Urgent Tank temp soaring w/ no heater?

ive been monitoring my tank all day, this morning it was +1 dgree. at lunch it was up to 81 so I unplugged my heater just in case it had failed. So i check it just a minute ago and it was up to 84. I keep my house at a steady 73 so its not an environmental issue. lights are 4 months old, its a 14 gal biocube w 72 watts of pc light. the main pump is 8 watts and im using a nano koralia for a powerhead...i wouldnt think that enough heat load to cause this...help!

 

bump

 

Do you have another thermometer? What makes you trust yours?

 

good question, im using a stick on, but added a glass mercury bulb, and just to sure i grabbed a digital temp probe from work

 

What does it normally run? I presume less than this?

 

its held 78 for 5 months. the heater is a 50watt marineland stealth

 

not really sure as to what the issue could be but if your pump was malfuctioning it could cause some heat (from fricition) probably not that much though. freeze some bottles of water and float them to help bring the tank temp down. Maybe someone else has an idea?

 

the ice is a good idea but you must bag it twice or even three times as the condensation from the freshwater will lower pH salinity and all other tank params. just saying

 

see i didnt think about that. learn something new everyday.

 

A 14g biocube normally has i think about 48w...which is about 5w per gallon..your running 72w which is pretty high..about 13w per gallon...Have you modified the hood? and if you want to keep the lighting over it...Get new fans, if havent already..the fans in the biocube are junk IMO.

Hope tht helps...and what heater do you have also? and what is the wattage?