Temperature Control

agaupt · 09-14-2006, 10:54 AM

The temperature in my tank is always well over what my heater is set to (about 10 degrees). With the colder outside weather I turned my heater up a few degrees and ended up heating the tank to 85 degrees even though my heater was set to 75. I have replaced the heater twice with brand new heaters and got the same result. I have two thermometers both reading the same temp. My question is what is causing the extra heat? My room temp is about mid 60's.

My tank is a 26 gallon bowfront tank, with undergravel filter powered by air pumps, 4 live plants, 5 airstones, an Aquaclear external filter, glass top, and a Coralife 65W compact flourescent light on about 10 hours a day controlled by a timer. The airstones are also controlled by a timer and are off when the light comes on, then go on at night when the light is off. Can the light really be causing that wide temperated change?
Thanks.

jd@ga · 09-14-2006, 01:59 PM

Hey I had the same problem with my tank when I first set it up . It is your lights buy some legs for your light. It should take care of this problem.

Jay · 09-14-2006, 02:12 PM

Unless your lights have fans, and are over glass they do produce a lot of heat. Legs is a good solution.

In tank heaters are also sometimes difficult to calibrate. I unplug mine once a week set it for the existing water temp and put it in the tank for an hour before I plug it in again.

Jay

agaupt · 09-14-2006, 03:17 PM

My light is on legs that hold the light about 2-3 inches off the glass. Thanks for the info I will unplug my heater once a week.

ahill3780 · 09-14-2006, 07:38 PM

Welcome to FishTankForums!

The lights are contributing to the problem, but I think the main thing is the glass top. Aquariums bleed heat primarily through evaporation. If you seal off the top of the tank then all the escaped heat is just getting trapped at the surface where the lights can heat it more.

I would suggest opening the feeding door during the day while the lights are on and close it at night to help hold in the heat. This should help some.

HTH,
Aaron