Temp

[power]

I can't seem to get my temp under control and I just can't buy a chiller. Here's what's happening: My temp hovers around 81.5 in the day but after dinner when the temp should be going down it creeps up to 83. After I shut everything down it goes back to around 81. I don't have a light problem, yet. I have mounted the light I do have on the canopy. I wonder what's going to happen when I go and put in 4X96 PC? It would seem as if my water would be ready to boil. I do not have a fan. If lighting is my problem which set up runs cooler? CSL ABS or a CSL Retro kit

 

[sal t. nutz]

If you have glass hoods, remove them, they are a major heat insulator. When you mount the canopy, if you mount 2 small 4 inch fans in the back, one blowing in and the other blowing out, I can promise you that your temp will stay 1-2 degrees above whatever your room temp is.

 

[power]

Thanks for the response. Even with the increased wattage I can expect the fans to remove alot of the heat? I'll try it and let you know. I just don't want to spend 500 on a light only to have to spend 750 on a chiller. Thanks again.
JP.

 

[shadow678]

What type of lighting do you currently have? PCs run very cool compared to MH and regular florescent lights. The fan on the canopy is an excellent idea, many people find this to be sufficient in reducing ambient heat from their lights. Removing the glass tank tops is a good idea, keeping in mind that some fish may jump if they are prone, and it also increases how much evaporation you will have. Perhaps keeping the room temp 1 or 2 degrees cooler will help, as it will have a fairly large impact if you have air movement in the room to carry heat away from the tank.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by Power
Even with the increased wattage I can expect the fans to remove alot of the heat
The fans do remove some heat but the major impact occurs from the increased evaporation rate. So, point the fans at the water to do the most good. Also, don't underestimate their effect! They can quickly lower the temp 5 degrees and that's enough to stress delicate animals. You'll have to find a balance between fans and heaters. A good technique is to plug the fans into the same timer as the lights. Another option is a rheostat (sp?) that turns on the fans when the water gets too warm.

 

[power]

Thank you.