Too much heat from lights...HELP!

[jayray007]

I am just setting up my 220 reef tank (picking up the rock from TBS on Monday), but have been monitoring my set up for the past several weeks. TBS suggests a water temp. of 75 degrees, but my tank doesn't get below 77-78 degrees at night with only the lunar LEDs on. With the actinics and metal hallides, during the day, it ranges between 81-83 degrees. I don't want to have to spend the money (very expensive) for a chiller, but don't know how else to control the temp. Any suggestions?

I have three ocillating fans in the light canopy area (basically just circulating the hot air), and the light assembly itself has built-in fans too. I am not running any heaters either!

The specs. on my lights are as follows:
>Three 250 watt 10,000K double-ended HQI metal halide lamps
>Four 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue square-pin compact fluorescent lamps
>Four 1 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps

The fixture is a Coralife 72" unit, and is suspended from the ceiling with the lights about 10" from the glass.

HELP!

 

[mudguard2005]

If you can fit another fan to blow onto the water, do it. It will help you bring down 1-2 degrees during the day. Don't forget to add fresh water on daily basis so the salinity will not be too high.

 

[Chibils]

Just get it down a few degrees. 78-81 is normal on most reefs.

 

[jayray007]

The problem with blowing air on the water itself is that I have three glass lids. I would have to remove the lids to do this, which presents separate issues (evaporation, salt build-up on the lights, jumping fish, etc.).

 

[jayray007]

Thanks for the replies mudguard2005 and Chibils.

I've always thought that this temp. range was okay, but with Richard (Tampa Bay Saltwater) calling for 75 degrees, I'm just a little worried.

 

[chris4869]

Loose the 3 glass lids and replace them with a mesh screen. You're cooking your tank with them on.

 

[jayray007]

Thanks chris4869,
Really, a mesh screen? Like a Terrarium would have? I hadn't thought of that. That would solve the jumping fish issue, but not the faster evap. and salt build up.

Anybody have any luck with the mesh screen idea?

 

[JayB1224]

Heres a good Thread

 

[jayray007]

Excellent thread JayB1224! Thanks for the nudge in the right direction. I will be trying that mesh screen application this week.

Thanks again Chris4869, and all others that replied to my issue.

 

[saveafish]

Just drop it 1-2 deg and you will be fine the big myth is you need to keep it 75-78deg.

 

[goteenb]

Another suggestion is to cool your sump water with an over-sump fan. Sometimes your airflow in the sump can be stifiling heat exchange as well, depending on how open or closed your cabinet is and how much equipment is in there. Be sure youre not just circulating hot air around your sump cabinet but also getting some ventilation too.

 

[jayray007]

goteenb,
Is there such thing as a "over-sump fan" to purchase, or can I use any fan? FYI, the sumps are in an open area beneath the main tank, not in a cabinet.

 

[besl]

DFS has fans that can be affixed to "some" tanks - they didn't fit my (AGA) sump though.

You definitely need to get rid of the glass covers - not only is it trapping the heat but also reducing the evap rate (evap is good for gas exchange and to support cooling the water - search for posts on this if you want further details).

Your temp is ok and I would shut the lights off if it goes above say 84F - IME.

 

[jayray007]

besl, what is DFS?

 

[RokleM]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/

 

[besl]

Sorry - here's the exact link for the fans - I'm not sure what brand tank they fit but they didn't fit my AGA sump (the lip is too wide and the attaching mechanism is too narrow):

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14701

 

[jayray007]

Thanks besl and RokleM! I will order some today. Well, no I won't, they are on back order with DFS, I'll try Marine Depot.

 

[besl]

Make sure you ask if this particular fan is compatable (size-wise) with the lip of your sump/tank - I had to return mine as I discussed above - too bad as this is a simple, low cost way to add fans to the sump.

 

[jayray007]

Besl,
Okay, I looked at the pics of the fans, and I'm sure that it WON'T fit. Each of my sumps has a lip that is about 1.5". Are there any other mounting options? I may just be able to suspend them with wire or chain. What do you think?

 

[besl]

I am not aware of any off the shelf mounting options for this fan - if you find one, please let me know! I know melev has some custom acrylic mounting schemes for fans on his web site, but I never explored this with Mark - I probably should at some point... ahhh too much time and not enough to do!