BioCube 14 too hot?

[e_reef]

So with the last few days being warmer, my BioCube has been getting hotter itself. I've done lots of research on this for a bit now and have some solutions on what to do to keep it cool if I need to take that step. The majority of what I've read is that the issue isn't so much high heat(to an extent, of course) but rather it's large, quick fluctuations.

My main interest is how hot is too hot. My ambient temperature the last few days has been between about 74-78 and the tank has been hanging out around 82-84.7(per my CoraLife digital - and verified with 2nd mercury thermometer). If it doesn't get above that, are there any issues? I understand that this gives very little time to react if something goes wrong and the temp stats to rise.

For now the higher temps are fine though as I only started to cycle the tank 3 days ago so there is no immediate rush to resolve it.

 

[rf@gmail.com]

No offense intended, but 82 - 85 is too warm and your ambient temps have only been 74 - 78! Just imagine what the water temp will rise to when your ambient temps hit the 80s. Oxygen level in water will drop as temps increase; no doubt any livestock you add will be stressed to the limit or death. That's why this hobby is so expensive... it costs money to provide the environment and water conditions your livestock deserve. Again, no offense, but in my opinion we should accept the responsibility to strive for ideal water parameters (including temperature) for the critters we host, not present them with a survival challenge. Add a chiller if you don't have a cooler place to put the tank. Happy reefing.

 

[e_reef]

I take full offense! Nah, I'm just kidding :rollface:

I agree completely with your sentiments on taking full responsibility(I've kept many pets over the years from dogs/cats to rodents to reptiles to invertebrates, and on and on).

As far as ambient Temps being that high, I'd turn my AC on before then. I more so was asking because I felt I was a little on the edge of the upper side. I've seen multiple accounts on multiple forums frommembers(even senior ones) who have discussed allowing their tanks to run at 84ish and had successful tanks for years. However none really mentioned higher than that.

I have some modifications I can perform to alleviate the issue and I think I'll take that route,was just asking for some advice from those with experience. Like I had previously stated, I have several weeks before I will even be able to introduce livestock so I've got some time to work it out.

Thanks for the thoughts

 

[Arowana1902]

My biocube 14 also runs hot, 84 being the norm, all the livestock does well, though it is hard to maintain a good pod population, especially since a mandarin resides in the tank. What mods did you make, i would love to lower the temp?

 

[sculpin2]

If you prop open the hood, your temperature will drop several degrees. The lights are the major source of the elevated temperature. Even though there are venting fans, they don't seem to work well. I am going to mod mine soon to alleviate this issue by moving the lights out of the hood with a custom acrylic top.

 

[soulpatch]

Several options from LEDs to replace the PC lights, fan units on the back hatch, removing the hood all together, chiller, ect.

Personally I went with LEDs and a fan unit on the rear that my apex controlled if temps rose. Then I went open top and never had issue again.

 

[Arowana1902]

I was thinking about unconnecting the hood from the tank and just raising it up about an inch or so

 

[e_reef]

My biocube 14 also runs hot, 84 being the norm, all the livestock does well, though it is hard to maintain a good pod population, especially since a mandarin resides in the tank. What mods did you make, i would love to lower the temp?

Yeah, I've heard a few people with a situation similar to yours, that's why I was asking. But I definitely need to take action at this point - just letting it run the last 2-3 days uninterrupted and it's now peaking at like 87.5.

I haven't done any mods yet but I'm first going to go with a fan on the back(and possibly an ATO at that point to make it a little easier to deal with evaporation) and then if I have to take steps beyond that I'll switch to LEDs.

If you prop open the hood, your temperature will drop several degrees. The lights are the major source of the elevated temperature. Even though there are venting fans, they don't seem to work well. I am going to mod mine soon to alleviate this issue by moving the lights out of the hood with a custom acrylic top.

I tried propping open the feeding door but that only seemed to slow the rise in Temps.

Several options from LEDs to replace the PC lights, fan units on the back hatch, removing the hood all together, chiller, ect.

Personally I went with LEDs and a fan unit on the rear that my apex controlled if temps rose. Then I went open top and never had issue again.

Yeah, definitely got my options to pick from since it's obvious at this point something must be done.

I'd like to go open top but location and living situation wouldn't allow for it. It sits in the kitchen right next to a pass through to my living room. I have a 2 1/2 and 1 year old so open top has its risks. Lastly I have 3 dogs, 2 of which are large, that are mostly in the kitchen and living room so there is lots of constant hair and dust settling. I pretty much have to wipe the hood off every day to get the layer of dust off or it turns Grey quickly.

I was thinking about unconnecting the hood from the tank and just raising it up about an inch or so

Sounds like an interesting idea. I'll kick this one around a bit. Let me know if you give it a shot and how it goes.

 

[bshow24]

My tank use to get warmer during the summer. I went to the store and bought one of those mini desk fans, popped it on the corner, and had it blow onto the top of the tank. Not only does it cool the tank, it also agitates the surface and creates more oxygen exchange.