Temp Swings

[Kevin Finocchiaro]

The temp in my tanks swings constantly from 77.1 to 79.1. The true temp heater is set on 78. The pattern of 77.1 to 79 temp swing happens 3 times a day, every 8 hrs, see chart. Is this a normal occurrence in other tanks or how do i get a more stable temp?

 

[T-J]

Make sure you aren't plugging your heater into your Apex.
What do you have set as your min/max temps? I have my Inkbird set at .5 degrees difference for my min (77.7) and max (78.2).
I have mine controlled by an Inkbird controller. Very stable. Here's 24hrs of my temp. Max of .5 degree swing. Most swing is .3 degrees.

 

[Uncle99]

Blow a fan across the water surface, it will drop you a degree in temp, but will create more stability through less flux.

 

[gonzo620]

looks like your apex is set to turn your heater outlet off at 79 on again at 77

 

[Sea_Shanty_Corals]

How large is your heater? It's possible you have a heater too large for your tank that is shutting off at a certain temperature but there's residual heat in the heater that keeps heating the tank.

Also, I would make sure you don't have your apex doing all of the power cycling of the heater. I would run an independent controller that keeps the heater at 78, and have the apex outlet come on or off between 76 and 80. Otherwise you run into a situation where you have two systems shooting for slightly different targets.

 

[T-J]

Also, I would make sure you don't have your apex doing all of the power cycling of the heater. I would run an independent controller that keeps the heater at 78, and have the apex outlet come on or off between 76 and 80. Otherwise you run into a situation where you have two systems shooting for slightly different targets.

I mentioned this all above.

However, I still don't think you should plug a heater into an Apex power outlet. I certainly don't want another 600w going through it...especially if it's going to be cycling on/off. My Apex just monitors temp, it doesn't control it. It will alert me, but that's it. My Inkbird controller is plugged into the wall, not the Apex. It will also alert me if there is a temp issue.

 

[ZoWhat]

How do you have your house's AC scheduled through your thermostat?

Do you run your furnace fan 24/7 or does it kick on only when AC is needed?

How close is your tank to a forced-air vent?

The swings definitely shoot up quickly then step down.

They shoot up at 1am, 8am and 3pm, then step down

Honestly, being worried about a 2 degree temp swing is a bit pretentious IMO. 5 degree swing, yeah start readjusting. But 2 degrees, please

 

[BoxKing]

My Apex is set to turn on my heater at 77.8, off at 78.4. Although a temp swing of 2 degrees may not be harmful, its certainly too much IMHO.

You have an Apex for the controllable functionality, and I'd 100% use this for your Temp Controller over anything else. First, re calibrate your temp probe, then make sure its as far away from your physical heater (you will get false readings if its close by). Set your Min/Max heat parameters through Apex - also apply an alarm. Lastly make sure to set your heaters temp controller to 79-80 degrees.

 

[Timfish]

My two cents: Reefs can see 3°-4° F daily so 2° doesn't seem an issue. What I do see as an issue is connecting it to an apex. I've known several aquarists locally who have lsot stuff because the outlet the heater was plugged into didn't turn off as it was supposed to or the thermostat the apex ot the thermostat port failed making the apex the temp was diffferent than it tank was actually sitting at.

 

[JCM]

How do you have your house's AC scheduled through your thermostat?

Do you run your furnace fan 24/7 or does it kick on only when AC is needed?

How close is your tank to a forced-air vent?

The swings definitely shoot up quickly then step down.

They shoot up at 1am, 8am and 3pm, then step down

Honestly, being worried about a 2 degree temp swing is a bit pretentious IMO. 5 degree swing, yeah start readjusting. But 2 degrees, please

I agree with your point, but my tank occasionally sees a 4-5 degree swing in a day. Nothing ever looks even remotely unhappy from it, I have no intentions of readjusting because of it. Heck, I had a heater issue a while back and the tank swung from 70 to 80 within a few hours, even then everything looked happy and normal. Some people get way too tied up in controlling parameters to unnecessary levels.

I'd be more concerned with not having any fluctuation. A coral that has spent years at 78.135 degrees probably wont be happy if the temp changes to 76 or 80, but a coral that is accustomed to some daily fluctuations won't mind.

 

[T-J]

My two cents: Reefs can see 3°-4° F daily so 2° doesn't seem an issue.

Daily is one thing...every 4-6 hours though? I think that's another issue, and that's what this person is experiencing.

Honestly, being worried about a 2 degree temp swing is a bit pretentious IMO. 5 degree swing, yeah start readjusting. But 2 degrees, please

Honestly, you telling someone else that they are pretentious because they don't want these temperature swings throughout the day is just rude. We preach stability in our systems, and (in most cases) we have the ability to control temperature so that it doesn't fluctuate 2 degrees every few hours.

This person asked how they can fix these swings. Myself and others have offered some ideas. That's what they want and/or need.

 

[JCM]

Daily is one thing...every 4-6 hours though? I think that's another issue, and that's what this person is experiencing.


Honestly, you telling someone else that they are pretentious because they don't want these temperature swings throughout the day is just rude. We preach stability in our systems, and (in most cases) we have the ability to control temperature so that it doesn't fluctuate 2 degrees every few hours.

This person asked how they can fix these swings. Myself and others have offered some ideas. That's what they want and/or need.

The person also asked if it was a normal occurrence. The answer to that is yes, in the wild and in plenty of aquariums a 2 degree swing throughout the day is normal and perfectly fine.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Get urself a finnex 800 dial controller and be done with it.
They are anaglog old school. Little beefy and bulky but they work. Lol
D

 

[Kevin Finocchiaro]

Thank you everyone for all your input and suggestions, they are all very much appreciated.

The tank is a 200 gal tank mix reef with - rocks, gravel + sump ect leaves aprox 165 gals of useable water.

The heater is a T3-800 - 800 watt true temp, for 160-260 gal tanks . The temp thermostat is set on 78 F. The heater is set in the middle of the tank. The thermostat and temp probe are both placed on the right wall

The heater is plugged in to the apes but used only as an emergency shut off. The apex is set to shut off the heater if the tank hits 79.5 and then turn back on at 77 F.

The temp alarms are set at 76 F and 80 F.

I dont have a fan or chiller but will consider adding one.

The house temp runs between 71 F - 74 F

My goal/hope is to maintain a constant 78 F with the normal variations

 

[Timfish]

Daily is one thing...every 4-6 hours though? I think that's another issue,. . .

Why do you believe a 2 degree change in 4-6 hours is an issue but are ok with a change twice that in 12 hours?

 

[T-J]

Why do you believe a 2 degree change in 4-6 hours is an issue but are ok with a change twice that in 12 hours?

I don't.
Like I said earlier, I keep my tank within .5 of a degree (or try to). I was pointing out that someone said reefs can fluctuate a few degrees over the course of a day, and I was saying that this persons temp was fluctuating 2 degrees every few hours.

 

[Pistondog]

Most temp controllers have turn on a degree f below setpoint and off above. The sawtooth is normal for onboard controls.
An apex allows tightening the swings, but do the fish and coral thrive more or less?

 

[ZoWhat]

Honestly, you telling someone else that they are pretentious because they don't want these temperature swings throughout the day is just rude.

I didn't say you were pretentious....

What I'm saying is a 2 degree swing is an over-exaggeration of potential problems.

There are no problem here. Your corals aren't dying. Your fish aren't floating.

It's not a hobby anymore if you are worried about creating the perfect ecosystem.

But if you want to worry to this extent, that is your right.

.

 

[Harold999]

I have my Inkbird set at .5 degrees difference for my min (77.7) and max (78.2).

Just got an Inkbird and .5 is the smallest difference you can set. I was expecting controllers can do .1?
.5 is the same as a good heater with built-in thermostat does, so i'm dissapointed about this purchase. Might returning it.

 

[T-J]

Just got an Inkbird and .5 is the smallest difference you can set. I was expecting controllers can do .1?
.5 is the same as a good heater with built-in thermostat does, so i'm dissapointed about this purchase. Might returning it.

From what I've read, you don't want to set your controller to .1, since it will be non-stop on/off. One of the reasons I don't have my Apex controlling my temp.