[sessydude]

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if this is possible to happen on it's own, or if maybe I have a problem with a pump or something.....

Yesterday, by about 1:00 in the afternoon the water temp had gone up to almost 90 !!!

I got it cooled down to 82 by around 9:00 that night. The inhabitants seemed ok, no noticable problems....I have fans running under the cabinet.

I am running 3 110w VHO's, a Euroreef CS6-2 skimmer w/sedra5000 pump, Mag 12 return, and 3 MJ900 powerheads in the tank.

The temp in the house was only 71, and the outside temp was about 78.......

If that is any indication of the heat that the pumps and such generate, I am going to have major problems come summer. It typically gets to the mid 90's in the hot months here.

I am not looking forward to shelling out the cash for a chiller. I am wondering if anyone else lives in a hot desert climate, and maybe has these kind of problems.......

Thanks,

 

[Buzz_Hog]

Did a heater stick on ya?? I wouldn't think that pumps would cause a drastic fluctiation like that on a large tank...

 

[sessydude]

That was my first thought, I took the heater out right away. That was the first thing I did and thought. It is a Via Aqua....probably cheap as was everything I initially got from my LFS......

However the indicator light was not on, so I am not sure....

Does that happen much ?

 

[Buzz_Hog]

Yes, when heaters fail, they tend to fail in the ON position...

To prevent a maltdown, use multiple heaters of lesser wattage... That way if one fails in the ON position, it will let you notice the temp increase... Also, if one fails in the OFF position, the other heater will compensate and give you time to notice the temp dropping....

Don't skimp on heaters... get Ebo Jagers

http://www.bigalsonline.com had them for very cheap...

 

[Phantom Phish]

You don't say specifically what size your tank is, but based on the fact that you're running 110 watt VHOs I'm assuming its at least 4 ft. long. In my opinion theres no way the pumps and powerheads added enough heat to raise your temp. that much. How high are your VHOs above the tank, and do you have them enclosed, with fans? Even then I have a hard time believing 3 VHOs caused the problem, with a house temp of 71 degrees. I would think that your heater must have failed in the on position, as Buzz said, even though the indicator light wasn't on. Also, the advice about running several smaller heaters is good advice.

 

[Geoff]

is your mag 12 submerged or in-line. my mag 12 puts out a fair amount of heat. i would not think enough to get your tank that high though. you might want to run it inline if you have the room. some apparantly leak, mine does not. how many fans. in a dry climate like you have, getting evaporational cooling to happen should not be that difficult.

G~

 

[sessydude]

Phish,

It is a 90, lights are about 4 inches off the top of the water...Ordered the new heaters today.....

Geoff......yes it is submerged, but have 1 fan in tank stand and 2 in the hood.......After having it unhooked for the day, temp came down below 79.....It must have been that....

Thanks for the help whilst I was in panic mode!!!

 

[Buzz_Hog]

So it was the heater???

 

[sessydude]

Buzz,

I still am thinking so.....here is where I am at.....I have not had the heater in the tank for a little over 1 1/2 days now, tank has stabalized at about 79, it was a warm day again yesterday, inside temp 74 outside temp about 80........

looked again first thing this morning, I have the tank near a window and left that window open all night, got down in the mid 50's outside during the night.....

Tank is still at about 79......

So it had to be the heater, I did put it in my storage tank to see and it has not stuck again, but I did smack it pretty hard as I was pulling it out and gettin' pissed off

So maybe I fixed it, I am going to leave it in the storage barrel for a while and see what happens........

Good call though, new heaters are on the way, 2 new heaters, 150w ebo jagers

I knew better, but again I fell prey to procrastination, and paid for it.........

You guys are teaching me so much. I think without you I would certainly have a dead tank by now!!!!!!!

Thanks again!!

 

[reefwidow]

COOL another shipment coming...I liked it better when the "brown packages" came addressed to me. Heaters will not look to good on me. And I am sure glad this site is here so I can keep track of my new best friend...(the ups guy.

 

[sessydude]

Heaters won't come til tomorrow.......BTW can I get one of your credit cards ? Mine are full :dance:

 

[thefatman]

lololol :funny: :funny:

OH NO!!!! it's another husband/wife team!!!

we're being overrun!

 

[Geoff]

COOL another shipment coming...I liked it better when the "brown packages" came addressed to me. Heaters will not look to good on me. And I am sure glad this site is here so I can keep track of my new best friend...(the ups guy.

you could try them on as earings.

welcome sessy's better half. would that make you sessydudett.

TRT-well you wanted family feel, now you are getting it.

G~