Coolest pumps

[jrnannery]

Well, I checked my tank temp at 2:00pm today, after ALL the lights shut-off for the rest period between 10:30pm and 2:00 pm, and temp was
82. No lights, whatsoever, in a room that is verified to be at 75.6. That means that pumps alone are raising my temp 6 degrees. I checked the temp in the tank at 5:30 this afternoon, and the temp is 84.1. So, after three-and-a-half hours of the lights-on period, we can see that the temp has risen another 2.1 degrees. The only measurement that has not been verified with my backup digital thermometer is the 82 degree temp after thirteen and a half hours of lights out.

Photoperiod: 2:00pm-10:30pm
2:00pm-3:00pm Actinic only
3:00pm-9:00pm Actinic, 50/50, 2x10k PCs
9:00pm-10:30pm Actinic only
10:30pm-2:00pm Residual environmental light (comp screen, plant grow light angled away, sunlight through blinds, etc)

[CoryDude]

Add a fan to the top of the tank. The evap. alone should lower your temps by a few degrees.

To test your theory on the pumps, I would try and turn all of them off for a few hours, except one for surface agitation. See how your temp is doing then.

I'm also wondering about the window near your tank. Are you getting some direct sunlight in the tank during parts of the day? I've had smaller tanks near east/west windows and they could really cook during the daylight hours.

[jrnannery]

Ok, Cory. I unplugged both of the Maxis in the tank at 1:55am. Temp is 82 on my in-tank bulb thermometer after running with both doors open on the lid since approx 5:30pm. No jumpers, thank God. Verified on the digital, 82.0 degrees.

I left a Koralia on for circulation. I hope it will be enough. Heater, as always, is set at 78. We should be able to figure out that setting now, too, considering the Koralia is so efficient, and such low wattage. Gonna be a heck of a temp swing, I am guessing. Hopefully the corals will be able to shrug it off pretty well. They seem to handle +/- ≈1.25 degree swings.

For the record, the pumps in question are a Maxi 900, and a Maxi 1200. If I see a remarkable variance, I may setup a 5 gallon bucket test scenario in the room to see if I can duplicate the results out of the tank. I guess get an uncirculated control bucket, no pump, and a bucket with the Maxi 900, then later swap the Maxi 1200. Compare the temps, and we should have results we can fall back on.

The room was at 78.4 on the digital at 2:15am. The house heater had just cycled off. Since the tank will heat and cool more slowly than the air in the house, I think temp should be stable somewhere in the middle.

[jrnannery]

Alright, 8:00am. Pumps have been off just over 6 hours. Lids were closed, and room is at 75.0degrees. Tank temp is 80degrees digital, and 78degrees on the in-tank bulb. Why the disparity, I don't know. The resulting data is disappointing, to say the least. Two degrees difference is substantial, as far as accro care is concerned, but I was expecting a much wider swing. I can't say, conclusively, that it is the pumps raisng my temp, either. I honestly had no idea that this room was that warm. I may adjust the vent in here for the winter, and see how we fare with a lower overall room temp. Unless I was to get a chiller, a controller, and a controlled heater, I don't see a stable tank temp on the horizon.

After I sat here for a bit, I realized that the temp could not have dropped below 78,, because the heater was still in and working. Sheesh.