SPS and Temp Control

[krzyphsygy]

I am curious about those of you, if any are running SPS tanks with out a chiller. Reason I ask is because I have a chiller right now and feel it can be an eye sore in the living room once set up. Also placement is a problem as well because of space.

So I have run several tanks with out a chiller but always felt like I was chasing temperature to be correct. So with a chiller, its pretty easy to maintain. What are you guys using to control temp in your tanks. I do have 2x250 hqi with 4x 54watt t5's so heat will be an issue.

Thanks

 

[Reefer1225]

No chiller here, but I am in the SF Bay Area and my house is relatively cool all the time. Also, have LED lights and open canopy, so no heat problems....

 

[krzyphsygy]

yea, led usually runs pretty cool right? I know my tank will run hot, well actually I dont because I have never run it with out the chiller. See, I also have a 90 now and not real sure about the heat

 

[AquamanE]

Im in South Florida. MH 250W x 2, enclosed canopy with 3 fans (they turn on/off with lights). No chiller. Keep the house AC 73-75. Temp in tank 77-81 throughout day. 90% SPS, no issues.

Not only are chillers an eysore, but the heat produced and power consumption is horrendous.

Mind you, my AC broke last January and I had to hook chiller up for a few days till it was fixed. So keep on standby just as all us hurricane prone have a generator on standby..

 

[krzyphsygy]

Yea, you are convincing me. I would really also enjoy the additional flow from the return pump that I have been missing out on for years. Porbably looking at additional 400gph when all head loss is figured. I might give it a try, can always run it if needed.

 

[REEF SMAC]

Does your chiller have to be next your tank in your living room?
Can you pipe it through the wall into another room or even better outside?

A lot of people just run fans across their tanks and/or sumps. Especially if your house already has AC.

 

[cFloor]

Like Reefer1225, I am also in the SF bay area, but my town does get very hot. This was my tank's first summer and I was amazed at how well a few fans worked for me.

 

[RynosReef]

No chiller here. I have 2x250watt halides in a canopy with a fan. And I keep the house at 75 all year. Tank stays between 77.5 and 80.5

 

[fishguy597]

Are you guys using the fans to blow into your canopy or sucking the air out. I have two good size fans but never bothered to hook them up.

 

[bigworm175]

I have a 400w and 250w over a 120 with a canopy and my fan (blowing in) kicks in at 78.9 via a Reefkeeper. I have never had the temp. get above 79.1. I do have AC.

 

[blakers82]

I have (2) 250wMH, (2) 80w T5s, and 30w worth of LEDs in my canopy. Customed 2 fans in back right and left canopy exit. One pushes air in while the other pushes out. Activated via Neptune AC3. I have a 1/4hp chiller inline just incase but it's not using much power unless it turns on. I have it set to only come on should things get really hairy. I do have AC set to 75F in the summer, but Oklahoma summer can be hard on it. House skipped up to about 80F at one point this summer.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Does your chiller have to be next your tank in your living room?
Can you pipe it through the wall into another room or even better outside?

A lot of people just run fans across their tanks and/or sumps. Especially if your house already has AC.

Unfortunately, yes! I used to have an equipment room in my old house, and I kinda have the same set up now with a den next to the living room, but no doors on the den. So it makes it hard to hide the equipment. But i have thought about it!