temp differences between tank n sump

mattie · 02-14-2005, 12:22 PM

i recnetly by accident did a little experiment by putting 2 digital termometers in the tank. one in the sump one in the main system
i discovered that the sump stayed a rock solid 78.2 to 78.8 degrees. while at the same time the main system would vary much more from 76.5 to 79.5 in a single day.
the heater is in the sump of course.
but untill now i was only gaugeing the temp in the sump. and thought everything was perfect.
just thought i would share this strange occurence
i will not make any changes unless the swing becomes higher in the summer.
but i thought it was weird

Woodstock · 02-14-2005, 12:30 PM

Interesting. My digital thermometer is in my sump as well...AFTER the heater which is in the overflow. I think I'll move it to the main tank and see what numbers it reads from there....

DaveK · 02-14-2005, 01:30 PM

With the amount of flow in a reef system, I'm suprisied that you'd get tempature readings that different.

The first thing I'd do is put both thermometers in the same location and make sure you get the same reading on both. If not, there is a calibration problem.

If you do get the same reading on both, then we have to figure out why the tank is different. I would suspect that the water movement in the tank is not correct, and the changes in the tank reading are caused by the lights comming on or going off.

Gina · 02-14-2005, 04:14 PM

I wouldn't think that there would be that much of a difference. Our heater is also in the sump. To tell you the truth, I just assumed that the tank water would be the same as the sump because of the volume of water going through.

Doni,
let us know what temp you get after moving it to the main tank.

Woodstock · 02-14-2005, 07:35 PM

With the heater intermittently coming on, a large fan blowing over the sump, and MH on:
78.6 in sump compartment #1,
78.6 in #2,
78.3 in #3,
and main tank is 79.0.

I checked several times during an hour and the temp difference was less than one degree.

Woodstock · 02-14-2005, 07:37 PM

I have since moved the temp probe into the main tank and will observe it for the next few days.

mps9506 · 02-14-2005, 11:04 PM

I will also sya, I have tested three different radio shack digital thermometers, and got three different readings at the same location, .5 degree variation between all three.
Wish there was a way to calibrate those things.

mattie · 02-14-2005, 11:59 PM

well okay. i guess it is the p.o.s digital thermometer took a poop. becouse i bought a new one today and put it in the sump and i now have only a .2-.4 diff
what could i expect it was a free gift with order
but now i need to decided if that amount of daily temp change is ideal
2-3 degrees a day shouldn't be to bad

02-14-2005, 12:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
mattie RS Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Torrance CA Posts: 522 View Gallery Karma Komment	temp differences between tank n sump i recnetly by accident did a little experiment by putting 2 digital termometers in the tank. one in the sump one in the main system i discovered that the sump stayed a rock solid 78.2 to 78.8 degrees. while at the same time the main system would vary much more from 76.5 to 79.5 in a single day. the heater is in the sump of course. but untill now i was only gaugeing the temp in the sump. and thought everything was perfect. just thought i would share this strange occurence i will not make any changes unless the swing becomes higher in the summer. but i thought it was weird __________________ www.reef-care.com

02-14-2005, 12:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,180 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Interesting. My digital thermometer is in my sump as well...AFTER the heater which is in the overflow. I think I'll move it to the main tank and see what numbers it reads from there.... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

02-14-2005, 04:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,825 View Gallery Karma Komment	I wouldn't think that there would be that much of a difference. Our heater is also in the sump. To tell you the truth, I just assumed that the tank water would be the same as the sump because of the volume of water going through. Doni, let us know what temp you get after moving it to the main tank. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

02-14-2005, 07:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,180 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	With the heater intermittently coming on, a large fan blowing over the sump, and MH on: 78.6 in sump compartment #1, 78.6 in #2, 78.3 in #3, and main tank is 79.0. I checked several times during an hour and the temp difference was less than one degree. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

02-14-2005, 07:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,180 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I have since moved the temp probe into the main tank and will observe it for the next few days. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

02-14-2005, 01:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
DaveK Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 649 View Gallery Karma Komment	With the amount of flow in a reef system, I'm suprisied that you'd get tempature readings that different. The first thing I'd do is put both thermometers in the same location and make sure you get the same reading on both. If not, there is a calibration problem. If you do get the same reading on both, then we have to figure out why the tank is different. I would suspect that the water movement in the tank is not correct, and the changes in the tank reading are caused by the lights comming on or going off.

02-14-2005, 11:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,392 View Gallery Karma Komment	I will also sya, I have tested three different radio shack digital thermometers, and got three different readings at the same location, .5 degree variation between all three. Wish there was a way to calibrate those things. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-14-2005, 11:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
mattie RS Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Torrance CA Posts: 522 View Gallery Karma Komment	well okay. i guess it is the p.o.s digital thermometer took a poop. becouse i bought a new one today and put it in the sump and i now have only a .2-.4 diff what could i expect it was a free gift with order but now i need to decided if that amount of daily temp change is ideal 2-3 degrees a day shouldn't be to bad __________________ www.reef-care.com

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