Water Temp Questions...

WhiteysTA

New member
Hi, was just wondering what temp I should keep my tank at. I've just got fish with live rock, so no corals to worry about. The reason I ask is because my tank started making its way up to almost 85 this week, and the only thing thats different is that I switched from my Emperor 400 & 280 HOT filters to a pair of Cascade canister filters. The top of the water has alot more ripple to it and the lights are only on from 4pm to 10pm. I also unplugged both my heaters just to make sure one wasnt stuck on. Could it be because I am using glass canopies and there is not as much of an opening in the top? Thats all I can come up with right now. Also, what does everyone else run they're tanks at? I've read in a book I got that it should be at 76, but I also saw somewhere that tropical reefs are at 82 deg. Thanks again!
 
I would ditch the glass canopies...that will trap heat and prevent CO2 blowoff....better gas exchange with open top tanks and easier to cool by using a fan to blow across the water surface.

I shoot for 78-80 in my stony tanks.
 
82-84 is usually the prefered temp. i believe the filter pumps may have caused the rise. 86 is about as high as you want to go. the 76 you read is usually for fish only or fish with some LR. but not the 1.75 lbs. per gallon ratio that is considered to be reefs. i agree with the removal of the glass canopy. have a great night,
JDM...:smokin...:p
 
My tank last year would get up to 86° in the summer, with no ill effects.

Like stated above ditch the glass covers and get some fans to blow across the top of the tank.

I try to keep my tank @78-79° at night for when the lights are on I don't heat the water up to much. Right now, my tank only gets up to 80° right before the MH kick out for the night. Will have to see what the summer months bring on the tank.
 
I am glad someone ele posted this. I just got home today to find my 180 tank up to 86 degrees, it never got this high in my 72 ad first time the 180 has reached such high temp. I have had the 180 running for about 2 months. I just recently added the first fish and a ew corals, some crabs and snails have ben in it forabout 2 weeks. I was frantic that that high of a temp could kill something so quickly got on to see what I need todo. I do ave glass canopies so i will remove them and see i it helps lower the temp. I also have a wod canopy on it, o if it doesn't lower te temp enough would adding a fan tothe wood canopy possibly elp get it backdown to the 80 to 82 mark. The back of the wood canopy is open already.
 
I think some of the higher temps that people "justify" on the boards are occasionally OK for the ocean, but not in small, closed systems like we have. Hopefully, your experiences will be good.
 
Besides removing the glass canopies what would you all suggest for helping to get the temp lowered. My wood canopy is open in the back and half of the top. If the temp does not come down enough would most likely adding fans on both sides of the canopy most likely going to help decrease the temp to 80 degrees (this is where I have always had my 72 gallon tank) or am I looking at most likely having to take the plunge and buy a chiller. Arehere other options I can try. If the chiler is the only answer what is a relale and uite chiller for a 180 gallon tank.
 
I prefer the JBJ. They are quiet and work like a champ! Go to jbjlighting.com to get the model size for your tank. GWA should be able to get it for you. Good luck!
 
My good friend, Mike, has a JBJ 1/3 on his 120g tank and it works excellent. I would probably go to a 1/2HP on a 180g tank though.

Chillers work very well...for equipment rooms like I am going to have, I think the split AC is better than a chiller though....depends on the application. For smaller tanks, evaporating via fans is economical...but when you get into larger tanks, the expense of RODI cartridges, water, and sewer add up fast.
 
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