temp question

orbit · 05/08/2008, 07:23 PM

how do i know which temp reading if actually correct?

my system is 75G tanks with 45G sump( 30G full) so about 100G of water

in the sump i have a 300W heater in the first baffle and 150W in the return area

im running 2 thermometers, one is a coralife digital thermometer( its in the sump) and the second one is a pinpoint wireless one (in the main display)

the reading are the following
Coralife - 79 without lights on , 81 with light on
Pinpoint - 83 without lights on , 85 with light on

the pinpoint, i bought used

when i put my hand in the water, it doesnt feel that warm, and all my coral and fish are doing fine

kevin2000 · 05/08/2008, 07:46 PM

Not sure of your setup .. but remember that sumps are just small tanks with lots of equipment/pumps/heaters and tend to be warmer than the main tank. In short - depending on where your temp probes are its common to get different temperature readings.

Aquarist007 · 05/08/2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin2000
Not sure of your setup .. but remember that sumps are just small tanks with lots of equipment/pumps/heaters and tend to be warmer than the main tank. In short - depending on where your temp probes are its common to get different temperature readings.

that's an interesting point Kevin, if you have excellent flow rates, wouldn't be able to assume that there is not much difference from DT to sump and refugium etc

mrbigshot · 05/08/2008, 07:58 PM

can you move the sump probe to the main tank and see what it reads?

orbit · 05/08/2008, 08:00 PM

i get what your saying kevin, because water still have to travel up, it loses heat in the process,

but the reading on the sump is lower than the reading in main tank, according to the two different thermometer

orbit · 05/08/2008, 08:01 PM

before i got the pinpoint, the coralife was inthe main tank, and the reading was ~ 77,

tmz · 05/08/2008, 08:30 PM

I try to keep my temperature probes away from the sump.

Aquarist007 · 05/08/2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tmz
I try to keep my temperature probes away from the sump.

why is that?

tmz · 05/08/2008, 09:56 PM

I think it is probably an unreliable place to measure. I have three pumps in there and lot's of movement and lot's of heat from the pumps and the heaters. It might work accurately but it just seems easier and more reliable to put it in a tank. I have not tested it though.

spleify · 05/08/2008, 10:16 PM

I would do as mentioned earlier, put both temp probes in the display and se what they read. Then put them in the sump, and see what they both read.
I might also make a suggestion to get a drop in floating glass thermometer. While they might not be as easy and convenient to read they are very accurate. Also know there is an allowance on all thermometers +/- so take that into consideration.
You probably know your tank pretty well and would be able to tell if it was running at 85 your tank eyes would tell you.
My sump usually tests at a degree or 2 cooler also, I attribute it to being closer to the ground, and not being subjected to the lighting in the display.

HTH

Spleify

Aquarist007 · 05/09/2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spleify
I would do as mentioned earlier, put both temp probes in the display and se what they read. Then put them in the sump, and see what they both read.
I might also make a suggestion to get a drop in floating glass thermometer. While they might not be as easy and convenient to read they are very accurate. Also know there is an allowance on all thermometers +/- so take that into consideration.
You probably know your tank pretty well and would be able to tell if it was running at 85 your tank eyes would tell you.
My sump usually tests at a degree or 2 cooler also, I attribute it to being closer to the ground, and not being subjected to the lighting in the display.

HTH

Spleify

this made me curious--so I put the probe in the tank, sump fug#1, and fug#2---it was the same
--------but I will try it again a few hours after the halides have been on plus at three levels in the display tank

05/08/2008, 08:30 PM	#7
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I try to keep my temperature probes away from the sump. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

05/08/2008, 09:56 PM	#9
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I think it is probably an unreliable place to measure. I have three pumps in there and lot's of movement and lot's of heat from the pumps and the heaters. It might work accurately but it just seems easier and more reliable to put it in a tank. I have not tested it though. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

05/08/2008, 10:16 PM	#10
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	I would do as mentioned earlier, put both temp probes in the display and se what they read. Then put them in the sump, and see what they both read. I might also make a suggestion to get a drop in floating glass thermometer. While they might not be as easy and convenient to read they are very accurate. Also know there is an allowance on all thermometers +/- so take that into consideration. You probably know your tank pretty well and would be able to tell if it was running at 85 your tank eyes would tell you. My sump usually tests at a degree or 2 cooler also, I attribute it to being closer to the ground, and not being subjected to the lighting in the display. HTH Spleify __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

05/08/2008, 07:23 PM	#1
orbit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 500	temp question how do i know which temp reading if actually correct? my system is 75G tanks with 45G sump( 30G full) so about 100G of water in the sump i have a 300W heater in the first baffle and 150W in the return area im running 2 thermometers, one is a coralife digital thermometer( its in the sump) and the second one is a pinpoint wireless one (in the main display) the reading are the following Coralife - 79 without lights on , 81 with light on Pinpoint - 83 without lights on , 85 with light on the pinpoint, i bought used when i put my hand in the water, it doesnt feel that warm, and all my coral and fish are doing fine

05/08/2008, 07:46 PM	#2
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Not sure of your setup .. but remember that sumps are just small tanks with lots of equipment/pumps/heaters and tend to be warmer than the main tank. In short - depending on where your temp probes are its common to get different temperature readings.

05/08/2008, 07:58 PM	#4
mrbigshot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mn Posts: 387	can you move the sump probe to the main tank and see what it reads?

05/08/2008, 08:00 PM	#5
orbit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 500	i get what your saying kevin, because water still have to travel up, it loses heat in the process, but the reading on the sump is lower than the reading in main tank, according to the two different thermometer

05/08/2008, 08:01 PM	#6
orbit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 500	before i got the pinpoint, the coralife was inthe main tank, and the reading was ~ 77,