Need help with tank temperature!!

K

kikithemermaid

Guest
We don't have a chiller (can't afford one atm and don't have the room) and the tank temp is currently 84 degrees!

I tried making saltwater ice cubes but that didn't do much. The other day it was 79. All this fluctuation can't be good.
 
camanuch

camanuch

Member
what kind of lighting do you have. what kind of heater do you have?? try placing computer fans on top of tank. this will blow the hot air off the top. also how clase are your lights to the water??
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2598363
We don't have a chiller (can't afford one atm and don't have the room) and the tank temp is currently 84 degrees!

I tried making saltwater ice cubes but that didn't do much. The other day it was 79. All this fluctuation can't be good.
What type of tank is this? Do you have a canopy? What type of lighting? Many times a small clip on or DIY hang on fan will do the job nicely. I have one on my tank and my temp is 79.2 at night and 79.7 when the lights are on.
 
K

kikithemermaid

Guest
Originally Posted by camanuch
http:///forum/post/2598367
what kind of lighting do you have. what kind of heater do you have?? try placing computer fans on top of tank. this will blow the hot air off the top. also how clase are your lights to the water??
This is a homemade tank my boyfriend's boss made...I'll go look right now and I'll put a fan on top. Won't this cause evaporation? I can't top it off with SW then, right?
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
http:///forum/post/2598370
What type of tank is this? Do you have a canopy? What type of lighting? Many times a small clip on or DIY hang on fan will do the job nicely. I have one on my tank and my temp is 79.2 at night and 79.7 when the lights are on.

It is a 28 gallon hex tank. I don't know what a canopy is...
Here's a picture if it helps:
 
S

swalchemist

Guest
Place a fan either over the tank at an angle or above the sump, if you like put it on a temp controller that helps with stability. Fans work well but you may likely need a big one for this job. Personally I use a Stanley blower conected to a Reef keeper1 over the sump and never had another problem.
 
camanuch

camanuch

Member
you never top off with SW. only top off with treated water or RO/DI..
it doesnt look like a canopy is on your tank. when you need to top off just move the fan its actually quite simple. or if you have a sump top off through there..
 
camanuch

camanuch

Member
also it looks like you have a MH. try raising the light higher from the water. thats all i can think of. what is your heater set at. for that small of a tank you might not even need a heater depending on the size of the MH
 
K

kikithemermaid

Guest
The heater has been turned off for awhile, believe it or not. What is an MH?
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Thats a T5 light set... and I would just add a fan and a heater IMO. The heater will stop the drop in temperature at night, and the fan will dispurse the heat from the lights.
The heater is a fail safe should a temperature drop happen the heater would keep the tank from dropping, its just cheap insurance IMO. Set it for 78* and forget about it.
The fan will cause evaporation and that is to be expected just top off with fresh RO water and your all set.
 
camanuch

camanuch

Member
now looking at it a little bit more closely it is t5. like PD said do the fan and the heater set it 78-79 and forget it
 
S

swalchemist

Guest
"The heater is a fail safe should a temperature drop happen the heater would keep the tank from dropping, its just cheap insurance IMO. Set it for 78* and forget about it."
Never set and forget your heater, these things are the leading cause of failure in this hobby. All to often I hear horror stories of how a heater thermostat got stuck and raised the tank temp starting a mass die off or someone assuming the heater was working well when it was shot and not heating at all. Get a temp controller single or dual line makes no difference but if you want a fail safe that's your only option IMO as heaters (all brands) can not be trusted. The controller will shut it down in the event of a stuck thermostat. If you dont want to go that route at least get a Temp Alert, it will sound an alarm should the temp go out of a set zone (to high or low).
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
http:///forum/post/2599718
"The heater is a fail safe should a temperature drop happen the heater would keep the tank from dropping, its just cheap insurance IMO. Set it for 78* and forget about it."
Never set and forget your heater, these things are the leading cause of failure in this hobby. All to often I hear horror stories of how a heater thermostat got stuck and raised the tank temp starting a mass die off or someone assuming the heater was working well when it was shot and not heating at all. Get a temp controller single or dual line makes no difference but if you want a fail safe that's your only option IMO as heaters (all brands) can not be trusted. The controller will shut it down in the event of a stuck thermostat. If you dont want to go that route at least get a Temp Alert, it will sound an alarm should the temp go out of a set zone (to high or low).
I agree; I've seen more heaters fail than any other piece of equipment I can think of. Temp Alerts are great, I have a similar device on every tank. BTW, water cools and heats much more slowly than the air. Monitor the lowest night temp and you may not even need a heater. Every light, pump, PH, etc adds heat to the water; so I really have "heaters" anyhow. Also, with a tall tank like yours, you need good water circulation, or there could be a significant difference at the surface, where the MH lites are heating things up.
 
fishygurl

fishygurl

Active Member
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2598378
This is a homemade tank my boyfriend's boss made...I'll go look right now and I'll put a fan on top. Won't this cause evaporation? I can't top it off with SW then, right?
evaporation lets the water cool, like a dog when it pants
Also i have heard of people putting a gallon of water in a gallon jug sitting in their sump when it is too hot or cold and they cant do anything about it (not forever just when power is out, cant afford a chiller, or if they do not have any extra ro/di water and cant run and get some that day)
 
nuro

nuro

Member
Originally Posted by FishyGurl
http:///forum/post/2600081
evaporation lets the water cool, like a dog when it pants
Also i have heard of people putting a gallon of water in a gallon jug sitting in their sump when it is too hot or cold and they cant do anything about it (not forever just when power is out, cant afford a chiller, or if they do not have any extra ro/di water and cant run and get some that day)
I had my power go out and all i have on the battery is the return pump in the sump and i did exactly this. i filled up a bowl with ice put the top on it and dropped it in there.
 
bkvreef

bkvreef

Member
I freeze 2 liter bottles and will put them in my sump.
Granted I do live in Ohio so temps are not 100+, and I don't use them very often.
But they work well on keeping the temp undercontrol.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2598363
We don't have a chiller (can't afford one atm and don't have the room) and the tank temp is currently 84 degrees!

I tried making saltwater ice cubes but that didn't do much. The other day it was 79. All this fluctuation can't be good.
Then there is me... the misfit.

And your right on with the fluctuation comment. THAT'S you issue, not high temp.
If it were me... I'd bump UP my heater to 82. That way, your tank is 82 at night and 84 during the day... And so you don't thinbk I'm completely crazy... I took this pic of MY temp.

My heater is set to turn on @ 81, chiller @ 83, so my temp is always between the two...
 
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