Heat!!

[us~^>shark]

I am about 1 week into my tank cycling. Have had fun setting it up so far and have been trying to do it right from the beginning so I can have a lot of options down the road.
The problem I'm having is with HEAT. Finally got my digital remote thermometer yesterday and set it up. The temp was 84.2! I also got my coral life timer and set up my lights. As I write this they have been on for about 2 hours. Temp is 84.9!
I'm not sure if my pumps could be adding to the heat (I have 6 total). A couple of them were kinda cheap on the auction site. Let me tell you what I have and any thoughts you have would be appreciated, other than buying a chiller (already have spent a bundle to get this far, have to take it a little slower).
* 135g tank (72" x 18" x 24")
* Oak canopy with open back
* Wet / Dry filter with skimmer (rated 150g)
* 2 CA 2200 pumps (1 for return / 1 for skimmer)
* 2 ViaAqua 2300 pumps (running underground jets system for water flow at the bottom of tank - idea from this forum)
* 2 Maxi-Jet 1200 pumps at each end and in middle of tank for water circulation
* 72" retro fit lighting system with reflector mounted to top of canopy (3 250W MH's, 2 160W VHO Actinics)
* 72" moon lighting with 12 lights (only on at night)
* 2 fans mounted to back of canopy blowing in on each end (didn't blow one out since back was open)
* 500W heater that hasn't had to turn on. Status light is on, but not the light showing heater is on)
I think that's about it other than I added about 35lbs of LR last weekend and about the same this weekend. While the weight isn't a lot, there are some big pieces and if fills my tank pretty well (lot's of nooks and holes along with some solid).
Used Red Sea salt to set up. Was at 1.024 last weekend but is now registering 1.026 using same hydrometer (Instant Ocean). Have kept adding RO/DI daily for evaporation with no additional salt. Is the temp changing the number?
I really want to get all this figured out over the next couple of weeks so I can be ready when my tank finishes cycling.
Thanks for the help!!!!!
:help:

 

[tomski1024]

I see you're in TX, which isn't exactly the coldest state in the Union, either. Where is your tank located? If it's near a window where it's going to get direct sunlight, that'll really up the temperature of the water in the tank. Also, pay attention to the temperature of the room it's in- if the room is hot, the tank will be hot. Be sure that your heater isn't still giving off heat- unplug it. Hopefully that'll help get the temp down. I'm still pretty new to the hobby (about a year in) but I had similar problems when I started. Once I closed the curtains and turned down the thermostat, everything has been okay, and I've been sitting right about 80 degrees since.

 

[us~^>shark]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will unplug the heater just in case. As for location, it is on an angled wall in our family room. The room is large with a 24' ceiling so it is relatively cool. There is some morning sun that hits the tank, but the tank is about 15' from the window an on an angle so I don't think it is a big problem.
Any other thoughts?

 

[tizzo]

I think you should direct your fans outward. Even though the back is open. The heat will rise on it's own, everything you can do to get it away from the tank would help. Sometimes a PH can over heat. Since you are still cycling, try turning off all but one source of water flow. Wait a day, see if the temp drops and then plug them back in 1 per day and see if it's any individual one causing all that heat.
What's your room temp?

 

[us~^>shark]

Thanks. Room temp is in upper 70's to around 80 lately. Today was a little cooler. Haven't turned on the AC yet, but it is almost time here in Dallas.
When I returned home tonight, the temp had fallen to 83.7. I don't think tt got any higher than 84.9. Is that swing too much in a 12 hour period?

 

[clarkiiclo]

With that large of a tank I would invest in a chiller........

 

[murph145]

you have too much lighting under a canopy to keep cool with just 2 cooling fans.... with that much lighting under a canopy u need a chiller thats the only way to keep your tank at a stable temperature....
if you cant afford that the next thing i would do is install 2 4" cooling fans in the "sides" of your canopy one blowing in and the other pulling out the hot air.... 2 fans blowing in from the back wont do enough to cool your tank.,.... i have 400W of PC over my 100g tank and before i added the cooling fans the tank would raise 4 degrees by the end of the day.... now i put 2 3" cooling fans as i stated above and the tank stays 79 all day and night never raises...
u should be adding about 1-2 gallong os new ro/di water to your tank every other day to help with the evaporation.... that much light will produce a lot more evaporation in the tank....
if you do the chiller or add the fans u will be a lot more stable...
heres a side pic of one of my fans blowing in.... 4" fans are like 15 bucks each at best buy
pics down!

 

[us~^>shark]

Great! Thanks for the advice and location to pick up some additional fans. This morning the tank was 79.9, so there was a 5 degree difference from the high yesterday. I will install the fans and hopefully get it balanced.
There has been a lot of evaporation and I have been adding ro/di water daily to maintain the level, I'd say about 2 gallons or so.
The lights are great and look great in the tank, but man the heat is something else. I will eventually invest in a chiller, but right now my bank account needs a chiller!

 

[plumbjohn]

I had the same prob as my lights would really heat things up. So I went to a well known electronics store(R.S) and bought two 3" fans and mounted them on the side of my canopy blowing across the water. Now my temp stays steady at 79-80 degrees. Also if you have the glass lids on thet will induce more heat. I took mine off and put eggcrat over the top of tank.Makes it easier to top off also. The fans and stuff to get them running were onlt about 30$ alltogether. Hope this helps. Here is a pic of tank. See the fans on the right side. My tank is the same size as yours shark.

 

[plumbjohn]

ok cant post pics right now Will try again later

 

[us~^>shark]

Thanks for all of the replies. Just went out and bought 2 more fans. Was thinking about setting one up in cabinet to circulate air for the wet/dry, but not sure it's worth it. May just do 2 blowing in canopy, and 2 blowing out.
I have the canopy tops open today, and it is open on the back, and the temp is holding steady at 83.3. Better than yesterday, but still not great.
Also, my friend has a chiller from when he had a tank years ago. Said I could use it until I get my own someday.
:jumping:
Not for a couple of weeks yet though, so I'm going to go ahead and install the fans anyway.

 

[murph145]

id install both those fans in the canopy blowing across the water from each end.... u will notice a big difference if you have all 4 fans on..... your water will still be evaporating though .... u might think of getting an automated filler to keep your water lever at the same point daily so that the salinity doesnt sway too much.....
but good luck on the project show some pics when ur done!

 

[us~^>shark]

OK, I installed the fans in the top of the canopy blowing out with the two other fans remaining blowing in on the water. Hopefully that will lower my temps. I'll see today.
As for the auto filler, it's too far from my kitchen where I have installed an RO/DI unit so I'll have to continue to check each morning and night and fill as needed. Unless there is another way to auto fill??
:notsure:

 

[redsharky]

i saw some jbj 1/3 chillers on ---- today... check it out not alot of bidders and sounds like a good price

 

[us~^>shark]

Thanks for the info, but at this point $600 is way more than I can spend.