85 Degrees!!!

[sharkysdad]

So last night I mounted my Two 400w metal halide fixtures...Got home today from work and the tank was around 85~86 degrees!! Yikes. Added a couple of fans to the hood so hopfully it helps. The A/C is off in the hous and it was about 82 degrees inside any ways. Lots of windows in the place.

 

[Bifferwine]

The clip-on fans blowing across the surface of the water can drop the temps by up to around 10 degrees cheaply and easily.

 

[sharkysdad]

So maybe I should turn my fans around?? I have them exhausting the air out of the hood for now.

 

[jjk_reef00]

How high are the bulbs off of the water? And what type of reflectors are you using?

 

[sharkysdad]

The bulbs are only about 5in off of the water. The sockets are mounted to a polished tin of somesort. I've already started thinking about building a taller hood. Could be a chance to make it look a little nicer. Hood is a little "Plane Jane" right now.

 

[sharkysdad]

I really want to avoid a chiller...electric bill is already up about $45-$50.

 

[killafornia]

Bro. You want it at least 9 inches from water and go buy a 12 inch fan point it towards the water its a charm.

 

[platiumfingers]

ya 5in is kinda too close to the water surface

 

[killafornia]

Way 2 clo

 

[jjk_reef00]

Way 2 clo

+1, 400W mh put off a tremendous amount of heat and I would say 10" or more.
I use lumenbright reflectors and keep them about 15" off the water but my tank is 24" tall. If you have a short tank you can raise the reflectors to 10+ inches and still have great PAR at the bottom of the tank.

Also if it was 82 inside the house, then IMO you can expect the tank will warm up to approximately the house temp. Maybe a few degrees warmer because of your equipment (mh, pumps, etc...).

You can also try placing a fan directly over your sump blowing down directly at the water. You will have more water evaporation, but it helps cool the tank water.

 

[Mr. Right]

+1 on the MH’s being to close. IMO, you aren’t getting the full spread of the lights potential and this is most definitely aiding your heat issues. Keep in mind that if or when you do add a fan that the evaporation will most likely increase in your setup, so keep an eye on your salinity because with that it will shift significantly. If you can get away with raising the lights and having air move around the tank versus just on the surface it will more than likely keep the temp stable w/o evaporating more water that necessary. I’m not sure on how you setup will react to the triple digit temps though…best of luck.

One more thing, have you or can you add more water to your sump? That will also help with temp swings, and you may be able to use a small fan in there also if need be. They’re like 10 bucks @ target.

 

[Tanque Verde]

Also if it was 82 inside the house, then IMO you can expect the tank will warm up to approximately the house temp. Maybe a few degrees warmer because of your equipment (mh, pumps, etc...).

+1 on this. Within a small margin of variance, an unchilled tank will always be pegged to ambient temperatures.

 

[killafornia]

Not always true my tank stays at 74-76 no matter what my house is no heaters no chiller it really depends on gallons. I guess if my house gets to 90 or so 4 a good amount of time my tank will heat up as well but it takes a lot More time point being the more gallons the less it fluctuates

 

[killafornia]

P's T V thanks again 4 the shrooms

 

[Tanque Verde]

I hear what you're saying about large tanks taking longer to heat up or cool down, and how that fact can facilitate a successful reefkeeping strategy. But if your tank stays 74-76 without heaters or chillers, it's found some sort of average ambient in your house, right?

Hypothetically, if your house temps dropped into 40s and stayed that way, or if your tank rose into the 90s and stayed that way, your tank temps would eventually drop (at least to the temperature it is heated by pumps and lights) or rise (allowing for evaporative cooling), yes?

Stated alternatively, could you run your tank in an unairconditioned house all through the Tucson summer? If so, I think that says more about evaporative cooling on your large volume tank than about the lag in your temperature swings. And if so, I'm going to rethink my predisposition for nanos.

 

[killafornia]

Well my house is block so its very efficient and I have both evap cooling and air conditioning

 

[killafornia]

And of course I m not using nether At this time

 

[jjk_reef00]

IME evap cooling can lower a tank 5 degrees below ambient temp, which is really good considering heat from pumps etc... I accomplished this by pointing a fan directly at my water in my sump.
If you set up an ATO you won't have to worry about salinity swings.

 

[sharkysdad]

talked to the wife and she says I can have a couple of hundred dollars from our tax money to build a new hood. She likes the Idea of a nicer looking "cabinet thingy" on top of the tank!

 

[sharkysdad]

On that note, anybody good with wood and might want to help in the near future??? I'd def supply some Pizza and Beer!!!