Heating Problem In Reef

ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
Hopefully someone here can help me out. I have always had temperature problems in my tank. The temperature is usually 82 degrees when i have the window AC unit on high which makes me feel like a polar bear in my room. I have my heater set for 78 degrees and it continously goes on all day. However it is never on for more than 2 minutes at any time. Why is it doing this? Does it need to turn on to get a temp reading and then turn back off when it realizes that the tank is warmer than 78 degrees? How do these things work? It is brand new so I don't think it can be defective yet. I want to bring my tank temp down to about 77- or 78 constantly degrees so my arctica 1/10 horsepower is on the way. Can't wait to start drilling holes in the room next to mine to run tubbing everywhere. Thanks for anyones help.
 
hookedonreefs

hookedonreefs

Member
do you have a description of the tank? - lighting, water movement, glass tops etc. then we can target why your tank is so warm. Also, what brand of heater?
The heater turns on to heat the water to the required temp. then turns off. It sounds like your heater - even though you may have set it to 78 - is set high. Turn it down a little and give it a day. If the temp drops then turn it a little more, until you reach the required temp.
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
thank you. I will try it out. I will turn the heater down to 75.
1- 300w Rena Heater
1- Emperor 400 filter w/ bio wheels taken off
2- 701 profile powerheads
1- remora power skimmer
65 X 4 pc lighting
Glasstops are on. The temperature stays constant whether they are on or off just more water evaporates with them off. The tank is a 55 gallon reef.
 
hookedonreefs

hookedonreefs

Member
stays constant because the heater is turned up. If you turned the heater down, and took the tops off, the temp would go down ALOT. The evapration is the water trying to come into equilibrium with the room temp. The more of a difference the more evaporation. If you only have PC lighting, and the lights aren't too cloe to the water, then they won't change the temp. hardly at all. Which means other than the pumps, the heater is the only thing warming your tank. The pumps hardly affect it at all. I'd say the source is primarily your heater.
One other thing. Depending on livestock, you don't want to drop the temp. too fast. 1 - 2 degrees in 24 hours is the most you want to change the temp. if you have corals.
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
i am just worried about the winter when i cant keep my room at 65 degrees all the time. Once the heat goes on in my house i am afraid of what is going to happen. I travel a lot so i dont want the water evaporating to fast on me and not being able to fill it back up everyday.
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
I am from Manalapan. I would defenitly be down for throwing a few back. TGIF!!! I can honestly stare at my tank for hours. If my heater is set for 78 and it makes the temperature 82 do you think if i set the heater for 75 it will make it 78? I have no idea how to make a auto topper? :notsure:
 
hookedonreefs

hookedonreefs

Member
Wow! Manalapan - I forget how big central Jersey can be sometimes. I'm near sommerville - about an 1 1/2 from manalapan. I would back the thermom. off about 2 degrees today, then another two tomorrow until you hit what you want.
If you ever want to get together or want frags, email me - ghreef@optonline.net
Like I said a a little over an hour away, but reef tanks are worth it.....
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
i will defintly email you. thanks for the advice. I actually work in somerset which is a lot closer to you than manalapan..
Thanks
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
well..... after this weekend there has still been no change in the tank temperature. i turned the heater to 72 degrees. It still comes on but shuts right off after a second or two. tank is still 84 degrees.
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
i already ordered a chiller and should be recieving it tomorrow. Now i am going to set the chiller temp to 79 degrees. do i set my heater for 78? Anyone sure on how to do this?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
I really think you have a defective heater or it's internal thermostat is wrong, or your thermometer is wrong. You need to check them. You heater should never come on unless the temp drops below what it's set for.
You won't have a problem in the winter with your heat because the air will be dry and evaporation will keep the tank cool.
Check out your heater ;)
 
ericholcek

ericholcek

Member
The temperature was checked with 2 different thermostats. Both were within .3 the same. I assume it has to be the heater but the temperature in my tank has not dropped even though i dropped my heater down 5 degrees. If i was home all day i would just shut off the heater completly and monitor the tank. This is really bugging me. :notsure:
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
Ya know, seems to me that a 300 watt heater for a 55 gallon is way overkill. I had 1 200 watt on mine. Now I have a 90 gallon and a 55 gallon sump with 2 200 watt heaters on them. And I only run 1 heater in the summer.
I think it's your heater. Something internally like bang said. I would do 2 smaller ones, say 100 watt. If 1 dicides to stick on heater mode it would take a long time to boil your water. 1 300watt would only take a few hours to boil your tank if it stuck.
Something to think about anyway.
Dan
Edit: I just checked my heaters, they are only 150 watt.:yes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top