I'm also here in SoCal and have great success with fans. UP Aqua makes a slim line fan that sits behind the tank and is very low profile. I can consistently drop my tank 2-4 degrees with two fans. Here's a pic of mine behind my tank.
Stupid Question... Whats new???
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Here is an example of the fan off the tank...
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PerplexyHexy
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Added fan today... Been on for a few hours in sump and temp has gone down 1 degree... Thanks for all the input guys!!! Its greatly appreciated!!!
nervousmonkey
LPS Lover, SPS Enabler
That may help some; I've tried and didn't really help my tank. I live in Atlanta and I tried to keep a fan on my tank or sump last summer and it did not help. I do crank the A/C down though in the summer, though my electricity isn't as bad as a place like SoCal, it isn't cheap either, but I have already bit the bullet on paying to keep A/C do... It really really sucks in a place like Socal or AZ or the South to pull off anything except for what @cromag08 and salty already nailed, is almost impossible. There aren't any cheap ways, but if you just put that little chiller in your sump it would probably be more help more than anything. It just wouldn't work all the way and you'd be running the little chiller so much, you might as well crank the A/C.. Thank goodness we will be getting out of the heat soon. So if keeping the MH on in is a requirement then you need (using cromag's numbering):1. ditch the mh.
2. adjust AC.
3. chiller.
2. put a fan on the MH's if you don't already, across the top of the light obviously, but that's killing your tank temperature.
3. is to lower your home A/C. This is the best way to achieve a stable lower temp. Keeping your home at stable lower levels, like the level you want your tank to be, is the *best* way to make sure it's stable...
4. No other way to do it.
Sucks man, but that's reality. We have all tried to DIY this one, but it doesn't work.
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https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-cooling-fan-temp-controller-easy.254168/
This uses D.C. Computer fans or and 12 you can buy.
You can get the AC power version to control AC fans and heater.
If the ambient temp in the house is 80 to 90 it works pretty well.
Hit Sdr for chillers bro.
And post up local for some mars aquas. Cheaper than a chiller.
Or a set of t5 retro fits for the canopy.
Is that in a canopy I forget. Vent the canopy w a fan too. No corals yet. Kill the mh.
This uses D.C. Computer fans or and 12 you can buy.
You can get the AC power version to control AC fans and heater.
If the ambient temp in the house is 80 to 90 it works pretty well.
Hit Sdr for chillers bro.
And post up local for some mars aquas. Cheaper than a chiller.
Or a set of t5 retro fits for the canopy.
Is that in a canopy I forget. Vent the canopy w a fan too. No corals yet. Kill the mh.
Looks like I'll be in the minority here but I'd do nothing. For years my tank got up to 82-84 every summer. There were no problems. Fish and coral did fine. I did eventually get a chiller and keep it 80. I've noticed no difference. Only reason I did get a chiller is my home ac went out while I was out of town and house and tank got up to 92. That was a major problem. A chiller is cheap insurance. The thought that reefs maintain a temp of 78 year round is wrong. Google "ideal reef temperature" and you'll see many actually recommend 82-84.
nervousmonkey
LPS Lover, SPS Enabler
Also a good option. Things won't die at 82 degrees, just speeds up metabolic rate a little more.
Knowing that you don't *have* to do anything at all is definitely an option. If you want your tank lower than 82-84, then you have to do something like @Baldguy states. I personally like mine lower than that, and also pretty stable, just personal opinion though...
