Need hlep with temp swings!!!

Yeah, ik that from experience. although with this heater ive had for about 4 months in a 14g, and a 29g without MH and it kept the tank with like 1 degree swings.

 

What MH lights do you have?

 

Outer Orbit 150w Pheonix 14k and 4 bulb actinic T5HO.

 

ok so our light are probably the same height. I have a Current Sunpod 2X 250. I also stabilized my temp so much by getting the Reef Keeper lite. Have you looked into a controller? That way fans can come on when they need to, not cause as much evaporation and it controls the heaters very well.

 

It sounds like your heater is too small, or something is wrong with it. Every stealth heater I have ever owned, has lost heating ability over time and/or failed. I don't trust them on my tank, but I have one left that I use to heat up salt mix before doing a water change. Even though it is 200W and I am only doing 15g water changes, the most it can heat the 15g to is about 74deg F. Their heating coils slowly die off or maybe the sensor is going not sure, but I'd probably consider a different heater. Especially if it can't get the tank to at least 76 deg.

 

Honestly, i wouldnt need a heater if i had a metal halide on 24/7 haha! But i used to run the heater at 73 and it was fine. i turned it down cuz i knew the MH would heat up the tank. But at night is when it gets really low.

 

Petsmart just recalled the ceramic stealth heaters, just fyi.

 

The 50w are okay from what I read, they cant take mine in since i bought it from someone who i bought a tank from. But ill probably endup getting a new heater at some point when i get some cash.

 

The temp swings BTW arn't really the issue. Temp swings are fine as long as they are within the acclimated temperature range of the livestock. And your livestock seems happy. The issue IMO is if the heater stops working altogether. 72 is pretty low as most of the collection areas average 82-84, so you are already 10-12 deg below the average temp for the areas most of our corals come from. This may be fine, but 76-83 is more of an accepted average range for our systems. I don't know of any data showing health improves, in our systems in this range, but I think this reasonable as that gives a bit of a buffer is the temp swings higher or lower for some reason. At 72 your already likely pushing the limits a bit on the low end. So, there is less room to drop further.

 

I agree,I would set the heater so that your tank doesn't drop below the minimum temp that you want(maybe 76-78) and leave it on 24-7.Your lights should only raise the temp a few degrees and the heater should shut off on it's own.If the heater isn't functioning properly you may need to replace it with a more reliable one.As mentioned above a controller such as the Reefkeeper Lite would be great for controlling your heater and cooling fans.A cheaper way to go,though not nearly as reliable would be to plug your cooling fan into an inexspensive timer and set it to come on when your halide does.You may not even need the fan at all,depending on the temp in the room.It might be best to get the heater issue figured out and see how it goes.