Cooling Issues in Reef Tank

Dream2aReef · 04/26/2011, 04:50 PM

We're having some issues with the temp in both our tanks ever since we put metal halides on them. Before we go out and buy chillers for them I was wonder what the recomended temp is in a reef tank that has fish, lps corals, sps corals, softies, as well as inverts.

josh27 · 04/26/2011, 04:56 PM

I really don't like my tanks to go over 80, but thats just my opinion. If you don't have fans on the tank, I would recommend you try that first before spending a lot of money on chillers.

ReeferBill · 04/26/2011, 05:00 PM

Hi Dream ; I try to keep my tank at 78degrees but my lights heat it up to 80 during the day but I also have my AC on 24/7 at 65 to 68 degrees. You do not want a large change in temp. A few degrees is alright but more than that can cause problems..

mike810 · 04/26/2011, 05:05 PM

anywhere from 77-82 i read is okay. You want your temps to be stable and a gradual climb not a sudden change in temps. I would try putting fans as stated above. It should be able to cool your tank a couple of degrees. I don't have a chiller on my tank, only a fan in my sump. But I don't have halides either, my tank can get up to 80degrees on a hot day.

billdogg · 04/26/2011, 05:56 PM

as long as they are stable, anywhere from about 76 to 82 will be fine. as suggested above, a fan blowing across the surface of the tank will do wonders. I put mine on the sump and fuge instead, just so I don't have to look at them.

Dream2aReef · 04/26/2011, 06:06 PM

ok maybe have to try a fan on the sump. just got the lights suspened so now i can raise them up a lil to see if that help's. we currently have heaters set to matain at 80 but with the halides on we where going up to 82 to 82.4 and wright now halides are only running for 4 hours have to see what other little tricks there are before buying a chiller

thanks
dave & stacey

Wrobel278 · 04/26/2011, 06:43 PM

Some fluctuation is fine. I would sujest dropping the temp on your heater a degree or two. This will give you a little more room for the temp to rise during the day when the lights are on. I have my low set at 78 and my high at 83 (thats when the chiller kicks on) without any issues for the past three years.

Dee12Dee12 · 04/26/2011, 07:01 PM

I'm having the same issue right now on my tank which is in the basement. Today my tank went up to 81.2 degrees. I'm a little nervous because it was 78 outside so what will the tank rise to when it's 90+ outside. I'll try fans for now but I'm thinking of going with the chiller because I rather be safe than sorry.

Dream2aReef · 04/26/2011, 07:29 PM

i agree a chiller would give me peace at mind but that is alot of money to buy 2 seperate chiller

williamjhitchcock · 04/26/2011, 09:50 PM

i started running my tank at 81 instead of 78. I started using small fans to cool the bulbs and a small back up fan to cool the tank. My tank never goes over 81 now and I sold my chiller since i dont need it anymore.

Dream2aReef · 04/27/2011, 09:23 AM

Right now the tank we just put the Halides on is sitting at 80.6 by the time the Halides come on at noon and back off at 4 the tank will push 83.0. Yesterday is the highest I've seen it at 82.9. I just don't want to see any issues arise because of the high temp. Hopefully with a few adjustments will get the temps under control.

bnumair · 04/27/2011, 09:55 AM

adding a fan on ur sump will cool things a bit and so will adding a fac across the top of ur tank. my temp ranges from 78(nite)-80(day) with a 1/2hp chiller but my tank is in-wall in the garage so i have to have a chiller.

04/26/2011, 04:50 PM	#1
Dream2aReef Memebr TBRC Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Port ,FL Posts: 214	Cooling Issues in Reef Tank We're having some issues with the temp in both our tanks ever since we put metal halides on them. Before we go out and buy chillers for them I was wonder what the recomended temp is in a reef tank that has fish, lps corals, sps corals, softies, as well as inverts.

04/26/2011, 05:00 PM	#3
ReeferBill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,906	Temp ? Hi Dream ; I try to keep my tank at 78degrees but my lights heat it up to 80 during the day but I also have my AC on 24/7 at 65 to 68 degrees. You do not want a large change in temp. A few degrees is alright but more than that can cause problems.. __________________ I never realized I had to be a Chemist and a Marine Biologist to maintain a Reef Aquarium!

04/26/2011, 05:56 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	as long as they are stable, anywhere from about 76 to 82 will be fine. as suggested above, a fan blowing across the surface of the tank will do wonders. I put mine on the sump and fuge instead, just so I don't have to look at them. __________________ 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

04/27/2011, 09:55 AM	#12
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	adding a fan on ur sump will cool things a bit and so will adding a fac across the top of ur tank. my temp ranges from 78(nite)-80(day) with a 1/2hp chiller but my tank is in-wall in the garage so i have to have a chiller. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

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04/26/2011, 04:56 PM	#2
josh27 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 178	I really don't like my tanks to go over 80, but thats just my opinion. If you don't have fans on the tank, I would recommend you try that first before spending a lot of money on chillers.

04/26/2011, 05:05 PM	#4
mike810 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 2,235	anywhere from 77-82 i read is okay. You want your temps to be stable and a gradual climb not a sudden change in temps. I would try putting fans as stated above. It should be able to cool your tank a couple of degrees. I don't have a chiller on my tank, only a fan in my sump. But I don't have halides either, my tank can get up to 80degrees on a hot day.

04/26/2011, 06:06 PM	#6
Dream2aReef Memebr TBRC Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Port ,FL Posts: 214	ok maybe have to try a fan on the sump. just got the lights suspened so now i can raise them up a lil to see if that help's. we currently have heaters set to matain at 80 but with the halides on we where going up to 82 to 82.4 and wright now halides are only running for 4 hours have to see what other little tricks there are before buying a chiller thanks dave & stacey

04/26/2011, 06:43 PM	#7
Wrobel278 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 133	Some fluctuation is fine. I would sujest dropping the temp on your heater a degree or two. This will give you a little more room for the temp to rise during the day when the lights are on. I have my low set at 78 and my high at 83 (thats when the chiller kicks on) without any issues for the past three years.

04/26/2011, 07:01 PM	#8
Dee12Dee12 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 55	I'm having the same issue right now on my tank which is in the basement. Today my tank went up to 81.2 degrees. I'm a little nervous because it was 78 outside so what will the tank rise to when it's 90+ outside. I'll try fans for now but I'm thinking of going with the chiller because I rather be safe than sorry.

04/26/2011, 07:29 PM	#9
Dream2aReef Memebr TBRC Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Port ,FL Posts: 214	i agree a chiller would give me peace at mind but that is alot of money to buy 2 seperate chiller

04/26/2011, 09:50 PM	#10
williamjhitchcock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Saint Petersburg Fl Posts: 205	i started running my tank at 81 instead of 78. I started using small fans to cool the bulbs and a small back up fan to cool the tank. My tank never goes over 81 now and I sold my chiller since i dont need it anymore.

04/27/2011, 09:23 AM	#11
Dream2aReef Memebr TBRC Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Port ,FL Posts: 214	Right now the tank we just put the Halides on is sitting at 80.6 by the time the Halides come on at noon and back off at 4 the tank will push 83.0. Yesterday is the highest I've seen it at 82.9. I just don't want to see any issues arise because of the high temp. Hopefully with a few adjustments will get the temps under control.