Do protein skimmers increase water temp?

[Aliu]

Hi guys-

I just added a coralife biocube protein skimmer to my 14g biocube. I saw a considerable increase in my water temp and had to turn off my heater. I was wondering if protein skimmers increase the water temp?

My usual temps are around 78-80 depending on time of day. I came back home from work yesterday and saw my temp was at 82.9. Turned off heater and now it is hovering around 81.5.

Any tips?

 

[twilliard]

If the pump is in the water yes it will increase the water temp at the wattage it is running at.
There is no real way to control the wattage it consumes.
I would try cooling fans to keep it down

 

[Quick]

Why turn off the heater? If it is set at 78-80 degrees it should have already been off. As already mentioned, your cheapest option is a cooling fan blowing across the surface of the water. Just be prepared to top off your water much more frequently, especially if you don't have an auto top off.

 

[Waters]

Are you sure it is your skimmer and not just a malfunctioning heater? Although skimmers do have a pump that sits under water, I have never had one give off enough heat to change the tank temperature. You are in a smaller sized tank, but I assume the skimmer is smaller as well.

 

[Dtackett]

doesn't the biocube skimmer run off air? if that's the case it doesn't have a submerged pump... chances are its your heater.