Mystery Heat?

[ultimatemj]

Not sure off this is the right forum, but here goes.

I have a 55g reef with AI hydras running @40%, 2 Vortech MP10w running at about 50%, and a sump with a RIO 26 and a coralvue 65g skimmer.

The heater is set on 76 and never on.

The house is 73.

The tank is 82!!!

I'm going to get another thermometer to verify, because this makes no sense to me.

Thoughts?

Chiller appears to be in my future...

 

[Mr tap water]

Your pumps will give off a certain amount of heat but what about your lighting you have not mentioned if there's not enough ventilation around your tank your lighting could be one of the main causes and worth looking into.

 

[ultimatemj]

AI hydras (led) running at 40% intensity. Cool to the touch. The built in fans aren't even coming on.

Thinking it's gotta be the RIO pump...even though it shouldn't be heating the water.

Inclined to take heater out if sump for the day and see if anything changes. Just need to set an alarm reminding me to put it back in

 

[ultimatemj]

Hood off, window open to 67deg weather, sump door open, and a bag of ice in the sump!

Sump thermometer

Tank thermometer

Nem seems fine

Blastos seem fine

But I'm stressed!

 

[Papadovak]

I'm having the same problem my tank has always been between 79.0 and 80.1. I'm thinking there was either a problem with my heater/thermometer or that the weather is finally warming up outside for spring. Maybe that could be the reason for you I'm in central Oklahoma and it has gotten up to about 88 the last two or three days....just a thought..

 

[Reefing Madness]

Do your powerheads break the water surface at all?
You can try these, I've got 4 fans on my tanks to cool it in the summer months when needed.

Aquarium Chillers Cooling Fan 4 Fans 160L Fish Tank Power Adapter 12V | eBay

 

[Mr tap water]

The way your lights are situated the airflow looks Poor underneath them and could be forcing the some heat downwards into your tank you could tried putting the thermometer underneath the lights to check the temperature

 

[ultimatemj]

The lights are cool to the touch. The heat sink on top is barely warm. I've got the hood off to let cool air from the window on the water surface.

The sump is 3deg warmer than the tank...

Heater unplugged, skimmer unplugged. Watching to see if anything changes.

Alarm set to remind me to plug heater back in...

Feeling like it's my return pump

 

[Mr tap water]

I hope you get it sorted good luck

 

[birdsnest]

The sump is hotter because it is a smaller volume of water and you have the two pumps running there. Better airflow across the surface of the water and putting a fan on your sump would probably help a degree or two.

 

[tgp4274]

how old is the heater???????am thinking it stuck on.... maybe not plug it back in n try new one

 

[ultimatemj]

Update - heater and skimmer unplugged for 2-1/2 hrs and sump is still 2deg hotter than tank.

Left door open on stand, had hood off with window open (45 outside).

Gotta be the recirc pump...

 

[ReefMadScientist]

When you set the heater on "76" that does not mean it will keep or turn on if it gets lower than 75. Put your heater on 71 and see what happens. ALL of my heaters do this which is the result from the large body of water it is trying to heat up.

The gauges are never accurate. On my 75/20sump I have my 150 heater set on 71-72 which keeps my water around 78.

 

[ultimatemj]

Thanks, I'll lower it again.

It's a 200w set on 76. Sump is 83 and tank is 81z

 

[salttanklife]

Your comment to set a reminder to put your heater back in set a reminder in my head. I only had about 20 gallons of rodi water in my 55 gallon drum this morning, so I cut in on. Well with going to get some groceries and putting some food on the grill, guess what I forgot. Luckily your reminder reminded me and i only got about 10 gallons on the floor in the basement, so I thank you.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Thanks, I'll lower it again.

It's a 200w set on 76. Sump is 83 and tank is 81z

You're welcome. It will take longer than 2.5 hours for the tank temps to drop which is good because you do not want to shock your fish or corals.

If I were to set my tank heater on 76 degrees I would be around 84 as well.

 

[ultimatemj]

Tank is 78 tonight...after 40deg air coming in window all day.

I went ahead and turned heater down to 72 and will see what impact that has in the morning.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Tank is 78 tonight...after 40deg air coming in window all day.

I went ahead and turned heater down to 72 and will see what impact that has in the morning.

Sounds good man. Pretty confident that is your problem. I am surprised not everyone has experience this yet as ALL heaters in my tanks, my neighbors tanks, etc. are the same with the heater temp gauge needing to be calibrated to your tank and not to a specific number such as "76".

OH!!! And since you are already at your max goal of 78. Place your heater in a temporary location so you can see it. On the temp dial, keep adjusting it until you see the light turn on. Mark that temp number. That will let you know when your heater kicks on. So since you are at 78, with the heater light on, slowly dial it down until that light turns off. Bam, you are now at your set tank temp of 78.

 

[ultimatemj]

Well, tank hovering between 78 & 80 this morning, sump is still 82!

Heater now set on 69 and relocated so light can be seen.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Just read a few more stuff above. I have my heater in my overflow box. You can't tell it is in there as it keeps my tank fairly balanced.