Help! Tank Temp out of control!

305 Steve · Oct 27, 2018

The other day I got an old giesemann running about 9 inches above my tank, temps have increased into the mid to upper 80s and I'm afraid I'm going to lose my LTA if I cant get it under control quickly, its definitely the MH bulbs causing the damage, I've already removed glasstop and opened cabinet doors and shut off MH and turned down my TL tubes also... do I need a chiller? With MH running mid day the tank is reaching dangerous numbers like 85+.. can I get away with fans? Or should I invest in a chiller? Should I keep lights off until it's fixed?

Coralreefer1 · Oct 27, 2018

I have had great success using fans to blow across the air/water interface to keep water temp controllable. I have never used a chiller!

305 Steve · Oct 27, 2018

Coralreefer1 said:
I have had great success using fans to blow across the air/water interface to keep water temp controllable. I have never used a chiller!

I saw some fans on Amazon that clip to tank but seems only for rimless. What sort of fans do you use and how fo you mount them? Thanks! Definitely trying to avoid shelling hundreds for chiller!

Coralreefer1 · Oct 27, 2018

I used fans that were telescopic so I could alter the hight of the fan for optimal performance. You would be surprised by how well a fan works at combatting the intense heat put off by halides. Positioning the fan to blow across the air/water interface works wonderfully.

Retro Reefer · Oct 27, 2018

I would agree fans are very effective and maybe also raise your fixture a few inches

305 Steve · Oct 27, 2018

Is there somewhere online you are getting the fans?
Yeah I'm going to have to raise it up tomorrow up to 12 inches I thing will be a better height!

305 Steve · Oct 27, 2018

Looking for a fan that will fit on and over the black canopy rims! Seems like all I find online is for 1/2 inch although i could rig something up to make it work.

UCF Alum · Oct 27, 2018

LORELL 6" Clip-On Fan,2-Speed,5' Cord,8"x6"x9-1/2",White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RTMD8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dJr1BbK9Q2CAD

Here’s what I used in my sump. Cheap and very effective.

305 Steve · Oct 27, 2018

UCF Alum said:
LORELL 6" Clip-On Fan,2-Speed,5' Cord,8"x6"x9-1/2",White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RTMD8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dJr1BbK9Q2CAD

Here’s what I used in my sump. Cheap and very effective.

If I order this for the sump will I still need some PC fans for the DT or will sump cool enough for whole system?

Coralreefer1 · Oct 27, 2018

Pedestal fans can be purchased at Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon just to name a few.

UCF Alum · Oct 27, 2018

xarkaden said:
If I order this for the sump will I still need some PC fans for the DT or will sump cool enough for whole system?

It depends on what you keep your ambient temp at in the house. For me, my tank ran 82-83 when I first set it up and I immediately bought this fan for the sump and it brought me down to 78.
I also didn’t want the eyesore blowing air across the surface of the water.
Day temp in the house with no one home is 78 and night the ac drops the house to 72 and my Apex turns it off when my tank is at target temp.

305 Steve · Oct 27, 2018

UCF Alum said:
It depends on what you keep your ambient temp at in the house. For me, my tank ran 82-83 when I first set it up and I immediately bought this fan for the sump and it brought me down to 78.
I also didn’t want the eyesore blowing air across the surface of the water.
Day temp in the house with no one home is 78 and night the ac drops the house to 72 and my Apex turns it off when my tank is at target temp.

Yeah my tank is running 86 with ambient temp of 73 which stays constant because of newborn. I'm going to raise light tomorrow and and order the sump fan now! Thanks for the help guys!

UCF Alum · Oct 27, 2018

xarkaden said:
Yeah my tank is running 86 with ambient temp of 73 which stays constant because of newborn. I'm going to raise light tomorrow and and order the sump fan now! Thanks for the help guys!

Ouch!!! Switch to LED if money permits!
Get that down quick or you’ll nuke the tank!

cromag27 · Oct 28, 2018

taking off the glass lids was a good move. skip the fans as they can’t keep consistent temperatures depending on the ambient temperature, unless you rig it to a controller. the easiest way to fix this issue is to turn on your ac!!!!!!!!!!

UCF Alum · Oct 28, 2018

cromag27 said:
taking off the glass lids was a good move. skip the fans as they can’t keep consistent temperatures depending on the ambient temperature, unless you rig it to a controller. the easiest way to fix this issue is to turn on your ac!!!!!!!!!!

He did. His ac stays at 73, which is why I recommend the small sump fan. Any temp is better than 86.

305 Steve · Oct 28, 2018

cromag27 said:
taking off the glass lids was a good move. skip the fans as they can’t keep consistent temperatures depending on the ambient temperature, unless you rig it to a controller. the easiest way to fix this issue is to turn on your ac!!!!!!!!!!

My ambient stays constant at 73 with central air I cant really change the temp because of baby and at this point outside is mid 50s. With lights off the temp dropped to 75-77 so I'm going to raise the light and hopefully that helps and just place one fan in sump for now.

Water Dog · Oct 28, 2018

Lose the glass top. Raise the lights a bit and get the BRS mesh screen lid kit to keep your jumpers safe. With the ambient temp at 73, this should remedy your heat issues. That glass lid was trapping a lot of heat and not allowing the tank to “breathe” properly.

Fin · Oct 28, 2018

Agree to raise the lights, if possible. If the lights are in a canopy, ventilate with fans (drill some holes and add fans). Fans in the sump and/or blowing across the water surface in the display. Hook your fans up to timers to come on when your halides are on. I am not a big fan of 110v fans around water. I have always just used 12v fans (IceCap thermostatically controlled fans in the past). I think CoralVue still has these fans. They have a thermistor and ramp up or slow down, depending on the temperature. If you still can't control the temp, a chiller would give you peace of mind that your temps won't get to the danger level.

305 Steve · Oct 28, 2018

Sounds good I'm gonna invest in those ice cap fans and attach some to the light fixture and sump, I raised the light fixture I think that was the main problem I measured it again it was only 5 inches off the tank I moved it to 10 inches do you think I should go higher?

jda · Oct 28, 2018

Get a real fan, like a Vornado or something made to move a lot of air. Computer and clip on fans are like throwing a baseball against a school bus compared to these. I run 5 halides over my 7 foot 240g and a vornado on low keeps the temp from budging. DC fans probably would not do much for me.

Also, turn the fans on when the lights come on. Don't wait for the tank temp to heat up. Get ahead of the heat.