Lighting causing heating problem

[FishAddict413]

I am in the process of converting my 125G FOWLR to a reef tank. I just upgraded my lighting to 4 48" VHOs. The problem is it raised my temperature in my tank to about 84 degrees. It used to be consistently at 80 or 81. What temperature is too hot for a reef tank with some fish? I have a clown, goby, dwarf angel right now. I do not want to spend the money on a chiller so my question is what fan would be the most efficient to cool down the lighting? The tank is 60" long and I was looking at 3" or 4" clip on fans. Does anyone have experience with these and what brand is the best? Thank you for you input.

 

[Mitchell0605]

No idea about specific fans but really one or two small ones running across the water surface should bring it down and hold it steady.

 

[dannyb]

You want your tank sitting around 78f or 25.5c. As Mitchell said, 1 to 2 fans should be enough.

 

[Mitchell0605]

But here in Aus you need an industrial-size chiller, aye Danny?

 

[melosu58]

I personally think it might be room temps. I have 4 160 watt VHO bulbs and dont have any heat issues. It looks like you are using 4 ft bulbs on a 6 ft tank?

 

[FishAddict413]

Yes, 4 foot bulbs on a 5ft long tank. Is 84 degrees too hot?

 

[thincat]

I think that is at or close to the upper limits of a reef setup. I keep my tank at 82 degrees max. I let my tank fluctuate between 78 and 82 degrees. I use to run a fan and that helped out. If you are hitting 84 degrees now, just imagine when summer comes around. Like I said try a fan blowing over the water. Just remember that you will get a good amount of evaporation and that water has to be refilled daily with fresh, not salt water. I got an ATO from autotopoff.com and have had good service with them, but there are many DIY setups around.

 

[melosu58]

The 125 gallon tank is a 6 ft tank. Unless they make a 125 5 ft tank also. I would think you need to lower that. What is the room temp in your tank room?


Ok I see on another thread that he has a 5 ft 125 so I guess there is. You learn something every day.

 

[FishAddict413]

My room temperature stays between 76-78 degrees even during the summer.

 

[melosu58]

And BTW the key to temps is stability. As long as temps are stable within a degree or two you`ll be OK. I would try to get it around 78-82 though.

 

[dannyb]

Yeah, Def need a chiller Mitchell. Haha.

Yeah, My tank runs between 78-82.

 

[thincat]

Try a fan...~$10.00 compared to a $200.+ chiller.