HELP-- 84+ Temp w/Lights Off

ivyvine1

ivyvine1

New member
Help ..... at 10 a.m., My 90 gal tank has been running 84+ degrees with the lights off (and heater of course), with the room temp at 74 degrees. I have a digital and regular thermometer and both read in the mid 80's !! What else could be causing this?? I am planning to get a chiller next week, but want to get to the bottom of this first ..... I may not even need a chiller.
Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated!
Thank you,
Irene
 
Are you running any fans that blow on the surface of the water? Or at least ventilate the canopy and stand? If you don't have some, go out and buy them. 4" clip-on fans work, just be sure to secure themwell so they don't fall in the water!

For immediate help, open up all the stand doors and canopy doors, and get some circulation in the room. Shut off any heat-generating extraneous equipment -- leave circulation pumps on!

Watch your O2 levels (by pH if need be) since oxygen use goes up when temp goes up. If you have a good margin or error (lightly stocked), shut off the skimmer pump, otherwise leave it on for aeration.

Tonight, get the house cooled down

Hang in there -- should be a bit cooler today then yesterday. And while 84F is scary to see, you animals should be fine. Let's just keep it from climbing any more.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7583058#post7583058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Are you running any fans that blow on the surface of the water? Or at least ventilate the canopy and stand?

Yes .... I have two fans in the canopy and one directed at the water in the sump.

Thanks Nicole ..... I know I can get a chiller, but I think 84 in the tank and 74 in the house is too much of a difference; and that is with all the tank lights off.

I just want to solve this problem before I get a chiller.
Thanks for your advice.
Irene
Click to expand...
 
freeze water in the 1 litter btles and put the bttles in your sump tht cool the water a bit. i always had bttles in the freezer last year just in case my temp went up. it helps. alsoget some fans like nicole suggested. my old place used to get really hot and it didnt help that my tank was next the window. but the fan and frozen bttle trick always kept things right where they should be.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7583535#post7583535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SBJim
My guess is submerged pumps, generating heat in the water. Have any?

No ..... my pump is an external pump..... only the skimmer is in the sump. Should an external pump be hot when touching?? Mine is.

Just don't understand what is causing this ......

Thanks for your response !!
Click to expand...
 
Well, here is my problem ..... I don't know if I should pop for a chiller next week. My gut feeling is I should find out what is causing the heat problem first. It could be something simple.
 
My tank was at 84 when my skimmer was on. I would shut off the skimmer, dropped the temp to 79-80. Leave the heater unplugged, that'll help keep the temp down another degree. A fan circulating the room also helps. my temp now stays at 77-79 even when the temp is around 84+. But without the fan its 79-80. Also did you open the doors to the stand. not sure if that'll help, goodluck until you get that chiller.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7584266#post7584266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ivyvine1
Well, here is my problem ..... I don't know if I should pop for a chiller next week. My gut feeling is I should find out what is causing the heat problem first. It could be something simple.
Click to expand...
3


describe your system what type of lights do you have ..what kind and how many pumps do you have....

get an ato and get FANS!!!! that may stop the need for a chiller
 
She already has fans, Gabriel.

Pumps, when they are old and worn, generate more heat. Most return pumps should be hot to the touch, but not scorching.

A few q's:
What is your return pump, how long have you had it and when was the last time it was cleaned?
Ditto for the skimmer pump.
Any powerheads in the tank?
Light types, wattage and light cycle?
Fan types? And when are they on?
Normal operating temp, and any swings through the day?

With your climate controlled room, something is up -- unless you have been gaining a degree or two on hot days and the tank doesn't cool down at night. That does add up fast.
 
Right now the tank is at 84 and the house is at 77. I have all three fans running with the doors on the stand wide open. All windows and doors are open in the house; 6:20 p.m. in Manhattan Beach.

I feel this is just too high for the house temp. It would be over the top on a very hot day when the house temp goes up. Am I wrong?? I unfortunately lost two anthias last week due to high temps. When I got home from work, the temp was approaching 85 degrees with all the windows open and fans running.

Below is my equipment - all purchased May of 2004.

Jeff's Exotic Pro 6-1 Skimmer
Iwaki Watger Pump MD 55RLT
Florescent lights (2 white/2 blue) 46.5" Hamilton 4 lamps

My setup is very simple ..... nothing fancy.

I "appreciate" everyone's input - thank you all. Again, I just want to settle this problem "before" purchasing a chiller.
 
I agree... something is not right.

Anyone have the same Iwaki pump and can comment on heat issues with it?
 
Try running your tank without your skimmer and then if the temp doesn't drop try it without the return. It's gotta be either one of these.

Also do you have any Rio powerheads or pumps? These seem to run hot when they wear out (which is sadly pretty quickly).

My tank hits a high of up to 85 degrees on the hottest days since the room its in isnt temp controlled. Haven't noticed any problems as a result. Are you sure your anthias died because of the heat? I've heard that they need to eat constantly and that is the reason for the low mortality of the species.
 
Irene, your skimmer pump must be a sedra 3000, try turning it off tonight and see what your tank temp is in the morning. The Iwaki MD 55RLT should have its own fan, and shouldn't be adding much temp, but it can if it is stuck in an enclosed place, or has poor ventilation. It sounds like you have already turned your lights off and it didn't help much.

Find out how much the skimmer pump is adding to the tank, if it's more than 2°, take it out and clean it.

I hope your figure this out, my tank is only getting to 82.5° so far.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7585787#post7585787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Konadog
your skimmer pump must be a sedra 3000, try turning it off tonight and see what your tank temp is in the morning.

Thanks Ken ..... just turned off the skimmer - I'll check it in the morning.

Find out how much the skimmer pump is adding to the tank, if it's more than 2°, take it out and clean it.

Okay .... thanks, I'll have to figure that one out. I really don't mind getting a chiller for peace of mind ..... this is nerve wracking everyday - I'm checking the temp about 3 x day. I just don't want to buy a skimmer and cover up something that should be fixed "first."
Click to expand...
 
I agree, something is not right. I have a similar setup...Iwaki return, Jeffs 6-2 skimmer with Sedra 5000 pump. In addition, I have lights, and assorted powerheads running. Tank temp never got over 82 today, with the house ambient temp never over 78. I only have a fan over the sump, no chiller.

I agree with Ken, turn off the skimmer and see what happens. Something is not right...the skimmer pump shouldn't be putting out that much heat and may need cleaning.
 
This time of year my tank runs at 84F with nothing on except pumps. Water has a very high heat density, it doesn't cool off that quickly.

Now I run a chiller, and even with the lights off, (which they have been to combat my cyano outbreak), the chiller still kicks on 4-5 times a day for about an hour each time.

In my experience, during the hotter parts of the year your tank will just run hotter, regardless of ambient room temp and lights.

It can be 90F outside, but I have my house AC set to 72F and the house feels like a freezer, but the tank seems to know its supposed to be hot.

I've tried fans, and they help a little, but the evap rusted my hinges, so cooling through evap is not an option for me. If cooling through evap isn't an option for you, chillers work well, and your lower temps will mean a little less top off.

My 2 cents

Josh
 
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