My Lighting System Heats Up My Water!

[delfinparis]

In my 30 gallon reef tank, I have a Coralife Aqualight system, which I keep on about 8 hours a day.

When it is on my temperature reads about 82-84 degrees, obviously a little high for soft corals. At night the temperature shoots between 78-80 degrees.

I would love to have a more constant temperature - what should I do/purchase/adjust to achieve this?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. By the way, I did purchase the arms that raise up the unit a few inches. I also have three small powerheads and a protein skimmer, and a heater that never needs to kick on.

[Divedog]

If you are looking at stability with using what you have, the easiest way would be to adjust you heater so the tank maintains a min. of 82. when the lights go off. The temp change will not be as dramatic if you do this.

Is there a canopy on the tank?

Is the hood resting on the tank frame or are you using the supports to raise the lights?

Is the stand closed in preventing any ventilation?

[onecrzyboi4u]

delf.. i had the same issue with my 30 gal. wot i had to do was go out and buy a small fan and let it blow acorss the water to keep it cool.. i would keep the heater on 82 degrees. i did top off as well. i just turn the fan off when i cut the lighting off for the night..

[delfinparis]

thanks for the reply - yes I am using supports to raise up the lights.

Should I just buy a fan unit to attach?

[ERICN]

Yes fans work wonders you would be surprised I use a large box fan on my 150 :) and it used to go up to 88 in summer here, have no AC :) and with 1 fan it never gets over 80-82 now even when the room temp is 90+

[onecrzyboi4u]

sorry to intrude.. ericn do you keep your fan runing at night?

[ERICN]

No I turn it off when lights go out unless its going to be over 80 all night but that's not often

[xlayedoutx]

Thats the same temp swing my 75g sees everyday. Its been over a month and everything looks great still. I'd say just add a small fan. Without the fan my temp was about 88. $10 later my temp is 82-84 with the lights on and 78-80 when they're off.