Heat accumulation in my tank

[misteramerica]

I have a 150 gal. saltwater tank that has 4 Aquaclear 70 powerheads. The termperature in my house during the summer stays at 78 degrees, but the temp. in the tank stays at 84 degrees regardless if the lights are on or off. I have left the lights off for several days with no change in temp. I have checked the temp. in the water with two different thermometers and have used two different thermostats in the house. I have completely unplugged my water heaters. The tank is not adjacent to any external walls that might radiate heat from the outside. I have an external Fluval FX5 filtering system. 84 degrees is obviously much too warm to keep most saltwater life and has made my investment a total waste of money so far. Is it possible that all this heat is coming from the powerheads? Is there anything I can do to mitigate the heat?

 

[mr_x]

well, the aquaclear 70 uses 20 watts to run it and only pumps out 400gph, while something like a koralia 1 which is the same gph uses only 3.5 watts. it's possible that they are raising the temp, but i would like to ask what type of thermometer you are using. i'm wondering if it's a digital one. if so, i've had more than a few of those that were way off. try using a plain old glass thermometer that floats in the tank, or is suction cupped to the inside glass. they are accurate.

 

[keith burn]

Do you have a sump on it ?
And if yes, what pump is in it?
What light (pc's,vho,or,mh)are you runing?
How long do you run the lights?
If you ask me i bet it is you light.

 

[markeo99]

take off the glass top if you have one and run a fan blowing across the tank

 

[metweezer]

A chiller may be needed, at least a fan.

 

[mr_x]

but the question is, if the room is 78 degrees, and the tank is 84, what is causing it?

 

[misteramerica]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2732958
well, the aquaclear 70 uses 20 watts to run it and only pumps out 400gph, while something like a koralia 1 which is the same gph uses only 3.5 watts. it's possible that they are raising the temp, but i would like to ask what type of thermometer you are using. i'm wondering if it's a digital one. if so, i've had more than a few of those that were way off. try using a plain old glass thermometer that floats in the tank, or is suction cupped to the inside glass. they are accurate.
I use two thermometers. One that is attached to the outside of the glass and one with a suction cup that is attached to the inside. They both read the same temp.

 

[misteramerica]

Originally Posted by keith burn
http:///forum/post/2732990
Do you have a sump on it ?
And if yes, what pump is in it?
What light (pc's,vho,or,mh)are you runing?
How long do you run the lights?
If you ask me i bet it is you light.
I have turned the lights off for days at a time with no change in water temp.

 

[metweezer]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2732958
well, the aquaclear 70 uses 20 watts to run it and only pumps out 400gph, while something like a koralia 1 which is the same gph uses only 3.5 watts. it's possible that they are raising the temp, but i would like to ask what type of thermometer you are using. i'm wondering if it's a digital one. if so, i've had more than a few of those that were way off. try using a plain old glass thermometer that floats in the tank, or is suction cupped to the inside glass. they are accurate.
Mr X,
where are you finding the wattage of these powerheads? Is this info readily available?

 

[mr_x]

yes. just g o o g l e the pump name. you'll find the info.

 

[metweezer]

X,
you sure are conscientious

 

[keith burn]

Originally Posted by misteramerica
http:///forum/post/2733211
I have turned the lights off for days at a time with no change in water temp.
ok the light question is no, but what of the outher questions?
Do you have a sump on it ?
And if yes, what pump is in it?
What light (pc's,vho,or,mh)are you runing?
How long do you run the lights?
If you ask me i bet it is you light.

 

[dmyers557]

I had this same problem. It was not the lights for me either. My cure was to run a fan across the top of the tank.

 

[dlee]

I had high temperature problems last summer, so this summer I bought a cheap clip on fan and ran it over the top of the tank. It does the trick!

 

[nigerbang]

Originally Posted by dlee
http:///forum/post/2736159
I had high temperature problems last summer, so this summer I bought a cheap clip on fan and ran it over the top of the tank. It does the trick!
This will work for most people, so its worth a try...Adding a fan will cause evap to go up aswell though..

 

[metweezer]

+1. I topoff a gallon a day in my 29 because of my fan, but it keeps my tank at 79-80.