Controlling tank temps in AL

[kelp47]

Hey Bama Reefers! I'm putting together a 75 gal mixed reef, and I'm now thinking about how to keep my water temperature stable. I'll be using T5 lights, so no intense heat from the lights.

Do you current reefers find it necessary to use heaters and/or coolers for your tanks? I'll appreciate any information about what your home temperature is like and if/how you control your water temperature.

Thanks!

 

[simplereefer]

with t5s some fans and house temp during summer at 72 to 74 you'll be fine.

 

[NicoleC]

I use T5's on a 40g breeder. In winter, I keep the house at 70F and the heater runs occasionally. In the summer, I keep the house at 80F and set a $5 mini 4" fan on top of some eggcrate facing down. It runs maybe 20% of the day.

I have both the fan and the heater hooked up to a temperature controller with the temp range set from 78.5 - 80F

 

[kelp47]

Thanks for the replies. We keep our house around 67 in the winter and around 77 to 79 in the summer. So maybe just a heater and a small fan for me?

 

[NicoleC]

That will probably be sufficient, just keep an eye on your temps until you know for sure.

Fans work surprisingly well -- be careful you don't drop the tank temp too low in the summer!

 

[kelp47]

Do you have a canopy on your tank or is it open? It just occurred to me that I may have less trouble with the heat because I'll have an open top with a suspended light fixture. I'm going the rimless route.

 

[NicoleC]

Mine's open top, too. It definitely has less overheating issues that when I had a canopy.

If you have a sump, you can put the fan down there, too. That gets it out of sight.

 

[kelp47]

Yes, and it will be quieter in the sump, too. That sounds like a plan. Thanks for the help!