LF Inexpencive temp controller........

Myka · #1 07-04-2010, 05:40 AM

Maybe try this...? My heater is set at 80 degrees. On my tank I have two fans, one is a 4-fan strip, and the other is a small but powerful Honeywell table top fan. The Honeywell is always on high, and brings fresh air from the living room onto the sump. The fan strip is mounted on the edge of the sump, and is on the same timer as the lights. My tank is considerably smaller than yours, but this setup keeps my tank at 80 at night and 82 during the day. I would like to keep it under 80, but if I set my heater to 78 the temperature will fall to 78 at night, but still go up to 82 during the day, so i keep the swing smaller by setting the heater a tad higher.

The way I see it, using a temperature controller to control a fan is a waste of money. You know the tank will get warm when the lights come on, so why not put the fan on the same timer the lights are on? Also, the fan will not likely cool the tank too much, and if it does your heater will take up little electricity.

The Grizz · #2 07-04-2010, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Maybe try this...? My heater is set at 80 degrees. On my tank I have two fans, one is a 4-fan strip, and the other is a small but powerful Honeywell table top fan. The Honeywell is always on high, and brings fresh air from the living room onto the sump. The fan strip is mounted on the edge of the sump, and is on the same timer as the lights. My tank is considerably smaller than yours, but this setup keeps my tank at 80 at night and 82 during the day. I would like to keep it under 80, but if I set my heater to 78 the temperature will fall to 78 at night, but still go up to 82 during the day, so i keep the swing smaller by setting the heater a tad higher.

The way I see it, using a temperature controller to control a fan is a waste of money. You know the tank will get warm when the lights come on, so why not put the fan on the same timer the lights are on? Also, the fan will not likely cool the tank too much, and if it does your heater will take up little electricity.

This will not work on my tank as the light's are on 4 different timer's and I have not run a heater on this tank AT ALL since it has been up and running. With all the pump's for return, closed loop, 2 skimmers with feed pump's and a pump for my NP pellet's my temp never got below 78 or above 81 until the summer heat and the AC in my house does not affect the room the tank is in as much as the rest of the house.

Myka · #3 07-04-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grizz

This will not work on my tank as the light's are on 4 different timer's and I have not run a heater on this tank AT ALL since it has been up and running. With all the pump's for return, closed loop, 2 skimmers with feed pump's and a pump for my NP pellet's my temp never got below 78 or above 81 until the summer heat and the AC in my house does not affect the room the tank is in as much as the rest of the house.

Ok. What are you thinking the temperature controller will do? All a temperature controller does is control when the heater comes on and when the fans/chiller come on by sensing the temperature. If you don't have a heater to run anyway, then buying a temperature controller seems like quite a waste. I think you will find that if you simply hook up some fans to a temperature controller that the fans will be on constantly when the lights are on anyway.

I have multiple timers as well - the lights that stay on the longest are 2 T5s that run for 12 hours a day. The timer that runs those lights has two 3-prong outlets, one for the fan, one for the lights. It's a lot cheaper than a temperature controller which you really don't need - especially if you're trying to save your Pesos.

I know you're not keen on a chiller, and I don't blame you. Your tank stays nice and cool, but holy mackerel the chiller puts off a tonne of heat into the room.

Another thought which may work for you would be to install a small in-window air conditioner for your fish room. You can find these small units for around $100. Then you don't have to sweat your balls off while you enjoy watching your tank.

lastlight · #4 07-04-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Then you don't have to sweat your balls off while you enjoy watching your tank.

So *that's* what happened to you. Nice work =)

On a less serious note...my fans kick on at 80 and they run for about 5 min before shutting off (tank's at 79).

Leah · #5 07-04-2010, 09:30 PM

[quote=lastlight;532249]So *that's* what happened to you. Nice work =)

Hope the *new plumbing* was new and not used.

The Grizz · #6 07-05-2010, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Ok. What are you thinking the temperature controller will do? All a temperature controller does is control when the heater comes on and when the fans/chiller come on by sensing the temperature. If you don't have a heater to run anyway, then buying a temperature controller seems like quite a waste. I think you will find that if you simply hook up some fans to a temperature controller that the fans will be on constantly when the lights are on anyway.

I have multiple timers as well - the lights that stay on the longest are 2 T5s that run for 12 hours a day. The timer that runs those lights has two 3-prong outlets, one for the fan, one for the lights. It's a lot cheaper than a temperature controller which you really don't need - especially if you're trying to save your Pesos.

I know you're not keen on a chiller, and I don't blame you. Your tank stays nice and cool, but holy mackerel the chiller puts off a tonne of heat into the room.

Another thought which may work for you would be to install a small in-window air conditioner for your fish room. You can find these small units for around $100. Then you don't have to sweat your balls off while you enjoy watching your tank.

My tank only hit above 82 on hot days. Case in point, today is cool and overcast here with a little rain and my tank with all the light's on has not gone above 80.5. If I was to run a fan when the light's came on on days like today it would drop the temp to low. With a controller that can run a heater and a fan I can program it to turn on fan when above 80 and a heater when below 78. That way I can maintain a steady temp with only a couple degree fluxuation .

intarsiabox · #7 07-05-2010, 12:38 AM

If you had a heater in the tank the temp would never drop below the set point even on cool cloudy days and you could still do what Myka suggests if you want to.

The Grizz · #8 07-05-2010, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

If you had a heater in the tank the temp would never drop below the set point even on cool cloudy days and you could still do what Myka suggests if you want to.

I do have a heater in the sump (200W) but every single heater I have, about 10 different one's, will not stay at a steady temp. For some reason they all seem to creep up and have to be adjusted daily. If I had a controller it would be a hands free way to maintain temp.

mark · #9 07-05-2010, 01:29 AM

I'm using a type of logger to control a couple of muffin fans over my sump and a heater. Found temperature stays within about a degree throughout the day. The logger controls the tank temp but have the heater's internal thermostat set a little higher than where I want the tank as a backup (for shutting off).