Secret to keeping tank temps constant w/o chillers

[GatorReefman]

I have had issues with fluctuating tank temperatures for a long time. It is amazing that a few of my sps are still with me. Recently, for the last few weeks, I have experimented with modifying the ambient room temps when the metal halides kick on( mine is about 6 hours daily with 12 hours actinics). I set the thermostat at 70 when the halides come on until they cut off. Then I reset the thermostat to about 74 ( sometimes even turning off the ac and opening the windows) for the evening and early to late morning hours until the halides come back on. I have one fan always on blowing across the top surface of my 55 gallon canopied tank. When the halides come on, I have two other fans that automatically come on as well. My temperature now appears to hold up to a one degree daily fluctation which is remarkable since in the past, there would be several degrees of difference between when the halides come on and the early morning hours. All this proved to be possible with fans and home ac thermostat adjustments without using an expensive chiller and it's accompanying electricity costs.

 

[Wiskey]

I have a lot of fans on a Temp controler. Before the controler my heaters would always be fighting the fans waisting power, but now the fans kick on at 81, heater at 79 (but it hasn't come on since the controler) and it stays in that range.

The controler will prevent you from constantally adjusting your house temp.

HTH,
Whiskey

 

[GatorReefman]

Where can I get one of these controllers- either online or locally, in florida?

 

[Wiskey]

Mine is from ranco, (granger) it ran about $100 let me see if I can dig up some info. They sell single stage for cheap, but what you really want is duel stage.

Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

Found it

it is a ranco ETC-211000-000 it costs $112 from granger and is duel stage. The cool thing is you can set 2 cooling stages, (like 81 = fans, 82 = chiller) or 2 heating stages, or the normal heat at 79, cool at 81.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...emId=1611685906

You wire the relays yourself too, so if your fans are 12V you can switch 12V right through the controler. The controler itself runs on normal 110, and you can make what it switches run on anything from 0V to 220V.

HTH,
Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

Sorry link is no good, keeps timing out, but search for that part number at the link and it will get you right there.

Whiskey

 

[Purple Haze]

reefgeek et al also sells the dual stage Ranco.

 

[jiggy]

i keep the house temp the same year round. in the winter i set the heater to 70 degrees. and in the summer i set the a/c to 70 degrees.
this keeps my tank temp at 79 with lights off, 81 with lights on.

 

[DrBDC]

For about 150 in group buys you can get an Aquacontroller Jr which will do the same thing as well as lighting, ph, and control most anything.

 

[Ti]

fans

 

[GatorReefman]

I guess there are several ways to skin a cat so to speak. I may have to look into that aquacontroller jr- it will take out all the meddling that I am presently involved with.

 

[fishypets]

Lower the temp in your house a few deg.