High Temp MYSTERY

[kg4izw]

My Aquapod that normally runs 78.5 degrees was at 82.5 this afternoon and I can't figure out why.
1. The temp in my house was 76 today instead of its normal 80 degrees.
2. I verified the temp with a different thermometer.
3. I checked the fan, and it was running normally.
4. The Stealth 75 watt heater is less than 6 months old; nevertheless I pulled the heater and put it into a seperate container and it heated the water to 78.5 just like normal.
4. I felt my both my MJ600 and MJ1200 powerheads individually to ensure they were working properly and not warm to the touch.
5. I felt my Koralia 1 and it was working properly and not warm either.
6. My UV sterilizer and its pump were not on at all today so I know they are not the cause.

I am really confused as to the source of this heat. I MUST use the heater because it will most likely get down to 65 in the den this evening.
Is there anything I overlooked???

Paulb.

 

[NicoleC]

It sounds like you covered all the bases, but I would still suspect a powerhead. They do go bad, and sometimes when they do they first start by overheating. I would remove them one at a time and run them for a couple of hours in a bucket of 50/50 white vinegar and water. Then take them apart and clean them if anything still in them, while inspecting the components carefully for nicks on the impeller, etc.

Or, it *could* be your thermometer, of the one you used to check the heater could have a different reading because of the way they vary from one unit to another. It's something to check.

Also, I would verify that your lights are turning off at night. I had a timer go bad once; the poor fishies didn't get much sleep for a few days!

 

[8BALL_99]

wow 80 inside your house and maybe 65 tonight.. Shesh thats a huge swing. My wife would beat me if I let our house get over 73 lol..

Well Room temp and humidity both play a big part.. But with such a large increase I'm with NicoleC.. You have a bad pump somewhere.. Powerheads are little heaters anyway.. Really about the only thing you can do is remove one at a time to see what happens.. I would start with the MJ1200 since it pulls more wattage then the rest.. I'm suprised with a 150watt Mh you can even keep your temps so low with such a high room temp.. You must Evaporate a ton of water.

 

[kg4izw]

My wife and I love the outdoors and don't mind if our house kinda feels like the outdoor temps too!
I guess I should have listed a #7 too. I pull and clean all my pumps every 6 months and they were cleaned about 6 weeks ago.
Oh and I dont get much calcium buildup on them since most of them are in the back partition which gets NO light. But they sure get slimey.
I guess I go through half a gallon of water each day in the 24 gallon tank. All the pumps in the tank are less than a year old, so I hope they are not going out already.
Well last night before I went to bed I put everything back in the tank like it was before. It is almost 24 hours later now, and my temp is perfectly normal at 78.5. I will be keeping a close eye on the temp for the next couple of days. And if the temp flares up again I wil try unpluging my pumps one at a time.

and 8BALL, I ordered myself two Reidi seahorses from SeahorseSource that will be arriving next Friday. Thanks for the advice on the other thread too.

 

[andyjd]

Temp increase could have been caused by a snail covering a pump inlet/outlet

 

[8BALL_99]

Not sure if a blocked powerhead would heat up.. Mag drive pumps pull less power when they are slowed down (blocked) So if its pulling less wattage it shouldn't run hotter.. But who knows I've never really tested it.

Np Hope you like them.. Redi's like it around 75. My tank stays 74-75. I have heard of people keeping them in water as warm as 78.. But from what I understand Much more then that is pushing it.

 

[kg4izw]

My tank was at 83.6 when I came home from school today !!
I pulled out my MJ600 and the inlet was almost completely clogged.
Your last comment was just what I am wondering. Could that make the pump get hot !?!?
Anyone have first hand experience?

 

[kg4izw]

Well the plot thickens...
I went ahead and pulled out the MJ1200 since I was cleaning anyway, and found the impeller with lots of fiberfill all twisted up inside. Perhaps this was causing the heat.
Whatever the cause, I have learned to clean my pumps more than twice each year. Man I hate that !!!