New tank temp - how high is too high?

[newocean]

Thanks for the reply. I used some glue and some threaded, where appropriate so I could take everything apart if needed - though I'm not looking forward to it :? I also have ball valves inline with the inlet and outlet ahead of the bulkheads, so I'm good there too. I've put a lot of time into reading and researching before putting this tank together, so I am in no hurry to add livestock until everything is right. I'm looking for long-term success here! I won't be able to leave the skimmer running, though, as it is in-sump and with the main return closed off...

Anyway, I've been doing some surfing, and it looks like a pump the size of the 950 is good for at least 5 degrees of heat, and I'm assuming maybe more in my case (we'll find out). I'd love to get even that 5 degrees back. Does everyone agree that if this pump is the culprit I'd have to go to an external pump instead of the submersible to get any appreciable temperature drop? Any recommendations on cool-running externals?

Lastly, on the LR lighting. I've heard enough dissenting opinion on this to just leave 'em on for 12 hours/day per Jason at Premium Aquatics. Any sepcific reason for or against?

 

[cl800]

I noticed that you indicated that your pump was inside your sump and that there was a plexiglass cover over it. Is it possible that this causes heat buildup?

 

[Will C1]

your return pipe should not be warm to the touch i would guess its the return pump but why go and spend the cash with out testing it? imagine if you has a power faliure the pump would be off then, it really wont hurt the tank to shut it off for a day just to make sure. also go ahed and turn off the light for now it dosent help the heat problem any and it wont harm a thing as you have nothing in the tank.

 

[alberio]

Hi,

You made the statement "Last night I turned the lights off". Does that mean you typically run them 24/7?

I have a 50 gallon with 192 watts of smart lights and 25 watts of t8 lighting. My max temp is 82. Something is weirdly wrong with your setup. Something is running hot.

do you use glass tops? Do they cover 100% of the tank?

mjd

 

[newocean]

Over the weekend I implemented what looks to be the solution to this problem. I ditched the Mag 950 and replaced with with an external Velocity T4 pump (and decreased my noise level by over half!). Although expensive, it is really a nice pump. As a side note, I was originally going to buy either the Velocity or an Iwaki 30 in the first place, but the LFS talked me out of it saying it was too much work to plumb an external pump and not necessary for a beginner, etc. Now I have an $80 Mag that I won't use on top of a $180 T4 - figures, huh This got me down about 2 degrees (I know, the T4 runs hot but I couldn't resist). What has gotten the tank down to a constant 79 degrees lights and all, however, is the addition of 4 computer fans from burnt out power supplies that I wired to a 12V 1.2amp wall wart - all free! I drilled 6 3" holes in my plexiglass top over my sump - 4 for the fan mounts and 2 for exhaust air. Since then, I've been at 79 steady, and it's still quieter than the Mag sitting in the sump, plus I have more room in there. All in all a great upgrade and one that I wish I had made in the first place. Thanks for everyone's suggestions, and this board in general in other people's posts for indirectly encouraging me to try the fans before a chiller.