Help again...

[murkywaters]

[quote=KimPossible;255699]tank and fuge are between .3 degrees...chiller is off a whole 1.2 deg.

sometimes I feel like crying. If it's not one thing it's another and I'm getting tired.

[quote]
No I meant you said you were having wild fluctuations on your temperature. are all the thermometers fluctuating or just one. Or did you mean the different sensors didn't read the same. I'm confused now. LOL

I'm sending you a hug so you won't cry. I'll send karma when it lets me again

[Woodstock]

(Thread moved to equipment.)

Kim, I see a few problems. First, the device you're using to measure the temp in the main display is probably not calibrated exactly like the chiller thermometer so expect a bit of difference in the two... Second, it sounds as though your heater is just before the chiller input? Water downstream of a heater will naturally have "hot spots" when the heater is on. Make sure you're not running the heater and chiller at the same time...

You can work around the issues above or... install a controller. ONE controller, one thermometer that turns both the heater and chiller on when needed. That way you don't worry about a malfunctioning heater or chiller and it takes care of the temp for you. A great controller is the Reefkeeper2. Super easy to install and use. It will take care of most of your needs.

[sasquatch]

Why not? its not all supposed to be sunshine and lollipops is it?

[KimPossible]

First, the device you're using to measure the temp in the main display is probably not calibrated exactly like the chiller thermometer so expect a bit of difference in the two...

true... ok...

Make sure you're not running the heater and chiller at the same time...

That's the plan. I want my tank at 80 deg. My heater has to be set near 81.5 to achieve something near that and the chiller at 81, even then...the chiller will start to read 78.7,,,,79.2,,,, 77.5 !! ,,,, and of course the chiller isn't even cooling.

I have never even had to ask the question, but what is a safe cooler tank temp?

Reefkeeper 2 it is. Where did you buy yours? I need to feel confident that my equipment is working. If it is not then....ANYTHING.... could happen, and I won't ever leave the house

Newtons law.... I'm leaving town this week. My mother is house/fish sitting.

[Woodstock]

Digital Aquatics 2006 is where I got my RK2. Another type of controller is the Aquacontroller JR. They are similar to eachother but the ACjr. will require programming. The programming is simple strings of commands that you enter to tell the controller what to do. If the idea of programming does not intrest you, just get the RK2. It is a plug-n-play unit.

I have since upgraded from my RK2 to a Neptune Aquacontroller III.

For a full comparison of controllers available: Aquarium Controller Comparison Chart

[KimPossible]

I think that my 200W Ebo heater is the culprit. I just added a second heater to the sump and set it at 81. We'll see how that goes.

My tank's temp is currently at 77.8 deg. My zoas are upset and shrooms are all shriveled up.

[KimPossible]

Temp is stable. I took the 200watt out and replaced it with the 150.

My eagle eye zoas are toast and my Anthia is swimming around, stable again.
He was in bottom corner laboring while the temp was low.

I will order the Controller, for my own sanity.

Thanks for helping me out everyone. And thanks for the hug Rhonda

[sasquatch]

Kim ? you think this was all from the heater? sorry for your loss, karma on the way. Steve

[KimPossible]

No.... the tank was stable for 1 hr. .... the chiller is off now.

More of my zoas and palys are gonners, released themselves from the rock. I am up to 79 right now.

I am worried about my shrooms and Anthias now. The quick increase and decrease in temp has wrecked havoc on my system.

I am not going to turn the chiller back on until I have the Controller Doni suggested.

[lcstorc]

I woud do some testing of the chiller. It sounds like something is wrong with either the heater or the chiller and if it is the chiller then you should return it. I set my chiller and leave it be and it keeps the tank temp in a 3 degree window. I don't run a heater on my system since I broke it and we live in FL.
Sorry you are losing corals. Things will start looking up soon.

[KimPossible]

I have no clue right now

My temp got up to 83.2 over night. I took the first heater out and replaced it with another yesterday. It was set at 79 and when I woke around 2 am to check...the heater light was still on! I have 4 petsmart thermeters in different locations so I can feel somewhat confident with the readings.

I have no submersible pumps other than the skimmer.

My chiller is still off. I can't have 5 degree temp swings in an hours time.

I know I cant have temps as high as 83.

I moved the heater from the sump chamber into the fuge chamber where flow is less turbulant. Once I did this ...and the tiniest tap of the heater itself, the heating light went off.

I wont be home from work until 6pm tonight....so...I guess I'll have to wait to see what happens

[Woodstock]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Kim

[KimPossible]

Thanks Lynn, I'm afraid to do testing on the chiller. It is still plumbed.
What do you suggest?

I have never had a chiller before this upgrade, but I have always run a heater and I'm in AZ. I run my tanks at a steady 80 give or take a couple tenths of a degree.

I sure hope I dont go home to a crashed tank

Thanks Doni ~

[Dentoid]

Is the temperature in your home stable? If so leave the heater and chiller off until you figure this out. The ambient room temperature should keep the tank at a steady state, rather than those kinds of temperature swings.

[lcstorc]

I hope not either.
Can you turn off the pump to the display and do some tests with just the sump water? Or somehow isolate the chiller to see if it is cooling properly and if the thermostat is correct. I agree that I would not test it on the display since you have livestock. Does the chiller pull water from the sump and then return it to the sump? You may want to check the water flow pattern to see if the chiller water is going directly to the heater or something like that. That may not be the problem at all but it would be something to look at anyway.
Hope everything is fine when you get home.