Temperature Problem - Light too hot! Need creative solution! - Aquarium Advice

David14259 · 02-14-2007, 03:40 PM

So, I replaced the 13watt CF bulb on my 12 Gallon Eclipse with a 40watt CF bulb. Everything was going great until I noticed that my water temp stays around 80-81*F no matter how much I turn the heater down.

Apparently my light is heating the tank. Ideally, I would like a temperature of ~76-77*. I cannot move the light farther away from the water.

The only thing I can come up with, is to either drill some vent holes in my hood, which I really don't want to do. Or attach some sort of cooling fan, which will be my last resort.

Does anyone else out there have any creative ideas to help lower the temp a few degrees?

Thanks,
David

theotheragentm · 02-14-2007, 03:57 PM

You basically nailed down your options. Basically the radiant heat from the bulb is raising water temperature. You need to cool the air around the bulb by moving the air out of the way so there is cooler air that the water can exchange it's heat with to cool down. Depending on your situation though, you may not be able to cool it enough if there isn't much room. I would try computer fans.

zacusmaximus · 02-14-2007, 09:23 PM

sump?

kickeralpine · 02-15-2007, 09:03 AM

one thing to remember if the bulb is heating the tank then using a fan will cool the tank .

02-14-2007, 03:40 PM	#1
David14259 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois - Champaign/Chicago Posts: 254 Images: 9	Temperature Problem - Light too hot! Need creative solution! So, I replaced the 13watt CF bulb on my 12 Gallon Eclipse with a 40watt CF bulb. Everything was going great until I noticed that my water temp stays around 80-81F no matter how much I turn the heater down. Apparently my light is heating the tank. Ideally, I would like a temperature of ~76-77. I cannot move the light farther away from the water. The only thing I can come up with, is to either drill some vent holes in my hood, which I really don't want to do. Or attach some sort of cooling fan, which will be my last resort. Does anyone else out there have any creative ideas to help lower the temp a few degrees? Thanks, David __________________ David14259 My Tank: 20 Gallon Freshwater High Tech Planted My Plants: Dwarf Sagittaria, Riccia, Crypt Lutea, Rotala Macandra, Corkscrew Val, Blyxa Japonica, Ambulia, Anubias Nana, Flame Moss, Christmas Moss, Echinodorus Parviflorus. My Fish: 1 German Gold Ram, 3 Praecox Rainbows, 1 Otocinclus Catfish, 1 Siamese Algae Eater, 1 Rummynose Tetra, 4 Cherry Barbs My Inverts: Ramshorn Snails, Apple Snails.

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02-14-2007, 03:57 PM	#2
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,177	You basically nailed down your options. Basically the radiant heat from the bulb is raising water temperature. You need to cool the air around the bulb by moving the air out of the way so there is cooler air that the water can exchange it's heat with to cool down. Depending on your situation though, you may not be able to cool it enough if there isn't much room. I would try computer fans.

02-14-2007, 09:23 PM	#3
zacusmaximus Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 196	sump?

02-15-2007, 09:03 AM	#4
kickeralpine Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: port charlotte florida Posts: 138	one thing to remember if the bulb is heating the tank then using a fan will cool the tank .