Heat Problems

boostenmkiv · 08-15-2005, 08:38 AM

Ok, I am kind of confused on this, but maybe someone out there has an idea.

My tank is pretty much stuck at 81.0-81.4 degrees and i can't get it to drop. I have a 46gal oceanic bowfront tank, stand, canopy combo with a 15h tank for sump/fuge stuffed in the stand with a metal clamp on light with a philips 60w AGRO plant-grow bulb. This refugium lighting is on reverse daylight photosynthesis. Mag drive 9.5 with ball valve completely open, turbofloater 1000 multi skimmer with pump that came with unit. I have a 200w via aqua titanium heater which I turned down to the 74 range and the light never came on, also even unplugged it for a day to see if maybe it was still giving off heat. I have a coralife aqualite pro & advanced HQI 36"; 2 x 65W Compact Fluorescent Actinics; 1 x 150W HQI Metal Halide; 2 LED Lights; 36" x 15" x 2.75". I don't turn the halide lighting on at this point as I don't even have corals in my tank and figured the added heat from that bulb would only hurt my temp even more. I don't have any powerheads in the tank but am using a scwd on my mag 9.5 and have a cpr cs90 overflow box with aqualifter pump.

P.S. the moonlight LEDs stay on all day at this time as I don't have a timer for them yet. (don't see this as a factor, just trying to include EVERYTHING) Oh, tested with 2 thermometers and both read the same, and also the room temp is 74-76 at most.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Ice · 08-15-2005, 09:01 AM

something that happened to me a while ago was one of my main pumps was partialy pluged so it still had water flow but the pump got quite a bit warmer than normal, thats one thing i would check. Is the diameter of the hose large enough for the pumps? if the pumps have to work hard to push water they will heat up the water

hope this helps

Peter

Jay · 08-15-2005, 12:02 PM

Mabey you have warm blooded fish...just kidding ..bad joke. I would put a fan across the sump and the main tank to make evaporative cooling. Thats what I do.

Jay

Coastie · 08-15-2005, 09:10 PM

You would be amazed by how much the mag drive pumps can produce heat, specifically if you have them in a sump or something similar, if ya dig hard enough you can find the amount of watts that each pump produces and add it up. Tha would be the equiv of another light or a small heater on. Next time you break it down put it in a bucket or something, mark the starting temp and let it run for an hour, then check the temp again... you will see that it has risen several degrees. Place a small fan pointing at your sump or install some small computer fans in the hood, it will increaee your evap rate and help cool the water. Down side more top off is needed.

Birdlady · 08-15-2005, 09:31 PM

I run two mag 5's and a mag 9.5 on my 58 gallon and don't have heat issues...hmm. Obviously they do add heat, my room temp is about 74 F. I replaced my fuge light with a fluorescent bulb inside a glass fixture so as to reduce heat there, and my MH is enclosed in the hood by a plexiglass sheet.

Is your tank top covered or enclosed? If so, open it up...

That temp is not horrible if it is stable. I keep mine at 80, heater runs at night only to keep it stable.

condiman · 08-16-2005, 03:09 AM

I have had the same problem in the past and what I did was run a fan across the top of the water in the main tank when the lights came on and I also run a fan in the sump area 24/7. It seems to have helped out alot.

APC · 08-16-2005, 06:58 AM

I have an open top tank, and I just leave the ceiling fan on in my office (Tank location) all day and night. It really helps keep the temp down in the room and in the tank (evaporative cooling). I have also unplugged the heater for the summer - in the off chance it was kicking on for some reason.

Birdlady · 08-16-2005, 08:23 AM

Get a couple of those clip on fans (secure them very very well!) and blow directly on the water surface...like stated above by several other good folks!

boostenmkiv · 08-16-2005, 08:36 AM

Wow, lots of good info here...I was hoping to stay away from evap cooling as I was hoping to not INCREASE the amount of top off water I need daily, but maybe its actually a benefit to have more fresh water being added daily...currently at about 7 cups per day of evaporation. Thanks to everyone for their help..I will see how this goes although I don't really want to add fans

Oh on a side note...maybe my clip on aluminum "plant" light for my refugium is putting off a LOT more heat than I think

APC · 08-16-2005, 09:25 AM

you are right about the increase in evap, that is for sure. When the fan is on, I have to put 1.5 liters of top off water per day in my 40 gallon tank.