Reeftanks6 90g reef build thread ( pic intense)
- Thread starter Reeftanks6
- Start date
- Status
Reeftanks6
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12047033#post12047033 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PaPa_Johnny
Are the lights going on and off on the heaters now? That's the important issue at this point. Your thermometer now may be right. It's not worth cooking your clowns to find out though. Hold up on another heater, don't mess with your other tanks. Get a new glass thermometer, they are inexpensive.
After you check the temp with it then you will know for sure what to do. If it agrees that the temperature is low, and the lights are going off on the heaters, TURN ONE UP. Easy, IGNORE the numbers on the heaters. They mean squat. Just keep turning up the heat until you get the temp you desire and the light is cycling on and off at that point. Then you are set. If one heater gets turned up all the way and will not raise the temp, start turning the other one up. Your heaters are most likely set at 75 degrees rt now. Just hang on till you can get a new measurement.
(Begging works wondersOh please please take me to the store!!)
Just noticed the upstairs downstairs thing. I'd leave them in the sump just for appearances. It will not make a difference in temp moving one upstairs you are not far enough from your sump to cool the water before it gets to your display.
Both heater lights are going on and off. I will try to beg but i dont think its going to work out. Ok i wont move the heater up but my heaters are all the way up anyway so i dont know what to do if the new thermometer is the same as the one i have right know. I think if its the same the next thing i need to do is buy another heater then.
Reeftanks6
Active member
Kar i will try to get one for ya maybe tomorrow or today may not have the time.
RumLad
New member
If both heaters are turned all the way up, and cycling on and off, then two things could be happening:
1) The temperature of your tank is very high and they are switching on and off normally. A good glass thermometer will tell you the tank temperature for sure. Get one and see what it says.
2) Both heaters are functioning properly, but do not have enough output to raise the temp above the ambient basement temperature enough to see a noticeable raise in tank temperature (hence stuck at 75 - 76). Thet may have an internal cut-off circuit to keep them from burning themselves out prematurely. Again, a glass thermometer will tell you your tank temperature accurately enough that we can then fix this issue.
I would keep both heaters in the sump in order to avoid a thermal gradient in the basement that may have undesirable results. BTW, do you know what the flow rate through your sump is? It could be very slow, and therefore provide for a drop in temperature due to the basement ambient being so low. I recall you had an issue with the small bore PVC that was originally used for the return plumbing. Remember melev mentioned this, a long time ago?
Please try to gather all of the facts (temps, settings, etc..) that folks have been asking for (pictures won't hurt either, and I don't mean ones of the clowns or the rocks
) along with a different thermometer, just to confirm the numbers so we can fix this issue once and for all.
Oh, and no, the tank should not be kept at 75 F if you plan on hosting warm water species. That is just wrong.
Have you consulted your local reef club( you said you found one) about any of these things?
1) The temperature of your tank is very high and they are switching on and off normally. A good glass thermometer will tell you the tank temperature for sure. Get one and see what it says.
2) Both heaters are functioning properly, but do not have enough output to raise the temp above the ambient basement temperature enough to see a noticeable raise in tank temperature (hence stuck at 75 - 76). Thet may have an internal cut-off circuit to keep them from burning themselves out prematurely. Again, a glass thermometer will tell you your tank temperature accurately enough that we can then fix this issue.
I would keep both heaters in the sump in order to avoid a thermal gradient in the basement that may have undesirable results. BTW, do you know what the flow rate through your sump is? It could be very slow, and therefore provide for a drop in temperature due to the basement ambient being so low. I recall you had an issue with the small bore PVC that was originally used for the return plumbing. Remember melev mentioned this, a long time ago?
Please try to gather all of the facts (temps, settings, etc..) that folks have been asking for (pictures won't hurt either, and I don't mean ones of the clowns or the rocks
) along with a different thermometer, just to confirm the numbers so we can fix this issue once and for all.Oh, and no, the tank should not be kept at 75 F if you plan on hosting warm water species. That is just wrong.
Have you consulted your local reef club( you said you found one) about any of these things?
Bax
Premium Member
If the tank is in a cold room spread your heaters around in both the sump fuge and tank. I have this problem in my office where my tank is located and I have found that I must heat each vessle in my system to protect from undesirable temp swings.
I'd get another thermometer and compare readings too. If you have 350 watts or so of heaters cranked wide open, you should see a rise in temp.
I like your rockwork too
I'd get another thermometer and compare readings too. If you have 350 watts or so of heaters cranked wide open, you should see a rise in temp.
I like your rockwork too
Reeftanks6
Active member
Thanks bax yea the heaters are all the way cranked up i might by one more heater after i see if the thermometer is right or wrong. If its not then i will by one more heater for upstairs probably.
melev
Well-known member
You don't need a heater upstairs. What you need is adequate flow the tank. If the flow is the right rate, the temperature will be the same in all vessels.
You could try wrapping the sump and the refugium with the pink insulated foam (3/4" thick material - 4' x 8' costs $11 at Home Depot), and put covers on the refugium and the sump to trap the warmth within the aquariums. Insulating the sump & refugium is the better method because it doesn't cost you more money in electricity around the clock, nor do you have to buy another heater.
On your way home from school tomorrow, tell your parent you definitely need to stop at your LFS, Petco, Petsmart, or Walmart to get a glass thermometer.
You could try wrapping the sump and the refugium with the pink insulated foam (3/4" thick material - 4' x 8' costs $11 at Home Depot), and put covers on the refugium and the sump to trap the warmth within the aquariums. Insulating the sump & refugium is the better method because it doesn't cost you more money in electricity around the clock, nor do you have to buy another heater.
On your way home from school tomorrow, tell your parent you definitely need to stop at your LFS, Petco, Petsmart, or Walmart to get a glass thermometer.
Reeftanks6
Active member
ok i might try that i will probably get some covers for the tanks to keep the heat in. I will also ask my parent tomorrow if we can stop.
melev
Well-known member
In one post you said:
What is the temperature of the room the dispay tank is in? <b>65-70 degrees</b>
What is the temperature of the basement area that the sump is in? <b>55-60 degrees</b>
What is the water temperature of the display tank? <b>73 degrees</b>
What is the water temperature of the sump? <b>73 degrees</b>
What is the water temperature of the refugium? <b>73 degrees</b>
Is your home really 65 to 70 degrees? Is that what the thermostat in the living area reads? Do you have to wear a sweater all the time? 70 degrees in the winter is almost chilly, both to me and my son. And while we'd like to be a little warmer, the electric bill that comes in each month requires us to deal with the slight discomfort. Or pay more to be comfy.
Since the water temperature matches in all three vessels, I have to imagine the flow going through the system is fine and you just need to insulate those tanks in the basement to get the desired temperature.
What is the temperature of the room the dispay tank is in? <b>65-70 degrees</b>
What is the temperature of the basement area that the sump is in? <b>55-60 degrees</b>
What is the water temperature of the display tank? <b>73 degrees</b>
What is the water temperature of the sump? <b>73 degrees</b>
What is the water temperature of the refugium? <b>73 degrees</b>
Is your home really 65 to 70 degrees? Is that what the thermostat in the living area reads? Do you have to wear a sweater all the time? 70 degrees in the winter is almost chilly, both to me and my son. And while we'd like to be a little warmer, the electric bill that comes in each month requires us to deal with the slight discomfort. Or pay more to be comfy.
Since the water temperature matches in all three vessels, I have to imagine the flow going through the system is fine and you just need to insulate those tanks in the basement to get the desired temperature.
Reeftanks6
Active member
Ok yea well i think our family is a little weird and we like it a little colder in our house. I am very comfortable when the house is between 65-70 but when it gets to be like over 70 then thats when i feel a huge difference and then i am not as comfotable as i am usally. I think i will try to get the sump fuge and tank covered to trap some of the heat in and see what happens after that. I think when the tank is at 76 degrees iam fine and then at night when it goes down to the low 75 and high 74 then i get a little woried because i think that might be a little low for the fish and corals that will be placed in the tank. One question for you guys that is a little of topic but how long should i have my light on for during the day.
melev
Well-known member
Lights can be on for 9 to 10 hours a day.
<b>Wrap</b> the tanks with the foam, not just cover them. You can always take off the foam to check on how things are doing. Once you've insulated the tanks, you will probably need to adjust the heaters accordingly.
I'd prefer it you'd take the clowns out of the 90g so that you don't accidentally cook them.
<b>Wrap</b> the tanks with the foam, not just cover them. You can always take off the foam to check on how things are doing. Once you've insulated the tanks, you will probably need to adjust the heaters accordingly.
I'd prefer it you'd take the clowns out of the 90g so that you don't accidentally cook them.
Reeftanks6
Active member
ok i will see what i can do. Right know i have my lights on from 3:00 to 10:00 i will change this to 1:00 to 10:00. Then the blue lights will go on from 10:00 to 11:00
RumLad
New member
A little off track but...
Up here in the upper midwest, during the winter months (Oct - Apr) our house, and most others, are kept around 68 degrees for the day, and lower at night. You southerners just can't handle the cold :lol:
The heat bill goes through the roof if you try to keep it above 70!
We are the exact opposite of you folks during the summer, when your places are like ice boxes compared to ours.
RT6 - I would get the thermometer (ask one of your science lab teachers if you can borrow one for the night) and report back on the "actual temps" before buying anything else.
Up here in the upper midwest, during the winter months (Oct - Apr) our house, and most others, are kept around 68 degrees for the day, and lower at night. You southerners just can't handle the cold :lol:
The heat bill goes through the roof if you try to keep it above 70!
We are the exact opposite of you folks during the summer, when your places are like ice boxes compared to ours.
RT6 - I would get the thermometer (ask one of your science lab teachers if you can borrow one for the night) and report back on the "actual temps" before buying anything else.
RumLad
New member
A little off track but...
Up here in the upper midwest, during the winter months (Oct - Apr) our house, and most others, are kept around 68 degrees for the day, and lower at night. You southerners just can't handle the cold :lol:
The heat bill goes through the roof if you try to keep it above 70!
We are the exact opposite of you folks during the summer, when your places are like ice boxes compared to ours.
RT6 - I would get the thermometer (ask one of your science lab teachers if you can borrow one for the night) and report back on the "actual temps"
Up here in the upper midwest, during the winter months (Oct - Apr) our house, and most others, are kept around 68 degrees for the day, and lower at night. You southerners just can't handle the cold :lol:
The heat bill goes through the roof if you try to keep it above 70!
We are the exact opposite of you folks during the summer, when your places are like ice boxes compared to ours.
RT6 - I would get the thermometer (ask one of your science lab teachers if you can borrow one for the night) and report back on the "actual temps"
Reeftanks6
Active member
ok.
Reeftanks6
Active member
yea that is very true kar that would not be good for the tank. None of my friends have any kind of tanks.
Reeftanks6
Active member
Do you think i can add the cleaner shrimp or should i hold off on that.
- Status
