Removing my tops to dissipate heat?

[gnashty]

obviously with the warm weather upon us i have some decisions to make...

My tank is now hitting 80 - 81 degrees, up from its standard 78. I cannot afford a chiller and even if i could i would rather not.

the viable option, one that may ultimately work is to remove my acrylic tops completely - my only concern is the Aquatic life 72" fixture mounted in the canopy. It sits about 10" above the water surface - I would hate to ruin this fixture by allowing all that salt to creep into it..its brand new. i dont think a fan on the sump will do the trick either - no room really


ideas? options?

 

[smoothie]

Could you add one of these inside your stand?
http://www.homedepot.com/Vornado/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr9Z4lm/R-100678380/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053">http://www.homedepot.com/Vornado/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr9Z4lm/R-100678380/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053</a>
Or clip one of these on your tank?
[IMG]http://www.homedepot.com/Vornado/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr9Z4lm/R-202096899/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053">http://www.homedepot.com/Vornado/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr9Z4lm/R-202096899/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053</a>
Hope this may help

 

[drnecropolis]

You would be surprised at how much fans work..

 

[gnashty]

i like those - a little pricey but may work. just point one at the water in the sump? and you say DO NOT TAKE THE TOPS OFF? i have some fans i could try to fit under there - im broke right now so $30-50 on a fan aint gonna happen for a bit..

 

[smoothie]

One would work. Taking the tops off would definitely help with the heat as well. Gives it somewhere to go quicker and helps with evaporation which helps temp too. You just need to top off the water manually everyday or the best bet have (or get) a top off system. Make a screen top for your tank because every fish is a potential jumper.
Acroholic has a build the diy screen

 

[gnashty]

I have an ATO set up on my RKE so im good there - im worried about the light fixture - it is mounted inside my canopoy, the whole fixture - it has 3 fans built in and i have a large plasma screen tv fan built in as well. I have the fan set to come on when temp goes above 78.1, I have my lights set to turn off if it hits 81. It is hitting 81 by about 3pm on these hot days.

I have no doubt that taking off the glass tops will help tremendously but what about the light fixture. Someone told me once that the fixture wouldnt last 1 yr exposed above the water without tops on due to salt creep. - this paragraph is what I want to confirm.

anyone ever had sucess with the "salt creep eliminator " spray? I have a bottle just never used it.

the canopy will keep the fishies in for the most part but I could see where they could get out if they wanted to, especially to the overflows.

 

[weaglereefer]

I wouldn't worry about a fixture 10" above the water. If your water is splashing enough to hit that, you might have other issues.

 

[smoothie]

It will last. We all do it. Be sure there is no exposed wiring.
Add fans to the ends of the canopy. I am sure there are discussions on fans you can search on this site.

 

[myvwrock]

80-81 degrees is fine for a reef tank in fact the average temp of over a thousand reefs around the world is 82 degrees.

 

[kirru]

I actually keep mine at 79-81 degrees year round. Never had a problem and everything seems more active when its in the 80s or it may just be me..

 

[elfloyd]

Keep mine between 79 & 81. Would probably go higher with the MH lighting, but the APEX turns off lights at the right time.

 

[gnashty]

Smoothie;492804 wrote: It will last. We all do it. Be sure there is no exposed wiring.
Add fans to the ends of the canopy. I am sure there are discussions on fans you can search on this site.

I thought everyone was doing it! I will try a few days without the tops..its actually a pretty tight fixture - only the built in vents and fans exposed but on the top (about 3" from the top of the canopy) and no exposed wiring at all.

I think I will relocate the canopy fan I have to the end and have it blow down on the water and not the light like it is now.

I am good with a 79-81 tank temp but thinking forward when its gonna be 100 degrees outside this summer! could get way up there

anyone use the salt creep spray before?? results?

thanks all

 

[elfloyd]

I've played with having fans blow on the lights, and blowing on the water surface. There is a much better cooling effect when it blows on the surface.

 

[weaglereefer]

PVC bracket, 8 12v computer fans, and a 12v converter. Total cost &lt;$20.

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[elfloyd]

Yep... made a set up just like that... in fact I may have gotten the idea from you, and location to buy the fans!

 

[no1bubba]

Hi guys, I was going to ask about a good skimmer for 75 gal. but the water temp is also an issue. Tonight I am at 83. . Thanks Smoothie, I'll be at Home Depot in the morning. My first skimmer has passed away so I have to get another one really quick. Like everyone else $$$$ is an issue and I would really like to graduate up to a larger tank so I need to get something for more than the 75. Any Ideas for a good but not to sell my soul for skimmer. Thanks, Bubba

 

[cr500_af]

Compared to when I ran "open top", my enclosed canopy w/2x250w MH lighting and two 4" fans keeps the tank much cooler... chiller runs maybe 20% of the time it used to. It surprised me, but open topped ran much warmer.

 

[dwhatley]

We have acrylic tops on the octo tanks (which obviously can't be removed) but we drilled holes in them to help with heat release (like a peg board). We also use inexpensive fans (the kind for humans, found at the discount stores. The muffins just don't cut it and die quickly) on all the sumps. I turned them on today and not likely to turn them off again but do need to if it gets cold. I particularly like the kind that have a squeeze clamp (the more plastic the better) because there is usually something I can attach it to (I have even used a hang on aquarium box and then clipped the fan to the box.

 

[gnashty]

I plan to leave the canopy on just remove the acrylic tops, they get salty and dirty quickly so this may help with light penetration. I removed the 2 smaller ones yesterday prior to posting this and it did help keep my temp down by about .5 degree.