Temp Controller is cool :)

[Jacob D]

So I've had my temp controller hooked up for just over a week and I'm digging it. I got the Aqualogic dual stage ($150) and it is heavy duty! The enclosure that everything is in is a NEMA 4X rated box, which is the same rating as the electrical enclosures I purchase for processing plants in washdown areas! It isn't super compact but it fit nicely next to my powerstrips.

It was pretty simple to program and doesn't lose its memory when the power is turned off. I've got the heat end controlling my heaters (obviously) and the cool end controlling my fans. The heater is on at 78 degress, off at 79, the fans come on at 80 off at 79. In theory the tank will stay between 78-80 degrees except on really hot days. Once I add some fans to my canopy I think it will stay 80 or under even in the summer.

Just thought I'd give the report in case anyone else is thinking about a temp controller.

 

[Jacob D]

It also prevents #7 on Hector's list:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=698152

 

[Bdimas]

Nice.

 

[MrMonkeyFingers]

I might want to come check that out for next summer. I really had a problem with the temp getting up to 86 degrees So the fan trick you guys told me work also turning the lights on later in the day. But man did the evaporation take it's toll on me I was adding water everyday!

 

[Reefugee]

MrMonkeyFingers -

Even without fan, you will get a lot of evaporation during the summer. My 120G loses about 2.5G per day without the fan on during the summer. If you have a sump, the best thing you can do is make an auto top-off. They are relatively easy and inexpensive to make.

Minh

 

[Jacob D]

I agree w/ Minh. You're going to need some fans blowing on your sump and across your tank. You'll have a lot of evaporation but it should stay cool. Scott has 2 fans blowing across the top of his 210 and it never got above 82 in the summer (with 1000w of halides running in the garage).

I have a semi-auto top off which helps, you can check it out when you come by. See you guys later (hopefully today!).

 

[MrMonkeyFingers]

well once I ran a 12" fan across my tank it never got about 78 or 80 Yup see ya there!

 

[GreshamH]

Keep an eye on the conbroller, don't think it will always work. Mine went out (relay) after two years of use. In the past I've used on the upwords of 20 of those units and only had two others fail, but it still concerns me.

 

[tacocat]

They are cool. I like mine. I will probably abandon it in the next few months for a n AC Jr.

 

[Jacob D]

Hector which temp controller are you using now?

 

[tacocat]

Aqualogic 2 stage. It is probably the exact same one you are using. It works like a champ. My tank would overheat without it because we have poor circulation in that room.

 

[Jacob D]

Right on. How's your tank doing? Any new additions?

 

[tacocat]

It's chugging along fine. I got a cyphastrea decadia last weekend.

 

[Jacob D]

Nice! Cyphastreas are starting to pop up around here. I think there are about 6 different species/morphs in the area. It's still an uncommon coral but starting to get popular it seems.

I've got 1 each of C. decadia, C. ocellina, and C. japonica. I was going to add some more to my collection this last weekend but I'm trying not to get like that where I have to have all of them. In fact I'm trying to stop adding things to my tank period!

 

[tacocat]

Nice! Cyphastreas are starting to pop up around here. I think there are about 6 different species/morphs in the area. It's still an uncommon coral but starting to get popular it seems.

I've got 1 each of C. decadia, C. ocellina, and C. japonica. I was going to add some more to my collection this last weekend but I'm trying not to get like that where I have to have all of them. In fact I'm trying to stop adding things to my tank period!

=Needs bigger tank.

I like cyphastreas. I like almost all LPS corals more than acros. I had to have this one because it is branching.

I do recommend the temp controller.

 

[Jacob D]

Definitely not upgrading the tank any time soon. Ultimately I want to take most of the stuff in my tank out, leaving a few select corals to fill it all up. Most of the tanks I see are filled up with frags and small colonies, which is cool, but large colonies are just plain impressive.

I recommend the temp controller too.

 

[Bamm Bamm]

Jacob do you happen to have an RBTA your looking to get rid of?

 

[Jacob D]

Nope, sorry. I got rid of mine a long time ago - too bad because it was very large and colorful! Are you thinking of setting up the clown/anemone tank like we were talking about last week?

 

[Bamm Bamm]

=) yeah looking for a Reef ready 40g=)

 

[GorillaReefer]

Dan, I've got an RBTA I'm thinking of getting rid of. What you got for trade?