Small temp swings or set heater higher?

lastlight · #1 05-02-2010, 02:40 AM

I think I can achieve the stability using the fans actually. I'll try that before I turn my heater up to 82 I think.

I have a portable AC unit in my livingroom so I don't think the room will get any warmer. It hit 25 without me running the unit. I can certainly maintain 25 or 24 through any heat this summer. The only thing keeping me from running the AC more and colder is my wife complaining of being cold =)

globaldesigns · #2 05-02-2010, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

I think I can achieve the stability using the fans actually. I'll try that before I turn my heater up to 82 I think.

I you can great!!! Just be prepaired for more evaporation, and maybe your room will get a little muggy.

lastlight · #3 05-02-2010, 02:47 AM

With an open top right now I think I likely evap about 1/2 a gallon per day. Wonder how much that will increase with fans? I'd at least test with a reg fan before buying these azoos but I don;t think the only fan we have (floor standing 16" would give a fair idea lol.

globaldesigns · #4 05-02-2010, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

With an open top right now I think I likely evap about 1/2 a gallon per day. Wonder how much that will increase with fans? I'd at least test with a reg fan before buying these azoos but I don;t think the only fan we have (floor standing 16" would give a fair idea lol.

You probably don't need that much, maybe a small clip on. JL sells them for cheap.

banditpowdercoat · #5 05-02-2010, 02:49 AM

I run a cheap 6" clip on desk fan on my 150g. One day I want a chiller, but pretty low on the finances list. I do 3/4-1g/day I think evap.

Skimmerking · #6 05-02-2010, 02:57 AM

Brett if you have a controller then you are GTG , then use the fan and have it behind the tank facing the back to cool it , i use to do that and it worked really good.

PoonTang · #7 05-02-2010, 03:08 AM

I dont think that a temp swing would cause too much problems when you think about a tide change over a reef crest. Imagine the swing when cold deep water gets exchanged for warm lagoon water thats been baking in the sun for 8 hours? Having said that tho I think we all still need to strive for stability AMAP. You should be able to get away with fans and open windows in all but the most extreme cases. I use my controller to turn my fans on with my MH and to shut the MH off if the temp exceeds 80. Today is the first day that the lights have turned off and that is because no one was here all day and the house was closed up tight.

untamed · #8 05-02-2010, 05:04 AM

I expect that if you turned your temperature up to 82, you would then start to have a swing between 82 and 84. You would NOT stabilize at 82. IME, it doesn't work that way.

lastlight · #9 05-02-2010, 05:43 AM

Well the light has been out for 30 min and I'm sitting at 83. Not good. Recently I started running the Tunze 9002. Perhaps the skimmer pump runs pretty warm hence the difference? It looks like I HAVE to get a fan of some sort as 83 is too high I think. And Brad I think you might be right about the shift in fluctuations...In the back of my head I had conisedered that as well.

Will higher humidity levels in the room make it harder to cool the water? Perhaps I need to leave the window cracked open during the day.

My backyard is west facing so it gets pretty hot back there. Right now we have very thin white drapes over the sliding doors and cheap venetian blinds over the kitchen sink. What can I do to combat the heat on that side of the house? I'm pretty sure almost all of my heat comes in that side. The front of the townhouse faces other houses closely so the sun never hits my livingroom window.

I was thinking heavier white drapes might keep it cooler inside?

globaldesigns · #10 05-02-2010, 06:23 AM

One thing you can try if possible:

If you can turn on your furnace fan, and leave it running, it may recirc your house are enought to cool things down. I use to do this until I got my HRV system installed recently. Just an idea. But if you are in an apartment, this would be a no go.