Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
does the cold weather affect aquarium temperature?
for those with skimmer air intakes outside
- Thread starter Gary Majchrzak
- Start date
EllieSuz
Premium Member
I debated trying this, Gary, since my tank is quite close to an outside wall. Gave up the idea when I realized we'd have to drill through brick. In spite of that, I'm interested in seeing an answer to this question because I wondered about such cold air putting a strain on my heaters.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I'm also wondering if those that did this feel it was worth the PITA.
In other words, was pH appreciably raised?
In other words, was pH appreciably raised?
acdraindrps
New member
I think tmz does it. I would have to guess that yes, temp would be affected.
Originally, I had my skimmer taking air from the outside. This worked well, but cooled the tank a little bit.
What I found works much better over all, is venting the whole fish room. We have a wood stove and so the room's intake acts as the whole house intake, the moisture in the room is reduced significantly and circulates through the dry house, there is constant fresh air added into the house (newer tight house), and the fresh air going to the tank is not cold. Making these changes, just recently, has improved house air and warmed the tank.
Now, our house has a strange construction which allows the air to be drawn from semi-warmed eves and crawl spaces which most homes don't have. However, if there was an affordable air-exchanger I highly recommend it.
For more standard construction, I found a homemade version works ~okay. Drill a 2" hole in the sill plate, and put a long 2" pvc pipe through it. It has to be a tight fit so air doesn't escape around the pipe. I'd recommend somewhere in the 8' length range for the pipe. This longer pipe allow the air to be warmed slightly before it enters the house. Obviously a metal air exchanger will work much better as it gets better conduction.
What I found works much better over all, is venting the whole fish room. We have a wood stove and so the room's intake acts as the whole house intake, the moisture in the room is reduced significantly and circulates through the dry house, there is constant fresh air added into the house (newer tight house), and the fresh air going to the tank is not cold. Making these changes, just recently, has improved house air and warmed the tank.
Now, our house has a strange construction which allows the air to be drawn from semi-warmed eves and crawl spaces which most homes don't have. However, if there was an affordable air-exchanger I highly recommend it.
For more standard construction, I found a homemade version works ~okay. Drill a 2" hole in the sill plate, and put a long 2" pvc pipe through it. It has to be a tight fit so air doesn't escape around the pipe. I'd recommend somewhere in the 8' length range for the pipe. This longer pipe allow the air to be warmed slightly before it enters the house. Obviously a metal air exchanger will work much better as it gets better conduction.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I kind of figured that your aquarium was providing some desired humidity for your house, Kent. Good design!
Unfortunately, my sump area isn't located in a closed off portion of my basement. I wish it were a 'fish room'. Maybe someday.
Unfortunately, my sump area isn't located in a closed off portion of my basement. I wish it were a 'fish room'. Maybe someday.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
bump
bump
fwiw a large properly operating skimmer helps to maintain/boost pH.
Still looking for some input on the original question, though!
bump
fwiw a large properly operating skimmer helps to maintain/boost pH.
Still looking for some input on the original question, though!
Hi Gary, I did prattle off topic above.
I had a couple degree drop. it did raise ph but not as much as I wanted it too. I've noticed much better ph with the whole house being vented, that's why I was so emphatic above. I don't know why this was the case.
The answer to the question may be skewed because cooler intake air may simply mean a higher electric bill. In my case, I don't have a conventional tank heater but rather a space heater under the stand. It heats the tank very slowly and is barely enough. this is how I noticed the drop in temperature.
I had a couple degree drop. it did raise ph but not as much as I wanted it too. I've noticed much better ph with the whole house being vented, that's why I was so emphatic above. I don't know why this was the case.
The answer to the question may be skewed because cooler intake air may simply mean a higher electric bill. In my case, I don't have a conventional tank heater but rather a space heater under the stand. It heats the tank very slowly and is barely enough. this is how I noticed the drop in temperature.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I open a window whenever I can sneak it 
Thanks for your input, Kent.
Thanks for your input, Kent.
Hi Gary, last year, I had noticeable PH drops in the winter, that were immediately resolved when I opened the window next to the tank (~ .4 in two hours!), and also immediately met with wifely resistance. I cut a 1" hole through the wall, exiting behind the shutter, and plumbed it into the skimmer's intakes, and that probably halved the PH drops, but didn't completely fix the problem.
I can't tell you if it caused a temp drop, because at the time I had all of the equipment (you may remember) crammed under the stand, and was running a chiller practically non-stop as a result, so I wasn't really paying attention.
Since then I've moved the equipment into the "fish room" behind the wall, and so far a chiller has not been necessary. I have the skimmer air intake run outside, but haven't been paying attention to whether or not the heaters are on more often.
I'll let you know if I see a significant difference, but my gut feeling is that at least with my skimmer, it's not going to cause a huge temp drop, especially relative to the potential benefits.
I can't tell you if it caused a temp drop, because at the time I had all of the equipment (you may remember) crammed under the stand, and was running a chiller practically non-stop as a result, so I wasn't really paying attention.
Since then I've moved the equipment into the "fish room" behind the wall, and so far a chiller has not been necessary. I have the skimmer air intake run outside, but haven't been paying attention to whether or not the heaters are on more often.
I'll let you know if I see a significant difference, but my gut feeling is that at least with my skimmer, it's not going to cause a huge temp drop, especially relative to the potential benefits.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
thanks for sharing that, Aaron :fish1:
Brent Thomann
New member
I recommend attaching your Skimmer air inlet into a 2 liter bottle with a couple small holes in the bottom and filled with sodalime. This should scrub all CO2 and also not effect your temp.
Until last month I had my skimmer air line run outside which was a pain in itself. I didn't notice any difference with my PH. So I purchased a CO2 monitor and measured the CO2 level outside and inside and there wasn't much of a difference. 400-450 outside and 500-550 inside. I've since been using the co2 scubber resulting in higher PH. Ever since I got my PH raised up I noticed my corals were much, much happier! I had no idea how much PH can effect your corals.
Until last month I had my skimmer air line run outside which was a pain in itself. I didn't notice any difference with my PH. So I purchased a CO2 monitor and measured the CO2 level outside and inside and there wasn't much of a difference. 400-450 outside and 500-550 inside. I've since been using the co2 scubber resulting in higher PH. Ever since I got my PH raised up I noticed my corals were much, much happier! I had no idea how much PH can effect your corals.
Brent Thomann
New member
Tom no longer runs his line outside. He has been using a co2 scrubber like mine mentioned above.
acdraindrps
New member
Brent, please describe this scrubber a little better please I'm interested.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1889552&highlight=scrubber
one of the best things I ever did to my tank! (probably third to a controller and dosing pumps!)
one of the best things I ever did to my tank! (probably third to a controller and dosing pumps!)
Brent Thomann
New member
Sorry for the delay response, been away from computer.
I first noticed my Chalices coloring up finally. I was on the verge of losing some of them, they lost all their color, only had clear thin skin with skeleton poking through in spots. I'm also noticing better growth & color on my sps.
My PH previously was 7.6 to 7.9 or even on some days 7.5 to 7.8
I've since took my CA Reactor offline and now using my Kalk Reactor again 24/7. Its running off a Litermeter3 that doses every 9 minutes a small amount. Same amount or a little less as my top off. I also added the sodalime to my skimmer which raised PH about .1. My PH is now 8.0 to 8.3
My next goal is to try and get my PH to stay between 8.3 and 8.4. Having a hard time getting it any higher then 8.0 at night though. Is there anything you can dose to raise PH that won't effect your other parameters as much? Maybe I can just run that at night.
Chris & John, let me know if your interested in getting some sodalime. I'm going to be ordering some hopefully this week. Cheaper to buy in bulk.
I first noticed my Chalices coloring up finally. I was on the verge of losing some of them, they lost all their color, only had clear thin skin with skeleton poking through in spots. I'm also noticing better growth & color on my sps.
My PH previously was 7.6 to 7.9 or even on some days 7.5 to 7.8
I've since took my CA Reactor offline and now using my Kalk Reactor again 24/7. Its running off a Litermeter3 that doses every 9 minutes a small amount. Same amount or a little less as my top off. I also added the sodalime to my skimmer which raised PH about .1. My PH is now 8.0 to 8.3
My next goal is to try and get my PH to stay between 8.3 and 8.4. Having a hard time getting it any higher then 8.0 at night though. Is there anything you can dose to raise PH that won't effect your other parameters as much? Maybe I can just run that at night.
Chris & John, let me know if your interested in getting some sodalime. I'm going to be ordering some hopefully this week. Cheaper to buy in bulk.
