Opinions...

[jcampbell]

I have a 75 gallon RR tank. The tank has been over heating lately(83 degrees). Basically, the tank is just giving me hell with heat, pale coral colors and even my coraline algae(unsolved mystery), good parameters but still getting algae growth...etc. So, I'm guessing all this heat is coming from the pumps and mostly my light(Aquatic Life 4 lamp). I've been debating whether to sell the tank or not(off to college next year) and get a smaller tank,(60 or 40 gallon cube)but that's not going to happen after all that I've done with that tank. So, I've been wondering should I sell the Aquatic Life fixture and get 2 Ecoxotic retrofit LEDs and build a canopy to reduce heat and for better light? Opinions on that or suggestions are welcome...or tips!

 

[mockery]

What pumps do you have? Mag put out a lot of heat. Also what is the ambient air temp of the room the tank is in.

You could put a fan over the top of the tank or sump. That will cause evaporation and cool the tank.

 

[grouper therapy]

83 degrees is not your problem I run mine at 84 degrees.

 

[frantz]

you can always run fans and see if that works, just keep an eye on evap. I agree with grouper though, I had mine in that range last year (before I had a girlfriend who likes it cooler in the apartment) and i didn't have any problems.

 

[wmboots]

my tank is running 83 - 84 degrees due to the closed loop pump raising the temp 5 degrees or more and I am not experiencing bleached or pale coral. I've had tanks run 84 degrees in the summer months for years and never had issues with growth or color so I doub it is heat that is your problem

 

[jcampbell]

Mockery;775154 wrote: What pumps do you have? Mag put out a lot of heat. Also what is the ambient air temp of the room the tank is in.

You could put a fan over the top of the tank or sump. That will cause evaporation and cool the tank.

I have a mag drive. It does get hot. We keep our house at 75, but I do have a small fan blowing on the sump but the evaporation is so annoying so I usually don't run it. As for the coral colors, my parameters are good, and I started dosing that KoralColor by bright well aquatics. I haven't really noticed a difference yet, but I was told maybe dosing iodine might help. It's an odd problem! Like I said earlier, the coralline algae that I do have isn't all that purple, more of a shade of white. I'm thinking once I run out of reef crystals I'm going to switch to Coral Pro Salt by Redsea.

 

[frantz]

Yeah, keep looking. I used IO all last year till I ran out, and this summer I'm on RC . I doubt it's your salt. Careful with Iodine, if you don't have a means to test for it, you can put too much in and kill stuff. I've had Coralline bleach and never figured out why, but it didn't correspond with coral bleaching. What all do you typically test for?

 

[jennm]

I think it's heat. I don't know how some of you get away with running at 83 or 84 but I've seen plenty of bleaching at that temperature in more than one tank.

Yes, fan increases evaporation - pick your demon. Top off more, or have a hot tank...

If you're going to spend money on anything (which I don't necessarily thing is the answer)... rather than sell and replace lights, just get a chiller. With what you're thinking with going LED etc., the chiller will probably be the less expensive option.

Unless you're looking for an excuse to go LED But that may or may not solve the heat issue.

Jenn

 

[grouper therapy]

Why do you think 84 is too hot? The average water temp in Bali around March is 82 to 86 .I would agree that a large temp swing may cause bleaching .

 

[jennm]

I wouldn't keep my tanks that warm. After about 82 it's pushing it for quite a few species, in my experience.

To each his own... I like 78 or as close to it as I can maintain. Frogspawn will bleach out at 82 or so, so will quite a few other LPS.

Jenn

 

[wmboots]

never found bleaching in the low 80's even with frogspawn but Jenn has way more experience and knowledge than I do. In my case the only way I'm going to get down below 80 is either a chiller (don't like the power bill associated) or remove the blueline pump and shutdown the closed loop system. Which is the worse of the 2 evils here is a choice I have yet to decide. I have 3 small fans blowing over sump (evaporation is insane 7 or 8 gallons a week) and I have contemplated putting a fan blowing across the display to see if that will help

 

[grouper therapy]

JennM;775189 wrote: I wouldn't keep my tanks that warm. After about 82 it's pushing it for quite a few species, in my experience.

To each his own... I like 78 or as close to it as I can maintain. Frogspawn will bleach out at 82 or so, so will quite a few other LPS.

Jenn

I was told that as well when I got into the hobby, so I went to great lengths(geo thermal loop) to keep it under 82. I then researched the sea temps in the regions that had the highest concentrations of coral reefs and found most of them to above 82 degrees Fahrenheit. I then decided to keep mine at 84 degrees especially since it was more economical and I read that the metabolism of the corals increases at that temp. I have done so for years without experiencing any negative consequences with a mixed reef including multiple LPS and frogspawn.
I will say that it is safer to shoot for lower temps for a few reasons, loosing ac, lower oxygen concentrations, and what I think is the most common culprit to heat issues is inaccurate thermometers/probes.
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[jennm]

Well, like I said, to each his own. I've seen too many issues when heat gets up there in toward the mid 80s. I had a client who was reluctant to turn on AC early in the hot season (can't blame them there) and their Frogspawn would bleach white. We always managed to nurse it back to health. Their Turbinaria didn't bounce back one year.

I had another customer who used to put fans every summer, one year his thermometer told him he didn't need to that year (red flag!) and he lost his anemone. Bought another, it failed. Parameters were perfect (those I could test)... bought a third (not from me) and it was withering. He brought in yet another water sample and it felt warm to me - I asked if it had sat in the car. No, he came straight to the shop (10 minutes). Turns out his Coralife digital thermometer was off by 11 degrees and his tank was 87, not 76 as he'd thought.

I realize that 87 is higher than the 82-84 you're talking about, David, but it doesn't take much more to pop up that high when you're already in the low to mid 80s.

When our AC unit gave up the ghost at the end of March, our chillers kept fluctuations in the coral tanks to a minimum but we lost a 14" Squamosa. Might have been a coincidence, but the clam had been comfy in our system for 9 months. I don't know what the temp peaked at, I was out of town when the AC failed (now I'm not allowed to leave again LOL!) But when I came back to work, the clam was in the throes of death... that was a heartbreaker.

Time and time again I've seen corals bleach or ail when the only thing that is "off" is temperature.

Xenia doesn't like temperature extremes either. Too warm or too cool and it turns to stinky mush.

Life in a closed system is very different than life in the ocean, so sometimes what occurs in the ocean, doesn't always work in an aquarium.

Jenn

 

[grouper therapy]

The above pic and video was when I ran it at 82-85 respectively. I agree to each his own though. I'm sure that there are some species that do not like the upper or lower limits. I also ran IO salt as well.

The Tang police I'm sure will be around.lol

 

[rdnelson]

JCampbell;775169 wrote: I'm thinking once I run out of reef crystals I'm going to switch to Coral Pro Salt by Redsea.

I can't be of any help with the problem you stated but, if you are thinking of making the switch now would be a good time. We currently have a power buy going on for the RedSea Coral Pro salt. You can find the thread here......

 

[jcampbell]

JennM;775184 wrote: I think it's heat. I don't know how some of you get away with running at 83 or 84 but I've seen plenty of bleaching at that temperature in more than one tank.

Yes, fan increases evaporation - pick your demon. Top off more, or have a hot tank...

If you're going to spend money on anything (which I don't necessarily thing is the answer)... rather than sell and replace lights, just get a chiller. With what you're thinking with going LED etc., the chiller will probably be the less expensive option.

Unless you're looking for an excuse to go LED But that may or may not solve the heat issue.

Jenn

I turned the fan back on last night. The temperature just wasnt going down. The thing that shocks me is, this is the first summer that I have had a high temperature problem! Last year, I think it stayed around 78. As for the LEDs, I have wanted a canopy for a while, so I thought I might get those LEDs and take off the glass tops. That may help some with the temperature. With the fan, it runs about 79.

Edit:

Frantz;775176 wrote: Yeah, keep looking. I used IO all last year till I ran out, and this summer I'm on RC . I doubt it's your salt. Careful with Iodine, if you don't have a means to test for it, you can put too much in and kill stuff. I've had Coralline bleach and never figured out why, but it didn't correspond with coral bleaching. What all do you typically test for?

I test for: pH, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and phosphates.

Edit: I have even talked to my parents about moving the tank into another room. It's in an area with a huge tv that puts out a lot of heat and the air circulations isn't the greatest in that room.

 

[rdnelson]

If you have a glass top that is the biggest problem with heat build up. Plus it is inhibiting the gas exchange. If you don't have a canopy, put a screen top on it. You build one for next to nothing with parts from HD or you can get the mess screen from a member here (much nicer look).

 

[jcampbell]

rdnelson99;775262 wrote: If you have a glass top that is the biggest problem with heat build up. Plus it is inhibiting the gas exchange. If you don't have a canopy, put a screen top on it. You build one for next to nothing with parts from HD or you can get the mess screen from a member here (much nicer look).

I've thought about that, or egg crate. I just don't want to put an aquatic life fixture into a canopy, imagine the heat buildup in that! I forgot to mention earlier with the heat problem that my corals were pale in the winter(temp. at 77). They have been pale ever since I made the change to a 75.

 

[grouper therapy]

I think the pale corals may be a light issue.

 

[wmboots]

if your corals were pale in 77 degree water its time to check your lighting, did you say your using IO or RC either salt is good salt but RC has a few more additives for corals to help with coloration. I've been using RC pretty much since I got into the hobby with a short foray into salinity and colors have always been good.