is always the solution I should test my water. But now it's late.

siropa · 07/09/2008, 10:15 PM

I too fail to see how that kind of swing would kill off the snails. That isn't that huge of a range. Daily my tank goes from around 77 to 83.

ludnix · 07/09/2008, 11:57 PM

You should add a second heater. Two heaters add redundancy and can be less damaging if one fails (opposed to having one larger heater).

ScottL4619 · 07/11/2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by siropa
I too fail to see how that kind of swing would kill off the snails. That isn't that huge of a range. Daily my tank goes from around 77 to 83.

+1...my tank swings about 5 degrees per day, and everything in my tank is alive and healthy. 75 is not that low and 83 is not that high. I would look for other sources for the problem.

Rick2203 · 07/11/2008, 01:33 PM

my tank swings from 78 to 84 daily and i have no ill effects, i dont see how 82 can kill anything, there might be some other problem besides that.

A.T.T.R · 07/11/2008, 01:54 PM

78 - 90 ish temp swings for me are avg when ac cuts out for a few days.. no death full PE.

FANS are your friend and as stated.. so are heaters to keep it from going to low

hwttdz · 07/11/2008, 10:25 PM

So my fan was overpowered, and could easily remove more heat from the tank than the heater could produce. Additionally my heater was set a little too low in the first place. In the meanwhile I've caved and ordered a ranco temp controller (which is nowhere near as cheap as claimed here), I even went nuts and got the dual stage one, so now hopefully temperature worries will be a thing of the past, and I won't need to play with my heaters and fans all year round. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

ATTR as a side not what does P.E. stand for in this context?

otrlynn · 07/11/2008, 10:32 PM

I think he is referring to polyp extension in corals.

joshkennedy07 · 07/11/2008, 11:37 PM

Snails are very sensitive to metal contamination. just a thought.

stagefright13 · 07/11/2008, 11:57 PM

Actually Snails are VERY sensitive to transport in my experience.

Mikeeee · 07/12/2008, 12:06 AM

I dont think its the temperature either. I had power outage today for 10 hours before i got home. No real damage done.. i did use generator to run my main pumps for circulation until Hydro came which was about 2 hours. My temp dropped down to 72F it is normally 79-82.. i had problem with it reaching 86+ but i now just keep room temp cool and run a fan over sump it seems to help a lot and keep it between 79-82 on those hot days.

07/09/2008, 07:12 PM	#1
hwttdz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY, NY Posts: 105	So upset, temperature swings killed lots So yesterday I got home, and the temperature of my tank was too high (nearly 82). So I figured I'd let a fan blow across the surface today while I was at work. I got home and the temperature was too low (75.something). But the awful thing is that a good portion of my snails are dead. Boo apartment not staying a constant temperature. Boo temperature controllers being so expensive. Boo snails being so expensive ($4 each in NYC). Sorry I just wanted to vent.

07/09/2008, 08:48 PM	#3
CyanoMagnet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn ,NY Posts: 1,272	I dont see how that temp swing is responsible for the deaths of your snails. How long did it take to get from 82 to 75? 82 is not that high. I have mine at 84 now and everything is doing great. __________________ Salifert - - - - - - Phosphates ud, ud Nitrates .0xxxppm, Alk 9dkh Calcium 445ppm mag 1380 PH 7.7-8.0 Salinity, 1.026 11/27/2008 Current Tank Info: 72 g bf,15g sump->16g qt,10g refugium w/ DSB and cheato (lots), T5 lighting 6x54watt (2x10k,2xab,blue act,super act),korallin 1501 ca reactor,sulfur denitrator(korallin),bullet 1 skimmer,phosban reactor(running carbon atm),2xtunze1500gph,3xkoralin

07/09/2008, 10:15 PM	#6
siropa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 2,502	I too fail to see how that kind of swing would kill off the snails. That isn't that huge of a range. Daily my tank goes from around 77 to 83. __________________ See red house for pics. Current Tank Info: 275 reef, 75 FOWLR, 60g frag

07/09/2008, 11:57 PM	#7
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	You should add a second heater. Two heaters add redundancy and can be less damaging if one fails (opposed to having one larger heater). __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

07/11/2008, 01:54 PM	#10
A.T.T.R Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 2,729	78 - 90 ish temp swings for me are avg when ac cuts out for a few days.. no death full PE. FANS are your friend and as stated.. so are heaters to keep it from going to low __________________ Chris Addicted to the Reef- Current Tank Info: Starting a 20g

07/09/2008, 07:40 PM	#2
SCIFI_3D_zoo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sebring, Florida Posts: 1,072	I let a 4-unit $20 Azoo fan run all night on my tank and it went from 85'F to 72'F. A little fan can do wonders. No question it can drop the temp. Only question is can it control it from going too high. I have HQI lights and I have no problem doing that. And if it is a problem then get more fans. To make all of this work what you need is a Temp. Controller. A probe will go into your water and it will cut the fans off and on if the temp. gets too high or too low. THey cost about $80-$100.

07/09/2008, 08:58 PM	#4
stagefright13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hatboro, PA USA Posts: 899	A proper heater will kick on if set properly. Then you can leave a fan on or whatever and it will heat the water below a certain setting. DON'T skimp on your heater. It can kill your tank. But I suspect your snails died for another reason.

07/09/2008, 09:06 PM	#5
hwttdz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY, NY Posts: 105	I have a heater of course, perhaps it just isn't powerful to counteract the fan (which is clearly overkill). Perhaps I should obtain a larger heater and a smaller fan. And of course as is always the solution I should test my water. But now it's late.

07/11/2008, 01:33 PM	#9
Rick2203 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North East PA Posts: 472	my tank swings from 78 to 84 daily and i have no ill effects, i dont see how 82 can kill anything, there might be some other problem besides that.

07/11/2008, 10:25 PM	#11
hwttdz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY, NY Posts: 105	So my fan was overpowered, and could easily remove more heat from the tank than the heater could produce. Additionally my heater was set a little too low in the first place. In the meanwhile I've caved and ordered a ranco temp controller (which is nowhere near as cheap as claimed here), I even went nuts and got the dual stage one, so now hopefully temperature worries will be a thing of the past, and I won't need to play with my heaters and fans all year round. Thanks to all for the suggestions. ATTR as a side not what does P.E. stand for in this context?

07/11/2008, 10:32 PM	#12
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	I think he is referring to polyp extension in corals. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

07/11/2008, 11:37 PM	#13
joshkennedy07 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 248	Snails are very sensitive to metal contamination. just a thought.

07/11/2008, 11:57 PM	#14
stagefright13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hatboro, PA USA Posts: 899	Actually Snails are VERY sensitive to transport in my experience.

07/12/2008, 12:06 AM	#15
Mikeeee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada, B.C Posts: 501	I dont think its the temperature either. I had power outage today for 10 hours before i got home. No real damage done.. i did use generator to run my main pumps for circulation until Hydro came which was about 2 hours. My temp dropped down to 72F it is normally 79-82.. i had problem with it reaching 86+ but i now just keep room temp cool and run a fan over sump it seems to help a lot and keep it between 79-82 on those hot days.