Tank Temperature

[harryterry]

Hey guys. So I have my new 120 established, but I am having a difficult time lowering the temperature. My digital thermometer and my in tank thermometer are both reading about 80*

What gets me is why the temp wont lower, especially when my house has been dropping to ~65 degrees at night (until the wife gets cold and has to run the heater). But even when the heater in the house isnt running, the tank remains at ~80*

Is it necessary that I run my chiller???

[acbaldwin]

Pumps, skimmer, etc can raise temp. Start off running a fan across the top of your display. My 55 and 40 both stay below 80 when the house is around 90. If you're running MH, consider running them at night instead. Make sure your heater isn't defective too.

[SBGrad24]

My tank runs at about 82 or 83 during the summer with no problems.

[harryterry]

Yeah I can understand that the temp would go up with MH, but I'm only running 2 165w LED

[harryterry]

Now I'm going to seem like an idiot. After checking it just now the digital therm says 81.7 and the regular mercury one says that it's 76.
Before though, the merc one was saying that it was also right around 80. Might have a defective digital...thats what I get for paying $6 for it

[jasonp87]

+1 try running a fan over the top of the tank, just keep an eye on your top off since your evap will go up.

[purdy]

How old are the pumps? And I mean any and all pumps.

[harryterry]

Great question. Wish I could remember. I bought the tank used from here.

[purdy]

If you have an external return pump, place your hand on it and see how long you can keep it there. Should be able to keep it there for 10 seconds or more. For any submersed pump you can fill up a drum with water. Let it sit until it hits room temp and then run the pump and see what the temperature difference is, shouldn't be much.

[harryterry]

I wouldn't call it "hot" but if I wanted to I could keep my hand on it for a few minutes then I'd get bored haha.

[purdy]

Then I would say that's not it.

[MustangBill]

I would trust the mercury thermometer and get a new digital one. You shouldn't have that much of a temp swing from 76 to 80. Make sure your thermometer is in an area of good flow too

[MustangBill]

I would trust the mercury thermometer and get a new digital one. You shouldn't have that much of a temp swing from 76 to 80. Make sure your thermometer is in an area of good flow too

[SDguy]

Yup^^

Calibrate your digital thermometer against the mercury one.

[troyinsd]

Should be able to get an accurate Taylor adjustable dial thermometer $8 or digital $20 at walmart. Or a restaurant supply store and they can check it for you.