Heat

[tjp]

How hot is too hot, today it was nice outside and I opened some windows and within a few hours my tank temp climbed up to 86f so I ran to Home Depot and bought a clip on fan to put in my light canopy and drilled some holes to mount computer case like fans to suck the heat out.

What’s summer going to be like, chillers cost so much money, is there any DIY for tank cooling?

I do have central air but I don’t like to use it all the time but with metal halides the tank will get too hot, how do you all cool the tank?

Thanks
Terry

[Fly Guy]

I use chillers.

86 is a little too warm IMO.

84 doesnt bother me a bit, but if you are hitting 86 already in the springtime, you defintely need to take measures to fix it before summer hits.

the only thing besides get a chiller is to make sure that you have good ventilation in your stand and canopy with the use of fans. You can also drill a few large holes in the tops of your canopy to help the hot air escape.

But keep in mind, that if the room temperature is 85 degrees, all the fans and air movement in the world arent going to help a bit.

[tjp]

What size chiller would I need to cool my 75g tank with a 55g tank as a sump I’m thinking about 90-100g in all with rock and things.

Thanks
Terry

[Casey]

86 is to high you can start hurting corals please keep it under 85

[tjp]

Originally Posted by Casey

86 is to high you can start hurting corals please keep it under 85

You think, I’m asking for help on how to cool the tank because I think it is too hot also.

Now let’s fix the problem.

Terry

Tank is now at 84.5f after added fans

[Fly Guy]

A PCI 1/10 HP chiller will do a great job for you. Bonus of it is that it also has a built in controller to run your heater as well. Eliminates the chance of your heater malfunctioning, not shutting off and cooking your tank.

I use one of those PCI 1/10 on both my 90 and my 225.

[Casey]

Get a chiller or more fans or keep your house colder .

[SPC]

Originally Posted by tjp

How hot is too hot, today it was nice outside and I opened some windows and within a few hours my tank temp climbed up to 86f so I ran to Home Depot and bought a clip on fan

One of these fans blowing on the water in your sump will help a great deal, but keep in mind that it works due to increased evaporation which means the salt water will leave the sump and go somewhere else.

I presume that you don't have glass tops on your tank?


One thing to keep in mind about chillers is, the ones I have heard are quite loud when they kick on, and they give off their own heat which must be planned for.

Steve

[fish.freak]

for the frugal reefer like me the Po-man chiller works great. Just take some empty and clean soad bottles and fill em 3/4 with water and freze em. Then drop them in ur sump as a emergecy temp control device.
Not long term soln, but they work great in a pinch.

[tjp]

Originally Posted by fish.freak

for the frugal reefer like me the Po-man chiller works great. Just take some empty and clean soad bottles and fill em 3/4 with water and freze em. Then drop them in ur sump as a emergecy temp control device.
Not long term soln, but they work great in a pinch.

I have a small beer fridge in that room, could I just use a 100ft tube and coil it in the fridge and let it siphon from the main tank to the sump and let the heaters take over when it gets too cool?

This is as ghetto as it gets but will it work tells I get some cash for a chiller?

[sox59]

I second the vote on A PCI 1/10 HP chiller. I finally broke down and bought one just last week. I found one for $329 delivered to my door step. I was up around 85-87, but w/in a couple hours I settled at a cool 79. Gonna be nice not to worry about it this summer.

[skeety]

had this same battle last year.

Either need to crank up the A/C in the whole house all summer, or (like me), break down and get a chiller. It sucks, and is a big expense, but it's cheaper than keeping your whole house at <70° all summer.

Here's the one I got on my 72 gallon tank. Works like a CHARM! (I believe it's the same one Casey and a few others are running on similiar, if not slightly larger, systems)

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...e=pacificcoast

hope that helps.

[fish.freak]

Originally Posted by tjp

I have a small beer fridge in that room, could I just use a 100ft tube and coil it in the fridge and let it siphon from the main tank to the sump and let the heaters take over when it gets too cool?

This is as ghetto as it gets but will it work tells I get some cash for a chiller?

I think it is posible, but as you said mad ghetto