how hot is your tank? - Page 2

surfjeepzx · 05/30/2006, 06:50 PM

Pick up a 4-6" personal type fan and install it in the cabinet blowing into the sump. Give it an overnight period with the lights off to bring the temps down. Depending on the ventilation you will see temps come down pretty dramatically.

szwab · 05/30/2006, 07:50 PM

unplug you heater or at least check it. it may be stuck or working improperly . my tanks goes to 79.1 then the chiller kicks on. fans will definately do the trick. i put one on my tank and it reduces the chillers on time by at least half.

Mike.B · 05/30/2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ACBlinky
Where in Canada are you? I'm in Toronto, and it's HOT. It reached 86F (30C) here today. With the humidex factored in, it felt like it was a good deal warmer than that.
We live in an apartment and have to deal with heat from the lower floors, combined with a lousy a/c unit. The house is 82F, all the tanks are between 85-87F right now despite three ceiling fans and smaller fans blowing air across the tanks.

In Edmonton Alberta, weathers crazy here, Im in the basement and I dont even notice the weather. It could be sunny and an hour later be hailing

KDodds · 05/31/2006, 06:14 AM

House thermostat set at 74ÂºF. Chiller is in the basement remote from both the tank room AND the sump room. Tank temp is 80ÂºF and steady year round.

Creade · 05/31/2006, 07:10 AM

My tank bounced to 85 on Memorial day, thats a bit of a rise from the normal 81.4.

Looks like time to rework the cooling system

fittdog8848 · 05/31/2006, 07:40 AM

My tank with two fans on top tank ran at 80 - 84 in the summer. I always got an algae bloom and the inhabitants were always stressed. I finally said f#$% it and broke down and bought a chiller. Now I have my heater set to 77 and my chiller set to come on at 79. My tank is finally at a consistent temperature.

I wish I had central air. I might add that last summer I even ran an AC window unit in the tank room and still had issues with temp swings.

Fans do work, just got tired of cleaning and replacing them.

asfullax · 05/31/2006, 07:51 AM

Exactly! On any of the coasts, a fan alone will be hard to drop more then a 2-3 degrees. Until I popped up my lights, It could be 100+ outside / 85+ inside and I could easliely keep the temps around 79. Once I went to Halides, my temps were around 82-84 in the summer.

I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy a chiller. I have to say I really love that I do not have to worry about the temps anymore.

Anemonebuff · 05/31/2006, 08:20 AM

I prefer to run the A/C if the temp gets too high. Then me and the fish are chilled together.

rdmpe · 05/31/2006, 08:25 AM

winter 79-82, summer 80-84, no chiller

Here are some good articles to read regarding reef tank temperatures.

"What are Natural Reef Salinities and Temperatures?Really?
and Does It Matter?" By Dr. Ron Shimek
http://web.archive.org/web/200206101.../1/default.asp

"Reef Stability, A Moving Target" By Dr. Ron Shimek
http://www.reefland.com/rho/1105/reefc7.php

"The Great Temperature Debate" by Various Authors
http://www.reefs.org/library/article...mperature.html

"Reef Tank Temperatures ? Another View" By Richard Harker
(With a Reply from Ron Shimek)
http://web.archive.org/web/200011200.../1/default.asp

AZDesertRat · 05/31/2006, 08:36 AM

Fans worked great here in Phoenix for years. The two reasons I switched were I picked up a used 1/4 HP chiller for $150 (that was a no brainer) and I got tired of the high humidity in my home from evaporation. I was up to 6 gallons every other day with fans only! Now with the chiller set at the very same 80 degrees I am down to 5 gallons every 4 days and its much more comfortable inside. If I hadn't got such a good deal I would still be using fans and still be at 80 degrees either way.

Saltz Creep · 05/31/2006, 08:38 AM

78-79F all year.
MH and VHOs. No chiller!

I only use 6" canopy fans, an external return and skimmer pump, and externally-ballasted powerheads.

Pbrown3701 · 05/31/2006, 10:19 AM

Yes, fans work better in dry environments. The water is cooled by evaporation. When there is high humidity in the surrounding air, the equilibrium is shifted back towards the tank and less evaporation occurs - which means less heat loss (less cooling). If you're in a humid area, then you may just have to buy a chiller.

Mantis · 05/31/2006, 12:30 PM

...but if you do try to vent the heat of the chiller outside or your just heating the room air which will heat the tank again.

05/30/2006, 07:50 PM	#27
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	unplug you heater or at least check it. it may be stuck or working improperly . my tanks goes to 79.1 then the chiller kicks on. fans will definately do the trick. i put one on my tank and it reduces the chillers on time by at least half. __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

05/31/2006, 06:14 AM	#29
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	House thermostat set at 74ÂºF. Chiller is in the basement remote from both the tank room AND the sump room. Tank temp is 80ÂºF and steady year round. __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

05/31/2006, 07:40 AM	#31
fittdog8848 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 308	My tank with two fans on top tank ran at 80 - 84 in the summer. I always got an algae bloom and the inhabitants were always stressed. I finally said f#$% it and broke down and bought a chiller. Now I have my heater set to 77 and my chiller set to come on at 79. My tank is finally at a consistent temperature. I wish I had central air. I might add that last summer I even ran an AC window unit in the tank room and still had issues with temp swings. Fans do work, just got tired of cleaning and replacing them. __________________ When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with 50g refugium/sump

05/31/2006, 07:51 AM	#32
asfullax Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: albuquerque, NM Posts: 415	Exactly! On any of the coasts, a fan alone will be hard to drop more then a 2-3 degrees. Until I popped up my lights, It could be 100+ outside / 85+ inside and I could easliely keep the temps around 79. Once I went to Halides, my temps were around 82-84 in the summer. I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy a chiller. I have to say I really love that I do not have to worry about the temps anymore. __________________ 129 Reef, Custom Cree LED Lighting, 2x54w T5HO, Bubble Magus BM-Curve 7, 55Gal sump - fuge, Iwaki MD40RLXT, Vortech MP40, multiple Hydor's - born 5/1/16 Current Tank Info: 2.5yr old, 129 Mixed Reef

05/31/2006, 08:38 AM	#36
Saltz Creep Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hickville, FL Posts: 3,728	78-79F all year. MH and VHOs. No chiller! I only use 6" canopy fans, an external return and skimmer pump, and externally-ballasted powerheads. __________________ veni, vidi, vici piscis merda

05/30/2006, 06:50 PM	#26
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	Pick up a 4-6" personal type fan and install it in the cabinet blowing into the sump. Give it an overnight period with the lights off to bring the temps down. Depending on the ventilation you will see temps come down pretty dramatically.

05/31/2006, 07:10 AM	#30
Creade Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 1,186	My tank bounced to 85 on Memorial day, thats a bit of a rise from the normal 81.4. Looks like time to rework the cooling system

05/31/2006, 08:20 AM	#33
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	I prefer to run the A/C if the temp gets too high. Then me and the fish are chilled together.

05/31/2006, 08:25 AM	#34
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	winter 79-82, summer 80-84, no chiller Here are some good articles to read regarding reef tank temperatures. "What are Natural Reef Salinities and Temperatures?Really? and Does It Matter?" By Dr. Ron Shimek http://web.archive.org/web/200206101.../1/default.asp "Reef Stability, A Moving Target" By Dr. Ron Shimek http://www.reefland.com/rho/1105/reefc7.php "The Great Temperature Debate" by Various Authors http://www.reefs.org/library/article...mperature.html "Reef Tank Temperatures ? Another View" By Richard Harker (With a Reply from Ron Shimek) http://web.archive.org/web/200011200.../1/default.asp

05/31/2006, 08:36 AM	#35
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Fans worked great here in Phoenix for years. The two reasons I switched were I picked up a used 1/4 HP chiller for $150 (that was a no brainer) and I got tired of the high humidity in my home from evaporation. I was up to 6 gallons every other day with fans only! Now with the chiller set at the very same 80 degrees I am down to 5 gallons every 4 days and its much more comfortable inside. If I hadn't got such a good deal I would still be using fans and still be at 80 degrees either way.

05/31/2006, 10:19 AM	#37
Pbrown3701 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stillwater, OK Posts: 1,407	Yes, fans work better in dry environments. The water is cooled by evaporation. When there is high humidity in the surrounding air, the equilibrium is shifted back towards the tank and less evaporation occurs - which means less heat loss (less cooling). If you're in a humid area, then you may just have to buy a chiller.

05/31/2006, 12:30 PM	#38
Mantis Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,027	...but if you do try to vent the heat of the chiller outside or your just heating the room air which will heat the tank again. __________________ "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice." Steve Jobs TOTM September 2011 http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/87-tank-of-the-month Current Tank Info: 400 gallon