My tank has been running between 81 and 84 degrees. Is this too hot? I have the MH going 6 hours a day. What's the minimum it can run and keep everything happy, clams-soft corals-stony corals and polyps. I might have to invest in a chiller $$$$$$$
MH heating up tank!
- Thread starter Fishead77
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Ed Hahn
Life is A Highway...
a few tricks
here are some tricks I used. This may work, it may not.
You can run your lights at night when it is cooler. You can place a five inch fan where it blows across your water, your tank cools by evaporation.
You can also place a fan across your sump. You can also freeze a water bottle and place it in your sump. You could also keep the temperature down in your house to help. 84 is really pushing the limit.
hope this helps,
Ed
here are some tricks I used. This may work, it may not. You can run your lights at night when it is cooler. You can place a five inch fan where it blows across your water, your tank cools by evaporation.
You can also place a fan across your sump. You can also freeze a water bottle and place it in your sump. You could also keep the temperature down in your house to help. 84 is really pushing the limit.
hope this helps,
Ed
Krish
RF STAFF
If you've got time to spare, look through this thread. I had the same issue and had tons of help sorting it out. You will see here what worked and what didn't, but in a nut shell, I added 5 fans to my canopy (3 sucking air out of the top and 2 blowing in cool air across the water) removed the back off of my stand and put a fan on the sump, and added a chiller. Without the chiller though, I dropped the temp off from 85 ish to 79, but the temp swings were like 3 degrees so I got the chiller. I wish you the best
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14557
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14557
Krish
RF STAFF
I agree with Brenden, but just be prepared to top off more often because you will evaporate quite a bit of water. My top off's have been bumped up to almost 1.5 extra gals a day!
I followed your thread krish when you added your new MH's. I live in Spokane (it doesn't get very hot) and the tank is in the basement. I have two 4" icecaps, one blows one sucks. I also have a 4" fan blowing on my sump. I also have a 12" fan blowing on the tank when the lights are on and I have a auto top off.
Krish
RF STAFF
Hmmm....What's the temp of the basement? I've read many times that 84 degrees is fine for keeping corals, but is as high as you want to go. I see a lot of people add frozen bottles as well to their sumps rotating 2 from the freezer to the sump. May be an option. Have you checked to see if there are any pumps causing a bit of heat?
Detri
Well-known member
Temp swings like Krish's are bad for Reef tanks. But you have a very small swing....so far...The one thing about adding a chiller to your system is, you need to take into consideration, the heat that the chiller produces. If you don't have proper air circulation you can actually add to your problem. If you can drop your temp 2-3 degrees just by using a fan, then I would say that is the best bet. You can put it on a timer with your MH, and save money in hydro and keep your tank stable. If you have a controller, even better.
Just some food for thought.
Just some food for thought.
The Apprentice
Well-known member
Temp swings like Krish's are bad for Reef tanks.
Please forgive me Krish
Hi Fishead 77 I have to agree very strongly with Ron I went thru the same problems you are going thru 2 years ago I hate to say it but if you want the tank to be very stable and minimize those temp swings. Since adding my chillers everything is very happy," clams-soft corals-stony corals and polyps."
I know they cost alot but the live stock they save pay for themselves I know we have some pretty bad heat on the eastern side of the state. on another note don't forget and i know this will be a big payback this winter them chillers make great heaters in the house!
Please forgive me Krish
Hi Fishead 77 I have to agree very strongly with Ron I went thru the same problems you are going thru 2 years ago I hate to say it but if you want the tank to be very stable and minimize those temp swings. Since adding my chillers everything is very happy," clams-soft corals-stony corals and polyps."
I know they cost alot but the live stock they save pay for themselves I know we have some pretty bad heat on the eastern side of the state. on another note don't forget and i know this will be a big payback this winter them chillers make great heaters in the house!
Detri said:
Slickdonkey
Drink me
Fishead77 said:
Hahahaha :razz: ... sorry, couldn't help it. I'll shut up now.
The temp in the basement varies with the outside temp but doesn't get as hot as the upstairs. At night it can really drop, in the summer down to the 60's. In the days in to the 80's. I have Rio powereads for circulation and an eheim in my sump. I know these are causing heat but it was maintainable and constant. Now with the MH on for 6hrs it raises the temp by almost 2 degrees. As stated the variance is not good. I hadn't thought of putting frozen bottled water in the sump, it would only be for a few months out of the year. Great ideas, thanks.krish75 said:
Krish
RF STAFF
ROFL!! Family site man family site :lol:
That's ok Jeff...I don't have any swings anymore thanks to the chiller
shallowreef
Well-known member
I thought the same as well!
Anyways,
I would not let this problem just sit around and hope it will resolve itself. Because it won't! Trust Me. I cooked my tank to 92* with halides! I would most deffinately suggest the fans i would set it up so that they kick on when your halides kick on, and go off when they go off. it should help a lot!!
Nick
Anyways,
I would not let this problem just sit around and hope it will resolve itself. Because it won't! Trust Me. I cooked my tank to 92* with halides! I would most deffinately suggest the fans i would set it up so that they kick on when your halides kick on, and go off when they go off. it should help a lot!!
Nick
I agree, not a problem to take lightly. At night it really cools down but the tank stays warm. It gets in the 50's and 60's yet I checked the the temp. at 0400 this morn and it was 82 degrees! That tells me the powerheads are keeping it hot. As I see it my choices are go with a closed loop to get rid of powerhead heat but I will still get temp swings from the MH or spend the $$$$ and get a chiller. I guess for now I will be putting frozen bottles in the sump. Anybody have suggestions on a good priced chiller. Thanks.shallowreef said:
LakeEd
Achilles
Your powerheads may be adding to the tank temp, yes... but if you use a Submersible pump for your return... that may be a larger contributor to any heat problem you have.
I mention this... because when I 1st setup my tank... using a MAG-18 in addition to my normal recirc pump... my tank temp went up a good 2 degrees. I ended up putting in an acrylic stand, to JUST get the MAG out of the water in my sump... then used a very short (3.5") piece of tygon on the input to that MAG 18... to curve down into the water for its input. Within a day, my temp had dropped back down those 2 degrees.
Just know, if you do something similar... that having to SUCK up water for its input, isn't something that the submersible pumps are really designed to do. They don't like it... but I have't had any problems with my MAG-18 in about 2 years of it running that way. Just something you'd need to be informed of though.
I mention this... because when I 1st setup my tank... using a MAG-18 in addition to my normal recirc pump... my tank temp went up a good 2 degrees. I ended up putting in an acrylic stand, to JUST get the MAG out of the water in my sump... then used a very short (3.5") piece of tygon on the input to that MAG 18... to curve down into the water for its input. Within a day, my temp had dropped back down those 2 degrees.
Just know, if you do something similar... that having to SUCK up water for its input, isn't something that the submersible pumps are really designed to do. They don't like it... but I have't had any problems with my MAG-18 in about 2 years of it running that way. Just something you'd need to be informed of though.
The Apprentice
Well-known member
Tank size? & Chiller choices
Hi Fishead 77 is this the thread on your tank size?
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15188
If so i am guessing you have only one Halide lamp? If so what size is it 250 watt? this will be some of inputs on a chiller size.
Hi Fishead 77 is this the thread on your tank size?
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15188
If so i am guessing you have only one Halide lamp? If so what size is it 250 watt? this will be some of inputs on a chiller size.
Fishead77 said:
Ed Hahn
Life is A Highway...
You may have a heater stuck on, have you checked that besides your halides and pumps?
My heater won't fit in my sump, it's in the tank bottom back (under a lot of rocksEd Hahn said:
) I'll have to check it, damn. //Apprentice, I have 1 MH 400 watt. I've been checking on chillers and I really can't afford one right now.//Lake Ed, I have been running my tank for about 4 months before adding the sump. It has a Eheim 1250 (300 gph) and I agree with you. I think that's a part of the problem. I think those Eheim's are submersible or non, either way. I'll have to try what you suggested. I've been considering a different sump pump, any suggestions on a good sump pump.I think my overflow will do 500gph. My sumps only a 10g, maybe I should just redo the entire sump, bigger with a different pump. Hmmmmm. Thanks for all the ideas.
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