Temperature Variance vs Add Heater for SPS

[wcharon]

Hi Guys...

I have a 125 reef with SPS and just got a central Air Conditioner in the house. I also have a JBL Chiller set at 79 degrees.

At this point i am having a variance of 4 degrees in the tank from 76 thru 80 degrees during the day and will like to know if this can affect my SPS and tank environment vs getting a Heater to try to stabilize the temp??? If i move up the temp of the Air Conditioner then i won't have a comfort temp at my family and viceversa. If i move down then the tank gets 75 degrees which i know is a risk.

I have heard that Heaters can get stock often as i don't have a Controller to monitor it. So i am really stock if i make a decision to get the Heater or let the temp variance if it will not harm my tank.

Thanks for suggestions..

 

[BlackTip]

What is the ambient temp?

 

[wcharon]

If fluctuates between 72 in the night and morning and gets upto 79 in the afternoon. That is what i monitor in the family room.

 

[Bent]

Why not get a heater and a dual stage ranco?

The expensive part, the chiller is already handled.

Ranco is about 50 bucks
the heater will be about 50-80

surge strip or extension cord should be free. surely you have a spare laying around

so for 100 bucks give or take you could get pinpoint temp controln within a degree 24/7

 

[BlackTip]

If fluctuates between 72 in the night and morning and gets upto 79 in the afternoon. That is what i monitor in the family room.

It would be more efficient and cost effective, if you set your AC temp to varies no more than 2 degree. I set mine between 74-76. If you do that, you will save money on electricity and have a stable temp to work with. My tank is always about 4-5 degrees above ambient, without lights (for now).

 

[Bent]

It would be more efficient and cost effective, if you set your AC temp to varies no more than 2 degree. I set mine between 74-76. If you do that, you will save money on electricity and have a stable temp to work with. My tank is always about 4-5 degrees above ambient, without lights (for now).

I would have a heat stroke in a 76 degree house. My thermostat stays on 68

 

[wcharon]

Why not get a heater and a dual stage ranco?

The expensive part, the chiller is already handled.

Ranco is about 50 bucks
the heater will be about 50-80

surge strip or extension cord should be free. surely you have a spare laying around

so for 100 bucks give or take you could get pinpoint temp controln within a degree 24/7

If i go this route i will have to connect the Ranco to the Chiller right? Can you give me more detailed information?

It would be more efficient and cost effective, if you set your AC temp to varies no more than 2 degree. I set mine between 74-76. If you do that, you will save money on electricity and have a stable temp to work with. My tank is always about 4-5 degrees above ambient, without lights (for now).

Thanks... I haven't seen that feature in my AC but will double check that when i get home.

Thanks...

 

[BlackTip]

I would have a heat stroke in a 76 degree house. My thermostat stays on 68

Very comfortable for us. At that temp my girl still use a blanket. Also, we have 3 zones, so we can adjust depends where we are in the house.

 

[Bent]

Very comfortable for us. At that temp my girl still use a blanket. Also, we have 3 zones, so we can adjust depends where we are in the house.

my wife freezes. I tell her to suck it up since im the man of the house. :smokin:

dont tell her I said that...

 

[BlackTip]

If i go this route i will have to connect the Ranco to the Chiller right? Can you give me more detailed information?



Thanks... I haven't seen that feature in my AC but will double check that when i get home.

Thanks...

You need a programmable thermostat. They are standard now and very cheap. You can set the temp anyway you want it.

 

[wcharon]

my wife freezes. I tell her to suck it up since im the man of the house. :smokin:

dont tell her I said that...

jajajajajajaja. For us i am comfortable between 73 and 78. Any suggestion if my AC don't have that feature???

I already saw the Dual Ranco and now i understand. Just in case any Heater suggestion?

 

[Bent]

If i go this route i will have to connect the Ranco to the Chiller right? Can you give me more detailed information?



Thanks... I haven't seen that feature in my AC but will double check that when i get home.

Thanks...

Yes sir I sure can.

The dual stage ranco can be found around the nets. Just make sure it says dual stage. There are single stage units that only heat, or only cool.

The wiring is super easy, and there are tons of web pages and youtube videos that will show you how to do it. You basically take a couple of surge strips or extensions cord, lop it i half, and screw the wires to specific terminals inside the unit. The temp probe goes into the sump. (have to water proof the probe, I used wiring shrink wrap)

The ranco will use one outlet to switch on the heater if the temp drops below the set point, and off if it gets too high. It will use the other outlet to power the chiller when the water gets too hot, and turn it off when it gets too cold.

I think the part number for the ranco you want is 211000-000

Edit: If you have room in the sump I would go with the eheim jagers.

 

[dbl]

Our house stays at 74, the tank runs between 79-80 without intervention. I have the tank heater set at 77 to handle any drops, and the chiller set at 80 to handle any spikes. I did have a runaway heater and I found out because the chiller started cycling on and staying on way longer than normal. Knew something wasn't right, and discovered the heater was stuck on. Probably not the best way to "control" the temperature, but since I haven't invested in the Apex yet, it seems to work for now.

 

[wcharon]

Yes sir I sure can.

The dual stage ranco can be found around the nets. Just make sure it says dual stage. There are single stage units that only heat, or only cool.

The wiring is super easy, and there are tons of web pages and youtube videos that will show you how to do it. You basically take a couple of surge strips or extensions cord, lop it i half, and screw the wires to specific terminals inside the unit. The temp probe goes into the sump. (have to water proof the probe, I used wiring shrink wrap)

The ranco will use one outlet to switch on the heater if the temp drops below the set point, and off if it gets too high. It will use the other outlet to power the chiller when the water gets too hot, and turn it off when it gets too cold.

I think the part number for the ranco you want is 211000-000

Edit: If you have room in the sump I would go with the eheim jagers.

Thanks... I appreciate it and will look for that for sure. I assume that this option will override the Chiller temp controller right or i will also have to disable it?

 

[latino277]

I know a bunch of chillers have an outlet for a heater. I know mine does. controls both Heating and cooling.

 

[Kyuss]

Thanks... I appreciate it and will look for that for sure. I assume that this option will override the Chiller temp controller right or i will also have to disable it?

I wouldn't necessarily disable it. Set the temp on the chiller a little below what you set the cooling mode on the Ranco, and the heaters a little bit above what you set the heating mode to on the Ranco. That would give both the heating and chilling some redundancy, which is always a good thing for temp control on an aquarium IMO.

 

[wcharon]

I know a bunch of chillers have an outlet for a heater. I know mine does. controls both Heating and cooling.

At least mine is the JBJ Artica DBE-200 1/4 Chiller and i don't see it. Also checked the diagram and no way.

 

[wcharon]

I wouldn't necessarily disable it. Set the temp on the chiller a little below what you set the cooling mode on the Ranco, and the heaters a little bit above what you set the heating mode to on the Ranco. That would give both the heating and chilling some redundancy, which is always a good thing for temp control on an aquarium IMO.

Great Advise... Checking all the options to see what route i will go.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[wcharon]

Just a little update. Yesterday when i got to the house ambient temp was 79 degrees and the tank was at 77 degrees. The Air Conditioner has the temp set at 69 degrees and at full speed because it is a big area.

This morning ambient was at 72 and tank is at 76 degrees. As you can see this is the point that i want to avoid and don't let the tank get to 75 in the night.

At this point i am seeing lest fluctuations so i will keep on tuning and see how the electric expense affect me. Thinking on going to the Ranco Controller and Heater route so i can minimize fluctuations but for sure this will elevate also electricity bill expense which is high over here in PR (hot days).

 

[Bent]

:clown:

Just a little update. Yesterday when i got to the house ambient temp was 79 degrees and the tank was at 77 degrees. The Air Conditioner has the temp set at 69 degrees and at full speed because it is a big area.

This morning ambient was at 72 and tank is at 76 degrees. As you can see this is the point that i want to avoid and don't let the tank get to 75 in the night.

At this point i am seeing lest fluctuations so i will keep on tuning and see how the electric expense affect me. Thinking on going to the Ranco Controller and Heater route so i can minimize fluctuations but for sure this will elevate also electricity bill expense which is high over here in PR (hot days).

OMG, ambient house temp of 78?!

I would be just laying around sweating my arse off.