Temperature Fluctuation

[bmallia82]

Guys,

Prior to installing my T5 lights my temperature varied from 79 degrees to 81.

Now after installing the lights, I lowered my heater and the temperature of the tank ranges from 76 - 81. 76 degrees in the morning and by the end of the day it is at 81. Should I get a fan to get some air movement under the lights? I have the lights mounted on brackets and there is a glass cover on my tank.

Thanks you Reefers

 

[kraze3]

The glass is probably holding in some of the heat. Id first try removing the glass and if you still need to drop a degree or two then you can try a fan blowing across the water surface.

 

[Randall_James]

I let mine swing 7 degrees a day without any apparent issues.

If you are looking to stabilze the temperature better, you RAISE the heater temperature or buy a chiller.

As lowering the heater will do you no good at all from the heat gain of the lights, you just raise the baseline temp instead

 

[bmallia82]

I NEED THE COVER TO ELIMINATE SALT SPRAY ONTO MY WALLS.

HOWEVER IT IS A WAVE TANK AND I DISMANTLED SOME OF THE COVER, SO I DO HAVE SOME AIR FLOW IN THERE.

I CAN TRY RAISING THE THE HEATER. BUT LETS SAY W/ THE HEATER THE WATER REMAINS AT A TEMPERATURE OF 76. I ADD THE LIGHTS AND BY THE END OF THE DAY IT IS AT 82. THAT IS A 6 DEGREE SWING.

NOW IF I RAISE THE HEATER AND THE WATER IS AT 79 DEGRESS, W/ THE 6 DEGREE SWING WOULDNT THAT MAKE MY WATER AT A WOPPING 85 DEGREES BY THE END OF THE DAY.

OR IS THIS NOT HOW IT WORKS?

 

[Jocko]

Between a certain ambient temp of the room, the amount of heat put out by the lights and the cooling capabilities of the tank setup, there is a theoretical max temp that it would equalize at. Is that temp 81 or do you believe it would continue to rise?

Given that there is some max temp that it would reach, you could reduce the swing by bringing up the lower end of the temp range. But if the max temp is too high, then that certainly doesn't help.

Did that make sense?

 

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7289620#post7289620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bmallia82
I NEED THE COVER TO ELIMINATE SALT SPRAY ONTO MY WALLS.

HOWEVER IT IS A WAVE TANK AND I DISMANTLED SOME OF THE COVER, SO I DO HAVE SOME AIR FLOW IN THERE.

I CAN TRY RAISING THE THE HEATER. BUT LETS SAY W/ THE HEATER THE WATER REMAINS AT A TEMPERATURE OF 76. I ADD THE LIGHTS AND BY THE END OF THE DAY IT IS AT 82. THAT IS A 6 DEGREE SWING.

NOW IF I RAISE THE HEATER AND THE WATER IS AT 79 DEGRESS, W/ THE 6 DEGREE SWING WOULDNT THAT MAKE MY WATER AT A WOPPING 85 DEGREES BY THE END OF THE DAY.

OR IS THIS NOT HOW IT WORKS?

As stated in post above, not necessarily.

If you could track the temperature rise and determine at what time max temperature occurred, then you could in theory determine if it would go to the 85.

If you reach maximum temperature at say 8 hours into the day and it stays there until lights out, then no, you will not hit 85.

If the tank is still warming when the lights finally go out, then yes, you could reach a higher temp. 85? maybe, maybe not

It all relates to evaporation, ambient temp, circulation in the tank, water volume. My tanks are at max temp at about 8 hours into the lighting schedule