12 gallon aquapod temp too hot?

zoomster

zoomster

New member
I've been out of the saltwater hobby for about six years and just coming back. I decided on the aquapod 12 gallon. I liked the idea of it being a self-contained unit with "everything you need" and wanted to go small this time. So now it's been cycling for about 3 weeks. I finally bought a digital thermometer a few days ago to check my temps. I have little swing, but it's running really warm. It's staying between 84.5 and 85. A chiller is not in my budget. I really didn't want to modify the unit. I decided to go with the aquapod because I liked the look and the fact it was an all-in-one. Is there anything else I can do? Can corals and a clown live in this temp? Thanks for any input.
 
I tried just craking the hood, but temp change was insignificant. I'm trying not to mod the unit, but might still. I just don't want to change the look of the tank. I live at the beach in SoCal where most folks don't have AC. We don't either. The summer heat has been keeping our home really toasty. I may opt for buying a portable AC unit. It would cost less than a chiller and and serve a dual purpose....cool the aquarium and cool my wife, daughter and I. This will be a last resort. I'm really just wondering if this is necessary or will critters be ok at this temp since there is little swing in temp? Anybody have success at these temps? Anybody have catastrophes at these temps?
 
people have been successful taking a ziploc and filling it with water and then freezing it and floating it in the back chamber so that as the day goes by it gradually melts and helps with temps....kinda cheesy but works. if the AP has a fan built into hood you couldunscrew it and reverse the airflow so it blows in instead of out....not sure if the 12gallon version has fan or not tho. if you do the baggie trick just be sure to use ro/di water like u would for topoff so you dont contaminate ur tank if it leaks
 
thanks for the feedback. i tried the frozen water bottle method in the back chamber. it cooled the water by 2 degrees, but melted in about 20 minutes. i guess that is a solution for an emergency cooling situation. the temp goes right back up within another 20 minutes, so probably not something i could keep up with. i've got a heavy duty standing fan pointed at it right now and it seems to be dropping. i'll know better about midday today when the temp will be 87 with no air in house. i started a temp log to determine what will work best. i'll share my results when i determine the best fix. thanks again for the help folks. there's is so much information on this site!!!
 
First question to ask is what is the ambient room temp?
Also buy a maxi-jet 900 and swap out the stock pump it is 13 watts and a big temp booster..
also remove the splash shield and flip the fan around add a second one while you are in it.
This should get you down around 80-82 depending on room temp
 
ENraged-
I'll need to check the ambient room temp again when I get hom . i know it's hot...just not sure how hot.

As far as the maxi-jet, this is a power head??? I currently have the stock pump in far right chamber. Do I remove it from the chamber and then place maxi-jet 900 in the display? If so, how is water pulled through chambers in back? Or do people use the maxi-jet in the back?

I will definitely add the fan. Do you know if this is a special fan and/or where to order/buy one?

Thanks again for the help.
 
You will literally replace the stock return pump with the maxi-jet
http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/mercha...axi-jet_900&Category_Code=o1&Product_Count=10
as for the fan the stock AP12 hoods had 2 pin fans installed with them so for ease of fan shoping i would look up a 2 pin to 3 pin converter they are only like 2 or 3 bucks. something looking like one of these
http://www.crazypc.com/products/cableswires/cables.htm#wireconverters
that will get you started but if your room is 80+ then you are going to have a bit of a time getting the tank to below ambient temp with out more intense cooling.
 
I have the ap 24, I made the pump switch, which helps. Most days I run an AC so that helps alot, I know you want that as a last resort though. If you switch your fans around that will help (I am ordering bigger fans to do that with.) For now though I prop the front hood up to give some circulation, it makes a little bit of a diffrence. I don't know if that will help, but it's worth a shot. I don't know if the 12 has the seperate flap on top, but that's what I do and it still keeps the lid on, so it doesn't look too bad. Sorry that's about all the help I can give you. Mine has gone to 90 before, I only lost a clown gobey. Not that I recomend doing that on a regular basis...But usually I'm between 80-84, which isn't good but everything is surviving.
 
I know with my 24, I run around 79 - 80 during the day, and dip down to 75 at night. I am only running one fan right now, and have no heater installed. My light cycle is only around 10 hours for the main bulbs. I found that when I ran a heater it was getting way to hot during the day, and would prop open the feeding flap and it helped a little. I am still running the stock pump, and have added one power head that does a sweeping motion in the display tank. Good luck. Jon
 
First thing, replace the pump like mentioned. I replaced my nanocube dx stock pump with a maxi jet 600 and the temp went down just over one degree. Big difference for a pump and its a better pump as well. Also, if you can reverse your fans on the hood that will help as well. I did that on my nano and it seemed to help get the hot air out of the hood. Feels that way anyway :rolleyes:

Last option would be to buy an ICA chiller from nanocustom. They are like 90 bucks and replace one of your fans with the mini chiller and their fan unit. That will take care of your heat problem even if the ambient room temp is high like yours. Good luck :)
 
I just reached a new high today 95.3. That was with lights on for 9 hrs with a large fan pointed directly at the aquarium. I will be taking all of your advice and may just need to take the plunge and get a chiller or AC unit.

scnell76- I will definitely check out the chiller you mentioned. I didn't think I could find one for less than a few hundred bucks. 90 bucks sounds like a steal.

Thanks again for the help.
 
I had temp problems also. I switched the fan around but did'nt really notice a difference.
I really don't like to go above 83F and temp flucts can stress fish.
What I did with mine is put a small tupperware/rubbermaid cup in the front to crack it open and blow a box fan at it. It may not look perfect but I'd rather not have it hot.
It made a big difference. Otherwise the heat is enclosed in there.
I did'nt replace the stock pump but heard that's a good idea also.

I also removed the little lid opening. Kinda by accident funny story.
When I took the top apart to switch the fan a little plastic black piece fell off and I did'nt see where it came from so I stuck it in a hole in the hood.
I rescrewed it all back together and my hubby says theres a piece missing and the little top don't stay on lol.
I'm just too lazy to unscrew it all again to get it out.

I have a/c but am cheap and only run it if I have to lol which is usually if the tank gets hot.
I would buy an a/c to cool off the room before a chiller just to cool off the tank.

kass
 
I went with a nano chiller in my 24 gallon but quite frankly, this is the biggest problem with small tanks which is very difficult to control. and must be very stressful for the fish. I am now of the opinion that in most cases, some type of chiller is mandatory. Hooded tanks are a problem with fans which cause major evap problems
 
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