Temp stability issues.

[Luis's Nano]

I am having a hard time trying to stabilize my temp. I have a 32 gallon biocube. I just recently moved to Florida so I ran into the issue of my tank running 82.0 on average. I purchased a 3 fan DHL to keep the temp lower between 75-78. I am using an apex to turn on fan when temp above 78 and turn off fan when below 76. Problem is that it's on and off so often throughout the day that I don't want to damage my apex but I also don't want to overheat the tank. Not sure how to dial it in where is runs a bit smoother. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Kmst80]

Have you tried turning the fan down if you can or further away from the tank so it's doing less cooling but is running longer keeping the temp more stable. Have you tried to find out how low the temp goes with the fan on constantly?

 

[Luis's Nano]

I haven't tried to see how long the temp will go with fan running constantly. The fan works really well. Kind of nervous it will get too low. Maybe worth a shot on a day when I am home to monitor. As far as turning it down, I did see that GHL has a controller for fan speeds. I can buy one of those. Wasn't sure if there was a way to controll speeds with apex vs just turning it on and off.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

You won’t damage the apex. Heaters and chillers draw many more amps and the apex can handle it just fine. That said, you could program the outlet to have minimum on and minimum off times so that it would stay on or off longer and not cycle so much

 

[Reef.]

Any reason you are aiming for a heat that is on the lower side of the temp range? 82 is high but it’s not dangerous high, I would aim a little higher than 75, 79-80 would probably be much easier to hit more consistently.

 

[Luis's Nano]

You won’t damage the apex. Heaters and chillers draw many more amps and the apex can handle it just fine. That said, you could program the outlet to have minimum on and minimum off times so that it would stay on or off longer and not cycle so much

How would I code in the min off and on time?

 

[Luis's Nano]

Any reason you are aiming for a heat that is on the lower side of the temp range? 82 is high but it’s not dangerous high, I would aim a little higher than 75, 79-80 would probably be much easier to hit more consistently.

I just moved from PA. My temp would sit at 77 almost constantly. I had my tank up and running for years in PA. I moved everything down here in a cooler. I didn't want to add more stress by running the tank 5 degrees warmer. Just wanted to dial it back in if possible.

 

[n2585722]

What size tank is it. I have a 42 gallon tank and Have two 80mm fans to cool it. Attached is a log of the on and off times. I have the output set to turn on at 78.1 and go off at 77.8. They only draw about 4 watts so it is no issue for the controller.

 

[Luis's Nano]

What size tank is it. I have a 42 gallon tank and Have two 80mm fans to cool it. Attached is a log of the on and off times. I have the output set to turn on at 78.1 and go off at 77.8. They only draw about 4 watts so it is no issue for the controller.

See that makes sense. I just thought the switch turning off and on so many times would damage the outlet. I want to say I heard it from a BRS video on mastering your apex. Something about not keeping the temp controller on the apex too close because of it turning on and off so often and burning out the switch. Hey if it's a safe bet to have it that close on the apex. That's the answer there. I was just nervous on burning it out.

 

[Luis's Nano]

What size tank is it. I have a 42 gallon tank and Have two 80mm fans to cool it. Attached is a log of the on and off times. I have the output set to turn on at 78.1 and go off at 77.8. They only draw about 4 watts so it is no issue for the controller.

It's a 32 gallon biocube.

 

[Reef.]

I just moved from PA. My temp would sit at 77 almost constantly. I had my tank up and running for years in PA. I moved everything down here in a cooler. I didn't want to add more stress by running the tank 5 degrees warmer. Just wanted to dial it back in if possible.

Once it’s at the higher temp, keeping it there would probably be far less stressful than trying to hit a lower temp and failing, doesn’t Florida get much hotter than 82? Unless you are hitting 82 when Florida is at its hottest, then you could be hitting higher temps than what you are aiming for now.

 

[n2585722]

It's a 32 gallon biocube.

Not sure what size the fans are but reducing the number of fans or size will keep them on for a longer time reducing the amount of cycles without as large a temp swing.

 

[Luis's Nano]

Once it’s at the higher temp, keeping it there would probably be far less stressful than trying to hit a lower temp and failing, doesn’t Florida get much hotter than 82? Unless you are hitting 82 when Florida is at its hottest, then you could be hitting higher temps than what you are aiming for now.

Yeah it definitely gets hotter. I have my home set at 74 inside but tank runs about 82 with pumps and all. It may be worth a shot to see how things look at 82. Just always thought 75-78 was the sweet spot.

 

[Luis's Nano]

Not sure what size the fans are but reducing the number of fans or size will keep them on for a longer time reducing the amount of cycles without as large a temp swing.

Not sure the fan size to be honest. It's a 3 fan setup from GHL.

 

[Reef.]

Yeah it definitely gets hotter. I have my home set at 74 inside but tank runs about 82 with pumps and all. It may be worth a shot to see how things look at 82. Just always thought 75-78 was the sweet spot.

Try 80, see what you can keep stable, but if all else fails 82 is a temp I would be happy with.

 

[Luis's Nano]

Try 80, see what you can keep stable, but if all else fails 82 is a temp I would be happy with.

Thanks!! I appreciate it. I'll give it a try.

 

[n2585722]

Yeah it definitely gets hotter. I have my home set at 74 inside but tank runs about 82 with pumps and all. It may be worth a shot to see how things look at 82. Just always thought 75-78 was the sweet spot.

Mine might get that high if there was no cooling fans. I keep the house thermostat at 76 and have no trouble keeping the tank at 78 degrees in the summer and we have had temps as high as 105 this summer already. I do have LED lighting so lights do not add to the temp too much. The only pumps are the return and skimmer. I use MP10's for flow and the motor is outside the tank on them.

 

[Reef.]

Mine might get that high if there was no cooling fans. I keep the house thermostat at 76 and have no trouble keeping the tank at 78 degrees in the summer and we have had temps as high as 105 this summer already. I do have LED lighting so lights do not add to the temp too much. The only pumps are the return and skimmer. I use MP10's for flow and the motor is outside the tank on them.

Out of interest, do you keep your aircon on 24/7?

 

[n2585722]

Out of interest, do you keep your aircon on 24/7?

It is automatic. The upper temp is set to 76 and the lower temp is set to 71 so if it gets above the 76 setting the air conditioner runs if it get below 71 the heating will run.

 

[Reef.]

It is automatic. The upper temp is set to 76 and the lower temp is set to 71 so if it gets above the 76 setting the air conditioner runs if it get below 71 the heating will run.

Right I understand now, thanks, just googled the temp range in Florida, didn’t realise it can get quite chilly there too.

(Just noticed you are in Tx, I guess it’s similar there too…wait I’ll Google that too lol) think Google must be wrong, says the average in Tx is 75!