Heat budget problems in the desert

AZBigJohn · 06/24/2012, 11:24 PM

Fairly new to the reef world; turning a 55 gallon fish-only tank to a reef tank; I live in the middle of Arizona, and we have a few hot months here. I upgraded my lights to LED, which I thought would not make much of a heat impact, but my water temp creeps up to 85 degrees in the hottest part of the day. My tank has always stayed about 82 in the summer months. This is a two-month problem, and I wasn't sure a chiller was a good investment; the water temp was never a problem in my fish only, but I assume it will be in a reef tank.

I have an in-sump pump and skimmer; I know those are adding to the heat budget. I have a 20-gallon sump. I thought about fans in the cabinet to help, but then I increase evaporation. I was wondering about converting to an in-line return pump, but don't know if that will result in less heat, or not.

Any ideas or thoughts?

TX..r33f · 06/24/2012, 11:34 PM

Befor you invest in a chiller wich is pricy, i would try buying 3 computre fans. Three for the top of the tank then buy one for the sump.

bebangs · 06/25/2012, 01:09 AM

have the same problem, been reading about passive cooling lately.

currently im planning to install an exhaust fans first to keep the hot air out. if that doesnt work, i'd add a fan in the sump or on the top. sure i'd get more evaporation, but water refill is cheap compared to a chiller.

Mine is not setup yet but i think this would work, let me know how you solve yours as im having the same problem.

reeftanknewbie · 06/25/2012, 05:22 AM

I would say start with a fan on either the tank or sump and see what temp drops you get.

Ron Reefman · 06/25/2012, 06:14 AM

AZBigJohn, you have led lights which should be better than my 1300w of MH. So living in the desert SW, just what temp do you keep your house at? I'm in SW Florida and we average 90-95F for high temps 6+ months of the year and we keep our house at 80-82F. Now I have a big chiller, but it really doesn't run all that much. If you reach in your sump and feel your pump, is it warm? Mine is as cool as the water and if yours feels warm, a better pump or external pump may help some. I used fans for a while, but a 180g tank full of lps & sps coral isn't something I'm going to play Russian Roulette with. So I got a big chiller and my water is always between 78-80F. The cost of all the coral and fish in my tank would pay my big fat electric bills for more than 18 months!

jerpa · 06/25/2012, 06:44 AM

I would just use a clip on fan over the sump. Water is cheap. I get a 2-4 degree drop from the fans alone. On a side note, if the corals in your tank have been acclimated to temperature variations they will easily handle temperatures up to 86+ and rather large swings throughput the day. You do want to keep a little breathing room in there but I wouldnt be too concerned, and I sure wouldn't be buying a chiller for those temps.

AZBigJohn · 06/27/2012, 12:03 AM

On the positive side, I picked up two computer cooling fans, and just placed them to blow over the water, and that alone bought me two degrees, so I think some planning and effort into putting some in the sump cabinet, as well as possibly making an cooling top with fans might cover the temp range I need during the hot months. We have hit 110 a couple of times this week, and as my tank sits against an outside wall, I think that is building up the heat...

Thanks for the input everyone!

06/24/2012, 11:24 PM	#1
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	Heat budget problems in the desert Fairly new to the reef world; turning a 55 gallon fish-only tank to a reef tank; I live in the middle of Arizona, and we have a few hot months here. I upgraded my lights to LED, which I thought would not make much of a heat impact, but my water temp creeps up to 85 degrees in the hottest part of the day. My tank has always stayed about 82 in the summer months. This is a two-month problem, and I wasn't sure a chiller was a good investment; the water temp was never a problem in my fish only, but I assume it will be in a reef tank. I have an in-sump pump and skimmer; I know those are adding to the heat budget. I have a 20-gallon sump. I thought about fans in the cabinet to help, but then I increase evaporation. I was wondering about converting to an in-line return pump, but don't know if that will result in less heat, or not. Any ideas or thoughts? __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

06/25/2012, 05:22 AM	#4
reeftanknewbie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Effort PA Posts: 1,067	I would say start with a fan on either the tank or sump and see what temp drops you get. __________________ 80 gallon Blue Line rimless tank, 40 gallon breeder sump, DIY ATS, SWC 160 cone skimmer, ocean revive LED. Current Tank Info: 80 gallon blue line rimless tank

06/25/2012, 06:14 AM	#5
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	AZBigJohn, you have led lights which should be better than my 1300w of MH. So living in the desert SW, just what temp do you keep your house at? I'm in SW Florida and we average 90-95F for high temps 6+ months of the year and we keep our house at 80-82F. Now I have a big chiller, but it really doesn't run all that much. If you reach in your sump and feel your pump, is it warm? Mine is as cool as the water and if yours feels warm, a better pump or external pump may help some. I used fans for a while, but a 180g tank full of lps & sps coral isn't something I'm going to play Russian Roulette with. So I got a big chiller and my water is always between 78-80F. The cost of all the coral and fish in my tank would pay my big fat electric bills for more than 18 months! __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/25/2012, 06:44 AM	#6
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	I would just use a clip on fan over the sump. Water is cheap. I get a 2-4 degree drop from the fans alone. On a side note, if the corals in your tank have been acclimated to temperature variations they will easily handle temperatures up to 86+ and rather large swings throughput the day. You do want to keep a little breathing room in there but I wouldnt be too concerned, and I sure wouldn't be buying a chiller for those temps. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

06/27/2012, 12:03 AM	#7
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	On the positive side, I picked up two computer cooling fans, and just placed them to blow over the water, and that alone bought me two degrees, so I think some planning and effort into putting some in the sump cabinet, as well as possibly making an cooling top with fans might cover the temp range I need during the hot months. We have hit 110 a couple of times this week, and as my tank sits against an outside wall, I think that is building up the heat... Thanks for the input everyone! __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

06/24/2012, 11:34 PM	#2
TX..r33f Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Houston Tx :) Posts: 611	Befor you invest in a chiller wich is pricy, i would try buying 3 computre fans. Three for the top of the tank then buy one for the sump.

06/25/2012, 01:09 AM	#3
bebangs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 108	have the same problem, been reading about passive cooling lately. currently im planning to install an exhaust fans first to keep the hot air out. if that doesnt work, i'd add a fan in the sump or on the top. sure i'd get more evaporation, but water refill is cheap compared to a chiller. Mine is not setup yet but i think this would work, let me know how you solve yours as im having the same problem.