Running only T5s, do I really need a chiller?

[Viajeque]

Guys I am having some temperature issues, my temp is 83-84 F and I was wondering how bad can that have an effect on my corals? I have 2 anemones, SPS, mushrooms, Zoanthids, etc. I am considering buying a chiller but its quite expensive so I would like to hear more opinions before I buy one. Do I really need one since I do not run Metal Halides? Thanks in advance!

 

[psyrob]

I think most people will tell you your temp is too high...most people, I think, run 78-79 F...Have you tried low tech options to lower your temp (fans in the canopy, clip on fan blowing on the sump, air conditioning the room itself)? I think the long term effects of your temp will be bad, and since you are starting so high, what if a really hot day comes and you spike even higher???

 

[rtparty]

83-84 is way too hot. Make sure your heater isn't broken, if you are running one.


A couple clip on fans from the store will do your tank wonders. What pumps are you running that are making your tank that hot?

Are you using fans to cool the T5s?

 

[Monkeyfish]

83-84 is on the hot side. A couple of fans blowing across the top of the tank (assuming you don't have glass covers on top ) will increase evaporation and lower the temp by around 3 degrees. Just make sure you keep up with adding freshwater to top off the tank or the salinity will get too high.

If you can AC the room that will obviously help, but will also increase evaporation.

 

[firebirdude]

I echo what others have said. A few fans will work wonders for temps, but at the expense of evaporation. If you don't have an ATO, then I'd suggest making one and adding the fans. Cheaper than a chiller up front AND in the long run.

 

[GrampaDon]

My first thought was also a bad heater.
But definitely need to get those temps down.

 

[iamwrasseman]

yes the temp is way to high , if you were to purchase a t-5 unit would it be in a canopy ? if so i have found that the t-5s really do heat up a tank as they are cooler to the touch but there is much more square footage of bulbs and combined i have found that when in a canopy they still create a lot of total heat .the canopy will need to have a couple of fans to dissapate the heat just like metal halides .

 

[Viajeque]

Guys thanks for all the comments! I added two fans and with the help of my Reefkeeper Lite controlling the heater my temp now is rock solid (76-77 F)! I am glad I tried the fans before buying an expensive chiller. Thanks a lot!

 

[firebirdude]

That's an enormous drop in temp. Almost unbelievable from two fans alone. Are you sure that heater isn't faulty? I realize the Reefkeeper is controlling it now, so it doesn't really matter if it's stuck on. But I don't think I'd want anything malfunctioning in my tank...

 

[Viajeque]

Yeah I mean the fans itself did not do all the work. What I did one day is I put my AC temp at my house at 65 and let it running with a window fan next to it. The temp drop to 75. From 75 F I set the reefkeeper lite to control the fans and the heater to maintain the temp to 76-77 and it worked great since then. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Orcrone]

Yeah I mean the fans itself did not do all the work. What I did one day is I put my AC temp at my house at 65 and let it running with a window fan next to it. The temp drop to 75. From 75 F I set the reefkeeper lite to control the fans and the heater to maintain the temp to 76-77 and it worked great since then. Thanks for all the help.

You're cooling your entire house to 65 degrees? Might be cheaper to purchase that chiller.

 

[Viajeque]

Yeah but I only did it for one afternoon. To drop the temp down and from there the fans will be able to control it. After that the temp has been between 76-79 F

 

[pentrix2]

way to go Viajeque.

 

[JohnnyAirtime]

Sounds like you got it resolved...

However, to answer your initial question(s);

I have (6) 3' or 39W T5s over my 125gal... and I need a chiller. My house has no A/C... and temps in the summer will climb. However, I bought a DROP IN chiller (I can't stand flow through designs due to the need for the pump to run constantly, or be turned off via the controller) for a great price, and have never worried since. (ie; I run a 1/3hp chiller, and it'll come on maybe once or twice in the later evening for a short time)