3 day blackout temp too high

[djd3mon]

Whenever doing a 3-5 day blackout on your tank for algae issues, How do you keep your tank from heating up too hot? I have done a 3 day blackout on my 30 gallon nano reef and the temp got up to 86.
I used 3 thick black trash bags to cover the sides and top. I did not have a heater going, or even plugged in for that matter.
I use 4 hydor 240 pumps. The high temps killed 2 of my red dragon mini colonies.

I need to black out a 40 gallon tank that I will be curing/cycling my 100 lbs of dry rock in.
Im afraid when the temps get up to 86 my tank will not cycle properly and the bacteria will not survive.

Thanks.

 

[cb684]

I used a fan over the sump...

 

[bios]

Place an iced plastic bottle directly in your sump since temp is ok then remove it

 

[djd3mon]

I used a fan over the sump...

I don't have a sump yet. I never thought of that. I could hookup a hang on overflow and put a 20 gallon tank as a makeshift sump.

I'm assuming I do not have to black this out do I ?

 

[cb684]

I would put the sump in a place with very little light.

 

[djd3mon]

I would put the sump in a place with very little light.

OK

 

[jenreefer]

Whenever doing a 3-5 day blackout on your tank for algae issues, How do you keep your tank from heating up too hot? I have done a 3 day blackout on my 30 gallon nano reef and the temp got up to 86.
I used 3 thick black trash bags to cover the sides and top. I did not have a heater going, or even plugged in for that matter.
I use 4 hydor 240 pumps. The high temps killed 2 of my red dragon mini colonies.

I need to black out a 40 gallon tank that I will be curing/cycling my 100 lbs of dry rock in.
Im afraid when the temps get up to 86 my tank will not cycle properly and the bacteria will not survive.

Thanks.

Explain why it is getting hotter with blackout, not following, all pumps should still be going? lights off, so should actually get cooler.

 

[djd3mon]

Explain why it is getting hotter with blackout, not following, all pumps should still be going? lights off, so should actually get cooler.

I'm assuming because I have trash bags on a 4 sides plus the top. nothing can precipitate out. Any heat generated stays in the tank. the small amount of heat that the pumps do create cannot escape until the trans bag is pulled of the top. that's all I can guess.

surface has no lid.

 

[Tahoe61]

I just taped up a black sheet. Ideally you do not want to decrease gas exchange to the point that the temp of the tank climbs.

Long story short, this is cycling tank with no live stock I would not be concerned how a temp of 86 would adversely effect a cycle, I really do not see it having much impact.

 

[djd3mon]

I just taped up a black sheet. Ideally you do not want to decrease gas exchange to the point that the temp of the tank climbs.

Long story short, this is cycling tank with no live stock I would not be concerned how a temp of 86 would adversely effect a cycle, I really do not see it having much impact.

Thanks

 

[|sCRIBe|]

Get a chiller

 

[Rick.45cal]

I wouldn't put anything over the top of the tank. Does your tank sit in sunlight? Most people when they "blackout" their tank, they just don't turn the lights on for awhile.

Now if it is sitting in the sunlight then you will need to put something over the front glass. I'd probably use white poster board, it will reflect the sunlight and is completely opaque so the tank will be dark on the inside. As a side benefit it will also reflect any heat from the sunlight instead of absorbing it and transferring it to the contents of the aquarium (like a black trash bag would). Like I said don't cover the top! Gotta let everything breath, including the stuff you want living on your rocks.

 

[cb684]

I wouldn't put anything over the top of the tank. Does your tank sit in sunlight? Most people when they "blackout" their tank, they just don't turn the lights on for awhile.

Now if it is sitting in the sunlight then you will need to put something over the front glass. I'd probably use white poster board, it will reflect the sunlight and is completely opaque so the tank will be dark on the inside. As a side benefit it will also reflect any heat from the sunlight instead of absorbing it and transferring it to the contents of the aquarium (like a black trash bag would). Like I said don't cover the top! Gotta let everything breath, including the stuff you want living on your rocks.

I am not sure about "most people", but when I blacked out my tank I used a big thick tarp covering the top and the sides of the tank. The less light in the better...