Question on Temperature in Reef tank

adnan26 · 05/13/2018, 08:20 PM

Hello everyone I have a rookie question lol. I am 6 months in the hobby and like everyone new have been buying a ton of stuff to keep my tank as stable and as healthy as possible. I am having issues with my temperature in the tank. its at a whooping 81.7 degrees without a heater. After I installed my UV sterilizer its gone up. I have 2 rio pumps inside my sump (one for reactor and the other for UV sterilizer), a octoreef skimmer, Vectra M1 return pump, 2 vortech powerheads, 2 radion xr30 pros. any suggestion on how to keep a stable 77-78 degrees in tank with all this in it. I am going to buy an apex system soon to keep more track of everything but any suggestion for the time being. any educated comments are appreciated

mcgyvr · 05/13/2018, 08:25 PM

81.7 is ok...
Simply pointing a fan at the water surface will reduce temps some typically but your current temp really isnt a problem..
76-83 is a good suggested range

adnan26 · 05/13/2018, 08:34 PM

I was concerned because my zoas and polyps closed at these temperatures for some reason. I usually have my temp at 78 but since the uv sterilizer my temps went up even with the heater disconnected. I will put a fan at the surface and see if that helps. Appreciate the prompt reply

Anemone · 05/13/2018, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

81.7 is ok...
Simply pointing a fan at the water surface will reduce temps some typically but your current temp really isnt a problem..
76-83 is a good suggested range

This. My current tank is a stable 76, but in the past my tanks have generally run in the 78-82 degree range, with an office tank that was generally 83. Like everything else in the reef tank world stability is more important than any specific number, as long as you are within a workable range. 83/84 is a little high, but mainly because any spike puts you into a definite danger zone. 80 is really an ideal target, so if you have a spike up or down, you have a couple of degrees of grace before things crash.

Kevin

homer1475 · 05/14/2018, 02:41 AM

If your temps went up with the addition of the UV, take it off line. Most are way undersized, which basically means they are pretty much useless. Sure it might kill some algae, or the occasional ich tomont if it happens to pass through it, but in reality UV sterilizers that are made for this hobby are way undersized and pretty much useless.

rvareef · 05/14/2018, 05:24 AM

I would make a manifold and run your reactor and UV off the return pump, and get rid of the rios, that should cool your tank below 80

RobZilla04 · 05/14/2018, 06:51 AM

I second the suggestion to run the UV off the return with a valve to regulate flow. You're on the top end of the temp range & although it's not a problem at this point it certainly could be quickly should you suffer a power loss. Especially as the hurricane season approaches in FL.

adnan26 · 05/16/2018, 05:38 PM

Yea I just modified the plumbing to run from the return pump into the UV and that dropped it 1.2 degrees (essentially one RIO pump out of the sump

I was considering running my reactor also but these murlok connectors aren't very convenient to get parts for. I will see if I can figure something to get the reactor pump out of the sump also. Ill keep ya'll posted and do appreciate all the feedback. Being new to the hobby advice from experienced hobbyist does go a long way.

AlSimmons · 05/16/2018, 05:53 PM

76-85 has never been a problem for me. The amount of time it varies between the two might be a different story. IMO these corals were designed for such things. There's always cool pockets in those tropical waters. Hmm.

top shelf · 05/16/2018, 07:05 PM

Like everyone mentioned your still in the safe zone as far as temp goes. The only issue really is there isn't much room for error. If your still worried like mcgyvr said a fan pointed at the tank can help. If you want to go a step further you can get an inkbird controller. They make a model that can monitor both heating and cooling with an outlet for a heater and one for a chiller, fan or other means of lowering temp. You could plug a fan into it and set it to turn on after it reaches say 80° and shut off when it reaches 78°. From everything I've read there very reliable. Rather then shell out another couple hundred for an Apex when I get my next tank going I'm purchasing one since there only like $40.

hkgar · 05/17/2018, 01:20 PM

What o you keep your room temp at? I'm in Michigan, not Florida, and in the summer I deep the a/c at 74. Remember your starting temp for a tank with nothing will be room temp and go up from there as you add heat producing equipment.

My tank stays at about 78-79 but if I move the a/c to 76 the tank starts to approach 81-82

adnan26 · 05/17/2018, 07:03 PM

The tank is located in my living room and the AC in my house is running at a constant 70-72 throughout the day(Florida is HOT all year around except maybe 2 weeks in winter). Top shelf I am definitely going to purchase a tunze aquawind and see if that drops it a few degrees. Reason i was so worried about the temps is because 80% of my corals i get from WWC and i have been told by some friends in the hobby that WWC gets there corals from cooler climates. My buddy runs his tank at 76 degrees all day and he says he has been getting more color to try and drop the temp.

adnan26 · 05/17/2018, 07:05 PM

Oh Also i was considering leaving the UV off during the day and when my G4's turn off at Midnight then turn on my UV throughout the night to see if maybe i chip off another .5 degrees during the day.

ryeguyy84 · 05/18/2018, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adnan26

Yea I just modified the plumbing to run from the return pump into the UV and that dropped it 1.2 degrees (essentially one RIO pump out of the sump

I was considering running my reactor also but these murlok connectors aren't very convenient to get parts for. I will see if I can figure something to get the reactor pump out of the sump also. Ill keep ya'll posted and do appreciate all the feedback. Being new to the hobby advice from experienced hobbyist does go a long way.

I get my Murlok fitting from BRS. they have a threaded fitting that had the push fitting on one end.

PatW · 05/18/2018, 11:40 AM

If you want to decrease the temperature of your tank, you can get a controller and have it turn on some fans directed at the water either in the display or in the sump. You should be able to run your tank at 78 degrees easily.

adnan26 · 05/18/2018, 03:33 PM

Yea I will be buying an Apex and a set of tunze aquawind fans.

05/13/2018, 08:20 PM	#1
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	Question on Temperature in Reef tank Hello everyone I have a rookie question lol. I am 6 months in the hobby and like everyone new have been buying a ton of stuff to keep my tank as stable and as healthy as possible. I am having issues with my temperature in the tank. its at a whooping 81.7 degrees without a heater. After I installed my UV sterilizer its gone up. I have 2 rio pumps inside my sump (one for reactor and the other for UV sterilizer), a octoreef skimmer, Vectra M1 return pump, 2 vortech powerheads, 2 radion xr30 pros. any suggestion on how to keep a stable 77-78 degrees in tank with all this in it. I am going to buy an apex system soon to keep more track of everything but any suggestion for the time being. any educated comments are appreciated

05/13/2018, 08:25 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	81.7 is ok... Simply pointing a fan at the water surface will reduce temps some typically but your current temp really isnt a problem.. 76-83 is a good suggested range __________________ Who me?

05/14/2018, 02:41 AM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	If your temps went up with the addition of the UV, take it off line. Most are way undersized, which basically means they are pretty much useless. Sure it might kill some algae, or the occasional ich tomont if it happens to pass through it, but in reality UV sterilizers that are made for this hobby are way undersized and pretty much useless. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

05/14/2018, 06:51 AM	#7
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	I second the suggestion to run the UV off the return with a valve to regulate flow. You're on the top end of the temp range & although it's not a problem at this point it certainly could be quickly should you suffer a power loss. Especially as the hurricane season approaches in FL. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

05/16/2018, 07:05 PM	#10
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	Like everyone mentioned your still in the safe zone as far as temp goes. The only issue really is there isn't much room for error. If your still worried like mcgyvr said a fan pointed at the tank can help. If you want to go a step further you can get an inkbird controller. They make a model that can monitor both heating and cooling with an outlet for a heater and one for a chiller, fan or other means of lowering temp. You could plug a fan into it and set it to turn on after it reaches say 80° and shut off when it reaches 78°. From everything I've read there very reliable. Rather then shell out another couple hundred for an Apex when I get my next tank going I'm purchasing one since there only like $40. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

05/13/2018, 08:34 PM	#3
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	I was concerned because my zoas and polyps closed at these temperatures for some reason. I usually have my temp at 78 but since the uv sterilizer my temps went up even with the heater disconnected. I will put a fan at the surface and see if that helps. Appreciate the prompt reply

05/14/2018, 05:24 AM	#6
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	I would make a manifold and run your reactor and UV off the return pump, and get rid of the rios, that should cool your tank below 80

05/16/2018, 05:38 PM	#8
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	Yea I just modified the plumbing to run from the return pump into the UV and that dropped it 1.2 degrees (essentially one RIO pump out of the sump I was considering running my reactor also but these murlok connectors aren't very convenient to get parts for. I will see if I can figure something to get the reactor pump out of the sump also. Ill keep ya'll posted and do appreciate all the feedback. Being new to the hobby advice from experienced hobbyist does go a long way.

05/16/2018, 05:53 PM	#9
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	76-85 has never been a problem for me. The amount of time it varies between the two might be a different story. IMO these corals were designed for such things. There's always cool pockets in those tropical waters. Hmm.

05/17/2018, 01:20 PM	#11
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	What o you keep your room temp at? I'm in Michigan, not Florida, and in the summer I deep the a/c at 74. Remember your starting temp for a tank with nothing will be room temp and go up from there as you add heat producing equipment. My tank stays at about 78-79 but if I move the a/c to 76 the tank starts to approach 81-82 __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

05/17/2018, 07:03 PM	#12
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	The tank is located in my living room and the AC in my house is running at a constant 70-72 throughout the day(Florida is HOT all year around except maybe 2 weeks in winter). Top shelf I am definitely going to purchase a tunze aquawind and see if that drops it a few degrees. Reason i was so worried about the temps is because 80% of my corals i get from WWC and i have been told by some friends in the hobby that WWC gets there corals from cooler climates. My buddy runs his tank at 76 degrees all day and he says he has been getting more color to try and drop the temp.

05/17/2018, 07:05 PM	#13
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	Oh Also i was considering leaving the UV off during the day and when my G4's turn off at Midnight then turn on my UV throughout the night to see if maybe i chip off another .5 degrees during the day.

05/18/2018, 11:40 AM	#15
PatW Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 275	If you want to decrease the temperature of your tank, you can get a controller and have it turn on some fans directed at the water either in the display or in the sump. You should be able to run your tank at 78 degrees easily.

05/18/2018, 03:33 PM	#16
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	Yea I will be buying an Apex and a set of tunze aquawind fans.