where is all this heat coming from?

The ambient temperature in my house is about 73 degrees F (with A/C on). Yet the temperature in my tank hovers around 80-81 degrees, in spite of anything I do. I have an open top (no lid), and I often put frozen chunks of RO water in my sump return area to cool down the tank, but it hardly makes a dent. Where is all this heat coming from, and what can I do about it? You can look in my signature to see my equipment. My first idea was that it may be from my return pump, which I have restricted with a ball valve. However, when I touch the pump (under the water) it does not seem warm at all. Any ideas?

 

Try unplugging heater for a few days to see if it's the heater

 

You have a jager...those are adjustable. Try to manipulate the heater so it does a consistent 78-79F

I have a jager as well and whenever summer rolls around i just adjust it and it stays good until winter...then i adjust it again

 

Are your lights fan cooled? And also do they have a clear shield under them to isolate heat from the tank?

 

pump also causes heat

 

Lighting most likely is causing the heat. you may need to invest in a chiller once you find what is causing this. just my two cents

 

I ran my tank without the heater all winter. The lowest temperature my tank acheived was 75 degrees. The highest was 78 with the PCs. Now, with the T5s, I am pushing 80. Lights and pumps man, lights and pumps.

 

IMO i wouldnt worry about you tank being 80 or 81 as long as it is a slow rise and not rapid. If you livestock isnt sufforing I would let be what is.

 

agree with all said previous

heat will come from anything with a motor, so the Ks will generate some heat
lighting - you have PCS - where are the ballasts located - as they do generate a lot of heat

The heater thermostat does not really know what the temperature is, so if the ambient temp rises, and then drops, the heater comes on
so if you set your heater for 76 for example - when the temp drops to 75 heater comes on
if the combined heat of the weather and the stuff in your tank takes temp up to 80, heater stays off, but when temp drops to 79 - it comes on again as its registered that cooling and that triggers it to come on irrespective of the number you have set the dial at.

Thats how most operate for me in China they do come on when they have no business coming on, as they are set for 76, the tank is at 80 but when lights go out and temp drops that 1 degree, the light comes on

so I also took mine out and it can go back in some time in December

Steve

 

Lights and pumps as mentioned above!
Add a room fan to blow across the top of your tank for evaporational cooling!!!! works wonders, just top off the tank with RO water!