Temperature Control in my 180

[PreacherMan607]

Hey folks!
I need some advice. I have a 180 gallon setup with a 30 gallon sump +/- a gallon or two. And I am having a difficult time maintaining a constant temperature. The temperature fluctuates between 78 (where I would like it) and 81 degrees. And this happens with NO HEATERS ON! I have disconnected them temporarily. I have opened the doors on my stand and all that does is lower the temp a degree maybe two. But it still fluctuates. I have thought about putting a fan in that blows on the sump? But I am open to suggestions. And FYI (because I know someone will ask) room temp is about 70 degrees. The tank resides in my basement.

Thank you in advance for your help!
Tim

 

[jjackson]

78 - 81 is not horrible, a fan using evaporative cooling may help if you turn it on at the same time as your lights... Mine would swing 3 degrees in a day and I wouldn't see any adverse affects...

 

[BigJay]

For my 180:
I use a fan that blows cool air into the canopy to help vent the heat from halides, and two smaller heaters (250W) in the sump hooked up to an aquacontroller.

The aquacontroller turns the heaters on below 78 degrees, and turns the fans on if the temps go over 80.

 

[PreacherMan607]

Thank you JJackson and BigJay for all of your helpful comments. But I failed to mention that I am not running halides, but a Solaris 72" LED fixture that controls itself. I too have a Aquacontroller III, I will add the fan...just anal JJackson about maintaining a constant Temp....I have not seen any adverse effects either. So we'll see but thanks again for all of your help!

Be Blessed!

 

[jjackson]

no problem, I was also going to tell you that my chiller wont even kick on with that amount of a temperature swing... I think I have mine set for +or- 4 degrees from 78

 

[PreacherMan607]

Well I don't use a chiller (yet) I can't believe the amount of heat those LEDs put off, but I do have one just in case. I have heard allot of mixed opinions about the range your tank temp should deviate. I guess that is why I became concerned.

 

[jjackson]

honestly you have no concern... a 5-10 degree swing I would think about... your swing no biggie...