Temperature Fluctuation...

[cbianco]

Hi folks

Its summertime and you know what that means BBQ, vacations and high aquarium temperatures!

I have since taken the thermometer out of my tank due to the higher temperatures. I wanted to know if there is a "danger zone" when it comes to temperature fluctuations? Generally speaking what is the most a tank should fluctuate between day and night or windows open and AC on?

My tank stays around 82-83 degrees during the day droping to about 79-80 at night and this is when we don't use the AC. If we use the AC in the house at night it goes from about 82-83 degrees during the day to 77-78 at night. Is this within a safe range?

Thanks for the imput!!!

Christopher

*edit* Replace THERMOMETER with HEATER

[don-n-sa]

So you removed the thermometer? Not sure why you would do that.

Fluctuations of 1 or 2 degrees is ok , but 3-5 is too much IMO

there are several ways to combat this...I will give you 2

1. Add a fan and have it blow across the surface of the water...keep in mind that your evaporation will increase but this will lower the temp of your tank...if possible have it come on with your lights.

2. add a heater to your tank and set it to 80deg so it will come on at night to prevent the temp drop.

[cbianco]

Replace THERMOMETER with HEATER everyone! Sorry about that! :)

[cbianco]

don-n-sa

Unfortunately do to the Nano-Cubes hood, additional fans (which it already has two fans) would not be a viable option. I could put the heater back in but I figured it wasn't neccessary during the summer (this is my first summer with the tank). I am trying to find a place to research temperature (online) but to no avail. I only find information relating to ideal temperatures, not detailed information. Any links would be much appreciated!

Christopher

[don-n-sa]

hmm...those nano-cubes, are they open in the back? Fans work best if there is good ventilation, other wise your just blowing hot air.

[AlexKilpatrick]

Replace THERMOMETER with HEATER everyone! Sorry about that! :)

This was a funny error. I initially read it as: "I am worried about temperature fluctuations, so I took the thermometer out of my tank. Problem solved."

:)

For what its worth, I have a chiller and my tank still fluctuates by 2-3 degrees. It is rated at +/- 1 degree F, so that is about what I would expect. I think it is going to be tough to get the fluctuation any tighter than a couple of degrees.

[Thunderkat]

I don't know if this (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idProduct=CW1111) will help. I also saw this other cheaper item (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1795547) that can also be used and I think they would be able to do the same thing for you but the cheaper item would also keep you cool. 8)

[cbianco]

Thunderkat

There is a modified ice probe style cooler made for my nano cube. It is made by Chris at nanocustoms.com and can be found at the following link: http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanotuners/index.php?cPath=34 The TEC is a great idea but it is a bit beyond my budget considering there are other items (ie. test kits) that I need to get but trust me I have thought about it many times, lol!

don-n-sa and Thunderkat

The nano cube currently has two fans, located in the hood, pointing upwards and blowing out. They mostly draw air from the lighting out of the cube hood. I have one of those small "blizzard" type fans that blows on the tank during the day but the colling effect is minimal to say the least. If anything I would upgrade the current fans with higher CFM fans but unfortunately I don't really know a whole lot about rewiring for AC/DC or regulating different voltages. I do know this can be done I just haven't really looked into this option yet. I did see a clip on type fan at Walmart and I was thinking of using that for something.

AlexKilpatrick

I'm glad you find the humor in my mistake! :) Taking the thermometer out of the tank would DEFINATELY solve my problems! I would no longer know about my temperature problems, lol! :lol

To All

The nano cube is notorious when it comes to higher temperatures. So far I have not seen my cube go higher than 83 degrees but as I said earlier this is my first summer with the cube. Who knows what the S. Texas heat will have in store for me. I think that I will reinstall my HEATER to prevent any major temperature fluctuations.

Thanks for the help all!

Christopher

[don-n-sa]

don-n-sa I have one of those small "blizzard" type fans that blows on the tank during the day but the colling effect is minimal to say the least.
you mean it is on the outside of the tank blowing air on the tank itself?

yeah I wouldn't think that would do anything unless you opened the lid to cause more evaporation.

If you have room under the nano or to the side maybe you could plumb a small fuge into the system and keep it open on the top then a fan blowing on the water surface would do wonders.

[cbianco]

don-n-sa

The all in one design of the nano is what had me from the start. I thought about doing "seperates" (ie. tank, sump, etc) but financially that would have been a nightmare for me! LOL

RE the two fans in the hood... Do you think if I flipped one fan around (one fan blowing in, the other blowing out) it would cool better? That way one of the fans would be blowing towards the water and the other would bring the evaporation out. Just an idea...

Hit me back... Thanks!

Christopher

PS Its funny how the the subjet of the thread totally changed from Temperature Stability to Overheating Nano Cube, LOL :lol . Thats ok though, I would have probally brought this subject up in the future, heck might bring it up again!

[cbianco]

Joshua

I have the 24 gallon model (I think you have the 12 gallon, I could be wrong). On this model the splash guard does not extend all the way under the fans, it only extends and covers the lights. If you following this link you can (barely) see what I am talking about: http://www.jbjlighting.com/images/sys_24G_CANOPY.jpg

So if I flipped one of the two fans around then it would be blowing directly at the water. I'm not saying this would work, only that it is possible, lol. :)

From what I read, the next generation 24 gallon nano cube will have a splash gaurd that extends and encloses the fans too.

Christopher

[Tim Marvin]

As long as your tank inhabitants are in very good health, 4 degrees won't hurt them. I don't think I'd swing much more than that though. Mine swing about 3 degrees from night to day.

[Tim Marvin]

I forgot to mention, once I kick on the AC for the summer the tanks stay within 2 degrees. In the winter it is the same since the ambient temp stay at a fixed temp.

[Thunderkat]

I see what you mean Cbianco. Now that I have all my live stock in temporary tanks that are small my temperature jumped around quite a bit initally. It went from my main tank temp of 77 up to 78.5 then back down to 77.2 after working with it.

I had to prop the hood open a little with a nickel to allow heat to escape and that got my temp down to where the heater could just maintain it at a steady temp.