HELP HELP HELP - tank almost 90 degrees
- Thread starter milomlo
- Start date
johnzo
Member
Sounds like the heater might have shorted and went into overdrive.... are you using a sump of some kind? and do you have glass lid on the tank? If yes to both I would unplug the heater lift the glas to let some heat escape and I have heard of people putting ice in a zip lock and placing it in the sump.
irish rage
New Member
I would unplug the heater and open the lids until your temp comes down. If you keep your tank in a fairly well heated area (mines in our living room) you may not even need the heater as the ambiant temp in the room may keep it in the correct range.
aredmon
Member
You may want to get a fan and place it so it is blowing over the surface of the water. This will help cool the water. Some one told me that power heads generate a fair amount of heat so you may not need the heater. Unplug it and see what your water temp stays at with out it. You may not need it.
kiharaconn
Member
Most heaters are not calibrated correctly so you will have to adjust the dial based on the thermometer. I had the same problem. I had the dial set at 78 but the actual temp was much higher. I unplugged it and let the temp get down to a normal range. Then I left the door open to the sump, where my heater is located, so that I could watch the heater. When it would turn on - red light on- I would turn the dial down. When I got it to the point that it was at the temp range I wanted and the light didn't cycle on I knew that it was set to about the temp I wanted. Then I just charted my temps from day and night to make sure that it was ok. During the summer when the temp in the room is higher I run a fan on the sump to lower the temp in the tank. It will generally lower the temp a few degrees. This will cause the water to evaporate faster so make sure you top off often or install an auto top off system. I purchased one several months ago and love it. I just fill the tank for the top off system every 3-4 days.
milomlo
Active Member
Sorry to take so long to respond. I had to take my son to school and picked up some RO water so I could do a top off (hoping that would help some).
I opened the window behind the tank as it is like 40 degrees outside. So I hope that will help it some.
To answer some questions
I have fish and coral, I do not have any top on my tank, I do not have a sump. All my items are HOT (filter and skimmer). I did just recently (on the 19th add a Rio 600) to get some flow across my sand as I have a wave maker set up. This is now the only powerhead except the skimmer powerhead in the tank. I did have 3 powerheads before I went to the wavemaker and my temp NEVER got this high.
I can only think that maybe the heater did screw up or something because it was on when I got up.
I thought I calibrated it correctly but maybe I didn't.
Should I put ice in or just wait and see what the window being open does???
Oh by the way I have a 29 gallon and all fish seem to be acting normal.
I opened the window behind the tank as it is like 40 degrees outside. So I hope that will help it some.
To answer some questions
I have fish and coral, I do not have any top on my tank, I do not have a sump. All my items are HOT (filter and skimmer). I did just recently (on the 19th add a Rio 600) to get some flow across my sand as I have a wave maker set up. This is now the only powerhead except the skimmer powerhead in the tank. I did have 3 powerheads before I went to the wavemaker and my temp NEVER got this high.
I can only think that maybe the heater did screw up or something because it was on when I got up.
Should I put ice in or just wait and see what the window being open does???
Oh by the way I have a 29 gallon and all fish seem to be acting normal.
milomlo
Active Member
Ok guys why would this be doing it only at night? I got up this morning and it is almost 90 again.
It went down yesterday and did fine all day with the lights on and everything. Then this morning it is almost 90 again.
Should I get a new heater? I have my window open again trying to lower. I will add some RO water as I need to do another top off. Does anyone else have to top off everyday??
Any new suggestions on this 90 degree thing would be most appreciated. I don't know why it does up at night, that seems odd. I figure it would go up during the day with the light on.
It went down yesterday and did fine all day with the lights on and everything. Then this morning it is almost 90 again.
Should I get a new heater? I have my window open again trying to lower. I will add some RO water as I need to do another top off. Does anyone else have to top off everyday??
Any new suggestions on this 90 degree thing would be most appreciated. I don't know why it does up at night, that seems odd. I figure it would go up during the day with the light on.
wax32
Active Member
Is your heater somehow on a night timer? At any rate I'd get rid of it. Is it possible that something else that comes on only at night it malfunctioning and throwing off heat?
I have one of those Stealth heaters (the black kind that are like 20 bucks) and it works great. I actually have to set it a little below where IO want my temp though... you have to play around with most heaters....
I'd test it out in a bucket of saltwater and use a small digital thermometer to double check it. Use a powerhead in there too so you have water movement around the heater.
That made me think... you don't turn off your powerheads during the night do you?
I have one of those Stealth heaters (the black kind that are like 20 bucks) and it works great. I actually have to set it a little below where IO want my temp though... you have to play around with most heaters....
I'd test it out in a bucket of saltwater and use a small digital thermometer to double check it. Use a powerhead in there too so you have water movement around the heater.
That made me think... you don't turn off your powerheads during the night do you?
milomlo
Active Member
Originally Posted by wax32
Is your heater somehow on a night timer? At any rate I'd get rid of it. Is it possible that something else that comes on only at night it malfunctioning and throwing off heat?
I have one of those Stealth heaters (the black kind that are like 20 bucks) and it works great. I actually have to set it a little below where IO want my temp though... you have to play around with most heaters....
I'd test it out in a bucket of saltwater and use a small digital thermometer to double check it. Use a powerhead in there too so you have water movement around the heater.
That made me think... you don't turn off your powerheads during the night do you?
No the only thing on the night timer is the lights. I don't know what is wrong with it. It seems fine during the day and then the past two nights it is acting crazy.
Oh and my heater is a Rena Cal - I heard great things about them is why I recently bought this one
Is your heater somehow on a night timer? At any rate I'd get rid of it. Is it possible that something else that comes on only at night it malfunctioning and throwing off heat?
I have one of those Stealth heaters (the black kind that are like 20 bucks) and it works great. I actually have to set it a little below where IO want my temp though... you have to play around with most heaters....
I'd test it out in a bucket of saltwater and use a small digital thermometer to double check it. Use a powerhead in there too so you have water movement around the heater.
That made me think... you don't turn off your powerheads during the night do you?
No the only thing on the night timer is the lights. I don't know what is wrong with it. It seems fine during the day and then the past two nights it is acting crazy.
Oh and my heater is a Rena Cal - I heard great things about them is why I recently bought this one
kiharaconn
Member
Check to make sure that your houses heater vent is not directly over or by your tank. If it cools in the house at night and your houses heater comes on and blows hot air on the tank it could be heating it some. When my tank was doing the same thing it was the tank heater. The way I found out was I have a themrometer that will hold the lowest and highest temp along with the current temp. I was charting my temps and saw that at night it would be higher. So I stayed up late one night watching tv and left the door to the stand open so that I could watch the heater in the sump. I noticed that even though it was comfortable in the house the heater was coming on. Thats when I calibrated it according to the thermometer. During the day the tank stayed warm because I opened the curtains in the den and the sunlight would warm the room. So the heater didn't turn on. IMHO I would still think it will be your heater. Try unplugging it in the evening and seeing what the temp is before you go to bed. If it doesn't get very cold in your area leave it unplugged over night. Most fish can handle higher temps, its just the ups and down that causes the problem.
milomlo
Active Member
Well actually I didn't start it yet. I turned my heater way down to 72 and it hasn't come back on yet.
I need to mix some water for a water change. So I will do that tomorrow. While the salt is mixing I will put the heater in there with a thermometer and see what happens. I will probably unplug it tonight just to make sure I don't boil anyone.
I have noticed today that one of my Turbos seems as though he may be on his last leg. He is still alive, but barely moving. I probably cooked him. If he dies should I take him out or let the critters eat him? I dont' know how long it would take for ammonia to go up?????
I need to mix some water for a water change. So I will do that tomorrow. While the salt is mixing I will put the heater in there with a thermometer and see what happens. I will probably unplug it tonight just to make sure I don't boil anyone.
I have noticed today that one of my Turbos seems as though he may be on his last leg. He is still alive, but barely moving. I probably cooked him. If he dies should I take him out or let the critters eat him? I dont' know how long it would take for ammonia to go up?????