Cheap fix to minor heat problems.

[kasper4lyf]

To all,
I noticed that there is always a lot of talk about excessive heat in reef tanks, and we all know how expensive chillers can be. Here is what I did, I have a berlin style skimmer taht draws air via a small hose. I replaced the factory hose (about 16") with a peice long enough to reach an A/C vent, in my case at almost ground level but the end result should be the same. This way while the A/C is blowing cold air that cold air is the circulated via the skimmer. My avg tank temp has gone from 82.2 down to 80.2 a whole 2 degrees. Note I have my A/C set at 78 all the time. FPL (Florida Power and Light) swears this is the cheapest way to run the A/C here in sunny Florida. Anyhoot I thought I would share... If this helps at least 1 person, my job is done...

 

[waymack97]

cool i got to try it.
_________________
Woodsball

 

[Anonymous]

The skimmer sucking in cold air is not the main reason your tank is 2 deg cooler. Running the AC is what made the difference. This cold air method was mentioned from time to time, and there is nothing, as far as I know, that support this other than heresays. If you look into the thermodynamic and heat capacity of air vs. water, it should be obvious that it will take a lot more freezing air to pass thru the skimmer or air stone than what is normally possible.

 

[Anonymous]

Two reasons that doesn't really work.

The first was mentioned. Air holds very little heat energy compared to water. The volume of air bubbling through the water wouldn't do a thing to the temperature.

The other reason is that the length of tubing means the cold air has to pass through several feet of room temperature before it gets to the skimmer. Unless you have insulated airline, it will lose a lot of the cold before it even gets to the water.


The best way to cool a tank without a chiller is to keep the room cooler and run a fan over the water. I run my lights vent fan in reverse, blowing air in over the water.