Tank temp unstable, cooling options?

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

my tank has been overheating since the start of summer and I've run my ac on max but the temp is not stable. I'm looking for a stable solution to this, please help! I'd like to avoid a chiller due to all the horror stories but if it can't be helped I'll get a chiller and keep an eye on it! Thank you

I was looking at this chiller and wanted to know if it would be fine? https://www.jlaquatics.com/ecoplus-1-4-hp-aquarium-chiller-with-single-stage-controller.html

proxy001 · Jul 9, 2020

You can try evaporative cooling. How unstable is it?

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

proxy001 said:
You can try evaporative cooling. How unstable is it?

2 degree fluctuations daily and what is evaporative cooling?

FlexingFishSticks · Jul 9, 2020

Clip on fan on top of tank helps.

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

FlexingFishSticks said:
Clip on fan on top of tank helps.

Any leads on one? Its for a 525xl

FlexingFishSticks · Jul 9, 2020

PegasisR said:
Any leads on one? Its for a 525xl

There are a bunch on amazon that are battery operated and rechargeable usb or straight plug in wall adapter. There’s also different colors too

proxy001 · Jul 9, 2020

I am in South Florida with a reef tank in a room full west... so here is my experience:
Install infra red film on windows in the reef room (transparent, you cannot tell they are here). Maintain your AC at most at 80. Install EXTRACTION fan in your sump cabinet ( 1 or 2 CPU fan, pointing from inside to outside of the cabinet sump / and/or canopy will help). Cooling fan blowing air onto the reef tank or onto the sump can help. It will result in evaporation which will means you better have 2 things: ATO and a dehumidifier in the house.

ginoandres · Jul 9, 2020

PegasisR said:
2 degree fluctuations daily and what is evaporative cooling?

I probably get the same (between 77 and 79F) daily without issue on my LPS/Softie tank. I was under the impression that's not a big deal and my corals seem happy enough. Granted, the tank is a little over a month old so I could be wrong...?

FlexingFishSticks · Jul 9, 2020

Here are some

proxy001 · Jul 9, 2020

Also 2 degrees F of swing in a day seems acceptable , provided you dont go from 84 to 86

chipmunkofdoom2 · Jul 9, 2020

PegasisR said:
I've run my ac on max but the temp is not stable.

What is the temperature in your house? Is the air conditioner broken?

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

proxy001 said:
I am in South Florida with a reef tank in a room full west... so here is my experience:
Install infra red film on windows in the reef room (transparent, you cannot tell they are here). Maintain your AC at most at 80. Install EXTRACTION fan in your sump cabinet ( 1 or 2 CPU fan, pointing from inside to outside of the cabinet sump / and/or canopy will help). Cooling fan blowing air onto the reef tank or onto the sump can help. It will result in evaporation which will means you better have 2 things: ATO and a dehumidifier in the house.

Need to setup my ato and i dont have a dehumidifier unfortunately

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

chipmunkofdoom2 said:
What is the temperature in your house? Is the air conditioner broken?

Seems so! But if I dont need to rely on the ac that would be good too (aquarium takes up enough electricity as is XD)

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

ginoandres said:
I probably get the same (between 77 and 79F) daily without issue on my LPS/Softie tank. I was under the impression that's not a big deal and my corals seem happy enough. Granted, the tank is a little over a month old so I could be wrong...?

Sps are peeling despite good flow and stable parameters

ginoandres · Jul 9, 2020

I too live in Florida and keep my AC at 77. The main vent is directed at my 20g cube tank and the temperature pretty much stays between 77 and 79 depending on time of day. All corals seem happy and healthy with this setup.

BrandonS · Jul 9, 2020

what kind of lighting do you have?

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

BrandonS said:
what kind of lighting do you have?

3x xr15 g4, switching that out for t5s

ginoandres · Jul 9, 2020

PegasisR said:
Sps are peeling despite good flow and stable parameters

Ah, SPS are out of my domain of experience apart from some Bird's Nest. I figured that may be the issue but perhaps someone else can chime in.

PegasisR · Jul 9, 2020

ginoandres said:
Ah, SPS are out of my domain of experience apart from some Bird's Nest. I figured that may be the issue but perhaps someone else can chime in.

I'm thinking the same!

BrandonS · Jul 9, 2020

T5 can add more heat than LED's. just seeing if you were running halides. You can get a bank of fans with temp control on it from amazon labelled as aquarium fans. Keep in mind if the humidity is super high evaporative cooling won't work to well and you'd have to go chiller route. @Reefdudes just did a live stream on you tube yesterday about temperature control. Maybe some info in there.