Aquarium Temp Going Up

[alpha199]

So my aquarium temp has been going up. I noticed last night that it was 79F and so I turned the heater down to 70F then an hour later it was 79.5F So I unplugged the heater. This morning it was at 80.1F and as of posting this the tank is 80.375F I thought maybe I unplugged the wrong thing but I pulled the heater out entirely and it was the right cord (because I labeled them and I don't trust my labeling apparently). I have an Aquamai wavemaker, Fluval protein skimmer, Eheim return pump, and the lights have yet to be turned on so they don't matter. It is still cycling. I just thought this was odd and in my many years in the aquarium hobby, I've never seen this. Oh and the tank is a Fluval Sea Evo 12.

 

[TexanCanuck]

What is the ambient temperature in the room where the aquarium is located?

Does the tank happen to be right under (or near) a heating duct where warm air from the furnace blows directly on the aquarium?

I ask because I have the same problem, and it wasn't until I added a second temperature probe to track ambient air temperature 8" above the tank that I figured it out. See below: ("TMP_DT" = Temperature in Display Tank ... "TMP_Rm" = Ambient air temperature 9" above the tank)

NOTE: My heaters turn ON at 78 and off at 78.2! So when the tank would hit 79 I would scratch my head ... until I noticed the display tank is immediately underneath a forced air duct from my furnace!

 

[Jekyl]

So my aquarium temp has been going up. I noticed last night that it was 79F and so I turned the heater down to 70F then an hour later it was 79.5F So I unplugged the heater. This morning it was at 80.1F and as of posting this the tank is 80.375F I thought maybe I unplugged the wrong thing but I pulled the heater out entirely and it was the right cord (because I labeled them and I don't trust my labeling apparently). I have an Aquamai wavemaker, Fluval protein skimmer, Eheim return pump, and the lights have yet to be turned on so they don't matter. It is still cycling. I just thought this was odd and in my many years in the aquarium hobby, I've never seen this. Oh and the tank is a Fluval Sea Evo 12.

Get a heater controller

 

[alpha199]

The ambient temp in my house in Alaska is 70F the tank isn't near any external heat sources. I don't think a heater controller will help when I took the heater out and it has been off for hours now and it seems to be holding steady at 80.375F. I use a seneye and a manual thermometer to double check temp.

 

[Jekyl]

Lights or pumps could be heating it.

 

[alpha199]

It seemed to start when I installed the new eheim pump and wavemaker. So if that is going to be the new temp shou ld I get a chiller or is 80.375F fine?

 

[TexanCanuck]

No ... you should not need to add a chiller with the equipment list you've got.

If your return pump is the source of the added heat then there's something wrong with it. Same thing for the wavemaker.

If you have ruled out ambient air temp and confirmed through two separate devices that temp really is climbing, then I think you should go through a process of elimination to find out which piece of equipment is driving the spike in heat. Once you find the offending kit, try swapping it for something else.

 

[Pistondog]

Pumps and wavemakers in aquariums are heat sources due to pumping inefficiency. Exception if they are mag coupled like mp40.

 

[Jekyl]

Reducing the temperature could be as easy as more surface agitation or a small fan blowing at the surface.

 

[DaddyFish]

You have a pump malfunction. Something is binding or dragging, or the pump output is restricted, causing excess current consumption and heat dissipation in the water column. My bet is the return pump. How much current is it drawing versus the rated wattage?

 

[pochaxoo]

i would be highly suspicious of your pump. I have an old one that powers my saltwater mixing tank and the heat warms the water and will continue to heat if I didn't plug it into a heater controller. Either a newer pump or external pump can reduce heat. Good luck whatever it is.

 

[Pistondog]

Only a 12 gallon tank, not much water to heat.