Heat Creeping up with T5s

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

So when I got home today, I noticed that my tank's temp had slowly creeped up to about 82F. This has never happened before and I think it might be partly due to the T5s I just installed. What can I do to combat this?

mcmunn93 · Nov 19, 2015

You can get fans to cool the tank down
Or get a chiller

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

Got a fan recommendation?

MrDJeep123 · Nov 19, 2015

No need for a chiller. Fans will help and cheaper. Run the fans when you run the lights.

I have my temps between 82-83 consistently.

TheEngineer · Nov 19, 2015

Are the lights in a canopy? If so, venting the canopy should help a lot. If not, a small fan across the surface of the tank will help a bunch too. Just watch for the extra evaporation from the fan if you don't have an ATO.

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

And have you noticed any problems with this? I'll look into some fans tonight

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

icecool2 said:
Are the lights in a canopy? If so, venting the canopy should help a lot. If not, a small fan across the surface of the tank will help a bunch too. Just watch for the extra evaporation from the fan if you don't have an ATO.

They are not, the lights hang about ~6in from the top of the water, I can't really raise them up because so much extra light spills into the room.

TheEngineer · Nov 19, 2015

Especially in MD this time of year, I'm surprised T5's are causing so much heat build up. What do you keep the room at that they are in?

As for which fan, I'd suggest a 12V fan. Look for something that says "silent". You can get one for under $10 and if it cakes up with salt you can toss it and buy a new one.

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

The room is at 76, it has not been very cold around here yet. I'm using some crappy $1 non digital thermometer, maybe its readings are off?

TheEngineer · Nov 19, 2015

Do your temps drop when the light goes out? Is it lower in the morning?

Edit: I've known crappy $1 thermometers to work better than most digital ones

physics!

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

Well lights have been out for 3ish hours and the temp is now down to 80

Sabellafella · Nov 19, 2015

Shep said:
So when I got home today, I noticed that my tank's temp had slowly creeped up to about 82F. This has never happened before and I think it might be partly due to the T5s I just installed. What can I do to combat this?

How you like them so far, Witch fixture did you get , i mean sence youve had em this is the only day the temp creeped up?

steve&mari · Nov 19, 2015

Here you go http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=121388628484&alt=web

TheEngineer · Nov 19, 2015

Shep said:
Well lights have been out for 3ish hours and the temp is now down to 80

Well that seals it!

kschweer · Nov 19, 2015

Shep said:
They are not, the lights hang about ~6in from the top of the water, I can't really raise them up because so much extra light spills into the room.

6" seems a bit close to me especially on a 40b. I would try to raise them up a bit and possibly look into making some type of "shroud" (no clue if I spelled that right) to stop some of the light spillage. On my 57 my fixture is about 11" from the water.

BryanS4 · Nov 19, 2015

I just got done hanging mine above the 40b about 10 mins ago. I ended up at 9" above the water line.

I will say I'm pretty surprised on the amount of heat coming out the side of the fixture (the open end). Time will tell how hot it gets.

Shep · Nov 19, 2015

Sabellafella said:
How you like them so far, Witch fixture did you get , i mean sence youve had em this is the only day the temp creeped up?

Yea, so far this is the only day that the temp has gone up, other than that I love them.

kschweer said:
6" seems a bit close to me especially on a 40b. I would try to raise them up a bit and possibly look into making some type of "shroud" (no clue if I spelled that right) to stop some of the light spillage. On my 57 my fixture is about 11" from the water.

I might try and get them up a little higher but it would mean changing my light stand

BryanS4 said:
I just got done hanging mine above the 40b about 10 mins ago. I ended up at 9" above the water line.

I will say I'm pretty surprised on the amount of heat coming out the side of the fixture (the open end). Time will tell how hot it gets.

Yea, it was insane how much heat that they out out!