Problems with Temp and Lighting

[kaimarkhirst]

Hi all,

Ok. Just putting the finer points on the Nano roof and have come up with a bit of a (Not problem) Concern, so here it is..

With the water, heater and moonlight the temp is stable at 28.8 c and from what I have so far read, this pretty much the highest temp that a Reef can be at before having problems.

The main concern is that during the daylight (When the halide is on) the Temp raises (looking at the chart and readings, around 2-4 degrees ofer 12 hours. So the concern is the variations in temp during the 24 hour period.

I have already compensated with the heater by lowering it to 20c and this will drop it to 26.8 or thereabouts, but how will the variation over this period affect my livestock??

Have tried to look this one up on the net, in my library of books, and nothing. Am a seasoned Freshwater keeper, but my concerns are that SW is alot more precise than FW, so want to get this right and have facts on my side before I start putting fish in...

Heater is a 200w in a 28G nano........

thanks all

Kai

[labnjab]

If the heater is t-stat regulated lowing its setting isn't going to make a difference if its working since it should be shutting off when it gets too hot anyways. Keeping it at 20C can be a major problem if for some reason your lights fail when your not home and the tank temperature drops.

3-4 degrees is a drastic change and something needs to be do. I found a temperature controller really helped with my temp swings.

When I first added my t-5 lighting I had a 3 Degrees F swing between day and night, but now since adding a controller I get no more then a degree F change. Can you possible put an air conditioner in the room with the tank? A fan blowing across the top of the tank or sump if you have one will easily lower the temperature several degrees. If you can't do either of these the only other option would be to add a chiller

[kaimarkhirst]

aaahhhh. The light of common sense flickers on at last!!!!

There are fans on the daytime halide system that stay on regardless of whether the light is on or not, adn the timer is on the mains, therefore they rae getting switched off when they need to be staying on all the time.. Would this be any help??

Seems like a stupid question, but dont want to leave anything to chacne on this one.

Cheers

Kai

[coachfraley]

The halide fans will help to keep the light cool, but it wont do much for your tank. You should add a fan (on its own timer), and have it blow across the water surface during the hottest part of the day. This will increase you evaporation, and cool your tank. Just remember that if you increase your evaporation, you will need to top off more.

If you problem is also due to daytime temps being high, you could switch your light cycle, so your lights come on at night.

[oldhead]

I experience about a 3 degree temp swing between day and night. Didn't think it was all that drastic. How close is the light to the water? This could make a bit of a difference also.

[kaimarkhirst]

very close oldhead, I would say about 1.5 inches roughly.

Ill need to look into a fan accross the top of the water.

thanks indeed and as ever, great advice...

Kai