Tank went up to 87 overnight!

[Slocke]

Tank was 87 (now 86) I have put ice in, turned A/C to max, and put a fan above. Turned off the UV, return pump, and removed the heater. Fish and corals seem mostly fine.

Long story is I decided to redo some of the plumbing so had the sump disconnected last night. Turned everything back on late last night and noticed today that it was way too hot. Tank usually fluctuates between 79 and 81. House no hotter then normal. I did find some old cheeto stuck on my return pump but nothing else. Tank has about 130 gallons overall. Tank has glass lid but sump is open.

How long will that take too cool?
How did this happen?

 

[Troylee]

I’d guess your heater stuck on if it’s normally not a problem.. or your temp probe needs calibrated if it’s digital?

 

[exnisstech]

Do you have a heater controller? If so where is the sensor in relationship heater? Thinking maybe water in sump got very hot then raised tank when when reconnected

 

[j.falk]

Open your glass lids to help the tank cool back down.

 

[Brandont21]

I did this during a water change just not as dramatic. I drained water in DT which exposed my temp probe to air which turned my heater on. Sump water got quite warm before I filled it back up. Im sure something similar happened to you

 

[Slocke]

I’d guess your heater stuck on if it’s normally not a problem.. or your temp probe needs calibrated if it’s digital?

Do you have a heater controller? If so where is the sensor in relationship heater? Thinking maybe water in sump got very hot then raised tank when when reconnected

It doesn't feel warm. Heater and probe are on opposite sides of a 3ft sump. Other thermometer reads a little less ~84-85

 

[Slocke]

My worry is that the DT became a greenhouse when it wasn't connected to my sump. Does that sound possible?

 

[exnisstech]

It doesn't feel warm. Heater and probe are on opposite sides of a 3ft sump. Other thermometer reads a little less ~84-85

If that's the case the water in the sump probably got very hot. With the temp probe at one end and the heater at the other and no circulation the probe would not warm up to turn off the heater. Been there done that.
EDIT: 87 is high but hopefully not enough to do more than make your coral liitle upset.

 

[Slocke]

If that's the case the water in the sump probably got very hot. With the temp probe at one end and the heater at the other and no circulation the probe would not warm up to turn off the heater. Been there done that.

Wish it were that simple but its a single compartment with a UV and some powerheads still circulating. Its really just a big refugium.
Excuse the mess:

 

[Troylee]

Wish it were that simple but its a single compartment with a UV and some powerheads still circulating. Its really just a big refugium.
Excuse the mess:

Uv tend put out some serious heat on their own.

 

[exnisstech]

Wish it were that simple but its a single compartment with a UV and some powerheads still circulating. Its really just a big refugium.
Excuse the mess:

Hmm I dunno then.

 

[FoolishWizard]

Should the return pumps be turned off? Dont you want that cooler water circulating?

 

[MikeCRK]

Check if any of pumps is not getting heated (bearings). My colleague had that issue, it took him 3 months to figure and half of stock...

 

[Slocke]

Should the return pumps be turned off? Dont you want that cooler water circulating?

Probably a good idea now.
I was reading some threads and apparently sometimes the return pump malfunctions and causes the heat. But I think I'll turn it on again and see if that changes anything.
Its reading another degree cooler so I know its currently going down.

 

[Slocke]

Uv tend put out some serious heat on their own.

It may have sucked in some cheeto to. Think that may have been it? It is very new

 

[Troylee]

It may have sucked in some cheeto to. Think that may have been it? It is very new

Very well could be.. the chaeto would slow the flow and give the light more surface time on the water and get it hot.. how big is the uv? My buddy put a 55w on his tank and it went up 4° over night..

 

[Slocke]

Very well could be.. the chaeto would slow the flow and give the light more surface time on the water and get it hot.. how big is the uv? My buddy put a 55w on his tank and it went up 4° over night..

Not big. 10 W.

My best theory is the main tank with the strong LEDs and glass lids became a greenhouse without the circulation of the open aired sump to cool it. My Blade is basically sitting right on top and gets hot.

Either way Im leaving the UV off for now and will test later once everything is back to normal.


Thanks to all who answered!

 

[MikeCRK]

Not big. 10 W.

My best theory is the main tank with the strong LEDs and glass lids became a greenhouse without the circulation of the open aired sump to cool it. My Blade is basically sitting right on top and gets hot.

Either way Im leaving the UV off for now and will test later once everything is back to normal.


Thanks to all who answered!

Very, VERY unlikely. For over 20 years I am using glass lids. Some of the freshwater lamps I was using could be used as the heater in a smoking space in Alaska, never had any of that from the glass. Either way glass should not be flat, that way the drops fall and the hot air gets away (it is never sealed fully).

 

[Slocke]

Very, VERY unlikely. For over 20 years I am using glass lids. Some of the freshwater lamps I was using could be used as the heater in a smoking space in Alaska, never had any of that from the glass. Either way glass should not be flat, that way the drops fall and the hot air gets away (it is never sealed fully).

Hmm well I have no idea then.

Pump is back on and temperature has been at 84F for about half an hour now.

 

[deafasa]

Are there heaters in the main tank, or only the sump? Is there a temperature difference between the main tank and the sump? If a powerhead was moving the water around in the sump it shouldn't have triggered the heater to superheat the sump water.