How are you planning to keep your tank cool this summer?

[EyeReef]

For those whos experiencing keeping a reef the first time this summer, many of us will tell you it is now fun trying to keep your tank stabilized without a chiller. What are some methods you guys utilized in the past or plan on doing so to keep your tank cool and under control.

I use to direct an industrial strength fan at the surface of the water. Setup was ugly and evaporation was ridiculous, but it worked.

 

[s2k]

Just bought an azoo fan and plugged into my rk2. Hopefully that does the job.

 

[Reefer08]

Ive got a huge fan that blows over my water. Its controlled by my reef keeper lite.

 

[AJDuran]

I have 1/4 hp chiller on my 30g

 

[crazydante23]

I used a fan over my 40g, It keeps it perfect at 78. I control it with my ac jr and I also use an A.T.O. Works like a charm.

On my 112g, I will be using a chiller. Unless I mod the canopy with some fans. Dont know yet.

 

[barometer]

Have a 1/10th HP chiller now on the cube, but don't think it's working. I'm looking into a 1/4 HP chiller to replace it, but am using fans and ice bottles in the sump for the time being. The hex has never needed any cooling.

 

[maus42]

Evaporative cooling + water auto top off = WIN

 

[TheBluefish]

The same way I'm keeping myself cool...window AC. LOL

 

[nahtanoj]

i'm going with pure LUCK on this, hope it works out. a chiller for 720g, i don't think so.

 

[SDguy]

Fans, then turn off CL pump leaving only the vortech, then chiller...

 

[Wes]

lighting at night, fans, keeping the sump open, AC in the room, and not freaking out if my temp runs to 85. In the summer, I run my tank at about 83 anyway. IMO chillers are just a big expense that continue to cost a lot of money every month. It blows me away how many people turn to a chiller first.

 

[cthetoy]

The use of fans. If you have the space larger fans are more energy efficient and uses the same or less electricity than smaller 4" clip on fans

I know people say why fans? Fans blowing across the water causes the water to evaporate faster and that gas exchange brings the temp down. I did an experiment on a 10g tank at 85 degrees. Room temp was 92 degrees. After 30 minutes the water temp dropped to 78 degrees with just a fan.

 

[Rortreefer]

Ya, fans all the way. I will probably be upgrading my fans to a little bit larger and probably installing one in my sump but exactly as Wes said, big expense that just keeps costing you!

 

[reef_doug]

No chiller on my 180g. Central AC is set to 78, good for the other pets and people too.

Keep the canopy lid open as much as possible.

Portable room fan when needed.

 

[halvc909]

hand fan them but if that doesn't work then go with the chiller

 

[five.five-six]

chiller duh, time to clean it out for the summer

plus:

If Temp > 79.8 Then LT1 OFF // HALIDE
Max Change 020 M Then LT1 OFF
If Temp > 79.5 Then COL ON
If Temp < 79.5 Then COL OFF
If Temp > 79.5 Then FA2 ON
If Temp < 79.5 Then FA2 OFF
Max Change 001 M Then FA2 ON
If Temp > 79.3 Then FAN ON
If Temp < 79.1 Then FAN OFF

 

[nahtanoj]

wow, those are low temps for lights out, mine are set at 85 deg. if it was at 79, i'd never have my lights on in the summer, lol.

 

[Aquafrags]

1 giant fan

 

[bsk997]

Iced water bottles!
LOL, that's what I used to do on my nanos.

Now I have a dual stage Ranco controller with a clip on fan in the sump and dual 120mm fans in the canopy to keep things cool. Gonna add my azoo fans in the back of the tank back of then tank but been lazy. Plus my house is set to stay at 78 so the house itself never gets really hot.

 

[LotsaFishies]

Between the wife and I wanting it cooler, and not letting it get too hot for the bird, the Poison Dart Frog, the Seahorses, the guinea pigs, the cats etc...we use the AC.... The water temp doesn't get above 82 and I'm ok with that...