Correct Temperature?

[shafiq_hossain]

I set up my tank late summer/beginning of Fall. Now that it's getting warmer, I'm seeing my average tank temp slowly go up. What is the ideal temperature for the water? I'm trying to decide if I must purchase a chiller. If so, are there small ones in I can hang inside the cabinet? All the floor space inside the cabinet is already used up.

 

[ripped tide]

Chillers are hardly ever small and hangable. They are big bulky heavy boxes, especially for your tank size.

 

[cbj25]

74-82 is acceptable, the key is to keep it consistent do you don't have big changes in temp. Ideally I like my reefs between 76-78

 

[shafiq_hossain]

I was hoping I can pick up something small enough to place in my sump to at least get the temperature down by a couple of degrees.

 

[holabird]

The problem with getting a smaller chiller for a large tank is that the chiller will run all the time. That is not the ideal situation. The best thing is for the chiller to kick on just a few minutes at a time when necessary and not run consistantly.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Makes sense. Let me see what it would take to adjust my plumbing so I can shift some things over. Right now my Apex temp probe is showing 78.9. My heaters are set to 75. If the tank temp hits 80 at this time of the year, then I seriously need to consider a chiller. Come June or July, it can only get warmer.

 

[cr500_af]

Also, since you mentioned a chiller in the cabinet, I thought I'd mention that putting it in a "box" has its own drawbacks. Chillers output hot air (to offset the cold side), and if you enclose it, then the chiller's environment will get hotter and hotter, which means 1) it isn't operating as efficiently and 2) you have what amounts to a heat source under your tank, which will add heat back to it to SOME degree.

 

[elfloyd]

FYI...

 

[dakota9]

First..... Have you tried a fan blowing across your sump?

 

[grouper therapy]

Dakota9;742567 wrote: First..... Have you tried a fan blowing across your sump?

+1 and exhausting your canopy?

Edit: I've ran my tanks at 84 with no issues.

 

[schwaggs]

holabird;742504 wrote: The problem with getting a smaller chiller for a large tank is that the chiller will run all the time. That is not the ideal situation. The best thing is for the chiller to kick on just a few minutes at a time when necessary and not run consistantly.

I disagree, short cycling a refrigeration system is not good for it...

Shafiq - Check out the Regional Temp feature of the Apex you have... it gradualy varies the tank temp between 80 and 75 to simulate seasonal variations. I have found that some inhabitants like the lower range and others the higher. This gives everyone some time in their favorite temps!