Keeping Reef Tanks Cool in the Summer with Ice, Fans, or a Chiller

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  • čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
  • When you're just starting out with a your first reef tank, many topics can seem overwhelming. Temperature is easy - until you tank is too hot. Then what should do you? What is too hot (over about 80F/26C)? What's the best way to cool a reef tank?
    Maintaining a stable temperature range of 75-79F (23-26C) is hard during the summer when the weather outside is around the same temperature or higher. It's critical to maintain this temperature in our reef tanks to avoid bleaching or otherwise stressing our fish and coral. High temperatures are a major factor in the world's coral reef bleaching - so let's avoid them in our tank.
    We can use bags full of ice in an emergency to solve a short term temperature spike, and those will work great in small or nano reef tanks - but as our saltwater aquariums get larger you need more and more ice to make a difference. That's where a cooling fan or even a chiller can become useful - both of these methods are able to reduce your reef tank's temperature much more reliably than a bag of ice can.
    Cooling fans on a reef tank will evaporate a huge amount of water though, so please make sure you have an automatic top off system in place before adding a cooling fan. Chillers don't evaporate water, but they do use a lot of electricity and they tend to warm up the air in the room as well. For people with the most need for cooling though, an aquarium chiller is about the only option and one which will work incredibly well - but at a price.
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Komentáře • 13

  • @multanemo
    @multanemo Před 4 lety +2

    Yep, in Arizona I don’t run heaters and in summer, when it can reach 120 I rely on my central air at 77 and a clip on fan in the sump. In the winter I keep my heat at 74.

    • @ReefMan
      @ReefMan  Před 4 lety +1

      Have you ever tested the fan on the display? I'm wondering if it might be better as I can feel mine blowing heat away from the lights. The sump would look a lot like though...

  • @freakygoblin3068
    @freakygoblin3068 Před 4 lety +1

    Appreciate the temperature being stated in both F and C. Most of the world deals with centigrade. Thank you. Will be interested to see how Peltier-technology will develop (think pc cooling). I know GHL had one planned but release has been delayed and personally have concerns about how effective it would be as tank size increases. Another thing worth pointing out is that some temperature controllers which are relatively cheap can both activate heaters and "coolers" such as a fan to maintain a temperature. Would recommend one to those who only require occasional cooling.

    • @ReefMan
      @ReefMan  Před 4 lety

      There's one suitable for nano reefs called the IceProbe which is a peltier cooler. I meant to include C everywhere I mentioned temperature but it got to be too much to give it every time...

    • @wilsonline90
      @wilsonline90 Před 4 lety

      @@ReefMan I fixed in my mind: 50 F is 10 C; 77 F is 25 C. Each C is 1.8 F.
      The math is simple just C=(F-32)/1.8. But it's always good to know those 2 points by heart.

    • @wilsonline90
      @wilsonline90 Před 4 lety

      I keep my tank between 77.9 and 78.4 F

  • @moneysmoneywoney
    @moneysmoneywoney Před 4 lety

    Finally!!!

  • @gbj6581
    @gbj6581 Před 4 lety

    Great tips, especially the ice bag one. I just bought a BRS (inkbird style) controller, that has two outlets. One for a heater and you can plug any fan into. That way if the temp goes too high it will kick on the fan, and if temp gets low it will kick on the heating elemt. Never used one so hoping this is a good solution. May get a humidifier gauge to put in the room to keep and eye on humidity.

    • @ReefMan
      @ReefMan  Před 4 lety +1

      I haven't heard anything about that one, but BRS stuff is usually pretty good. I'm still on the edge regarding a chiller - they're so expensive. I am evaporating about 5 gallons of water every day though, and to combat that I use a dehumidifier in my house to prevent mold and that sort of stuff.

    • @gbj6581
      @gbj6581 Před 4 lety

      @@ReefMan yeah thats crazy. Were trying to make reefing simple, nobody told us to factor in de-humidifiers etc lol .
      Keep at it 👍

  • @michaelross5674
    @michaelross5674 Před 2 lety

    A regular mixed reef tank....can it go to around 82 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit

    • @ReefMan
      @ReefMan  Před 2 lety

      I think if it’s only temporary and not held there for a long time my guess would be that it’ll be fine. Mine has gotten to 82. 84 seems really hot, I’d worry, but I bet things would make it if they’re otherwise healthy.

  • @one4all885
    @one4all885 Před 2 lety

    You have to consider that these cheap fans mostly used for computers don't even cost $5 a piece, yet sells for $40-$100. This hobby sells coolers that cost way more than an air conditioner. Why get a cooler just for the fish that costs more, rather than getting an aircon that cools the entire room so we aren't sweating either? Then all there's is to worry about is having a heater.
    Again this hobby in reef tanks is such a ripoff. Don't get me started with how much more of a ripoff marine lights cost, which aren't very reliable and doesn't come with a warranty. Powerheads aren't worth half the $200 price tag. Fake man made rocks aren't worth $3 a pound. This is why many don't go into reefing. Not because they have to buy salt, a refractometer or work to clean fish poop. It's really disgusting how all these stores especially bulk reef supply sells products at least 50x their worth.