Lights & Heat

[ForeverAndrea]

We are having a problem keeping our tank cool, and don't want to buy a chiller. Thinking about switching over to LED lights (from our T-5 setup), but don't really want to spend an arm & a leg. Anyone know of any LED lights that are good, but don't break the bank? Or anyone know of anyone selling theirs locally that will let them go for a used price? We are hoping to switch over to an entirely LED lighting system. I think that may help the heat as well. In the meantime, we are going to put some fans on the back of the aquarium. Any other thoughts on how to cool the tank without buying a chiller?

 

[EllieSuz]

Well, I use two fans connected to my controller, but our house has central air and without that, I'd certainly need a chiller. You'd be amazed at how fans blowing on the surface will cool a tank. I have one in the sump and a small one on top of the tank.

 

[ForeverAndrea]

We have central air as well, but the area our tank is in just doesn't get as cool. Do you find it's better to point the fans at the surface of the water or away from the water to pull the heat off?

 

[EllieSuz]

Both are pointed at the surface. The one in the sump is a $10 clip-on fan from Walmart. The one on the DT is a four inch one that swivels downward. Try it. What have you got to lose?

 

[sgallant04]

Strange, between paying high cooling costs to run central air, or the high cost of moving to LEDs.. .. honestly.. isn't a small chiller the least expensive option? I bit the bullet a few years ago and have found it to be one of the best pieces of equipment I run on the aquarium.

I hear you can freeze bottles of water and chuck them in the sump or dt to lower the temp.

 

[tfrizz80]

Point the fans at the water for them to be effective. If u point them away to try to suck the hot air out it work work. I have a 180 gal that i run 400 watt metal halides and i get up to about 81-81.5 during the day and i dont run a chiller.

 

[sgallant04]

gawd. 81.. that's bath water! I think I've poached fish before for eating at that temp before. I run a cool 76. Cooler if I was willing to run the chiller more often.

 

[sgallant04]

wow that's amazing.. Do you know how much thermal energy it takes to move the OCEAN 1 degree!

 

[reign]

I am really loving the LED setups..I have done 4 DIY setups and love the color,growth,and lack of overheating..Now that I Have seen the Kessils and their affordable cost I may even buy one instead of building one..Now that is a game changer this light costs about the same as what you would pay for a small chiller Sgallant and comparatively in the same store the Kessil looks brighter than the Radion ($750).

 

[xmenx2dad]

How do the Kessil and Radion compare to the AI?

 

[ForeverAndrea]

Where have you seen the Kessils most competitively priced? I really want to make the switch. I don't really want to go the chiller route because of the added floor space and weight a chiller would add and the only bonus to using a chiller is the temperature. Switching to LED will give us a better light spectrum and eliminate a lot of heat for us.

 

[Gomer]

I might be able to source you a good deal on kessils. PM me how many you'd be interested in and I'll see what I can arrange. I'm running a pair of the A150Ws and love them.

 

[Chronicj7]

The kessils vs the AI Sols are being able to customize the spectrum. You can basically only adjust the intensity on the kessils. Not really tweak the color. But they are still amazing for the size, price and reliability.

 

[Gomer]

The kessils vs the AI Sols are being able to customize the spectrum. You can basically only adjust the intensity on the kessils. Not really tweak the color. But they are still amazing for the size, price and reliability.

Actually, you can tweak the spectrum of the new A350's.

I have the older 15K and find no need to tweak, despite having zero adjustments

 

[Chronicj7]

No wai!!! I think that just sealed the deal for me to switch to a Tuna blue a350w. Only thing stopping me is that I might be moving to Hawaii.