Heat issues in your closed-hood HQI nano?

[AV8er]

Hello all... I've been out of pocket for a while and I am looking to get back in the game with a nano. I'm still a ways away from setting up, but while I'm plotting:

For those of you with closed-hood nanos with HQI lighting - do you deal with significant heat issues?

What about those with modded nanos with increased PC lighting (e.g., 4x32W PCs)?

I'd prefer to stick with a closed-hood version and would like to avoid having to leave the feeding flap open all day with fans blasting under it and/or having to install a chiller if possible.

 

[focus]

You will have heat issues, the temperature will vary big time if you don't have additional cooling. Just the addition of a Tunze 9002 skimmer to the JBJ 28HQI caused a temp increase. I am in the process of finishing up a LED set-up to replace the HQI I don't want the temp hassle again this summer and don't want the expense of running a chiller.

 

[AV8er]

Maybe an HQI in a closed hood is just a bad idea without a chiller.

Sure I could use fans, but then I'd have to have a substantial top-off system ready to go. A chiller would combat evaporation issues, but then you've got the expense of another piece of equipment that you can't keep in the tank stand (I mean, I gotta keep the wife happy -- which means the tank can't look like its on life support all the time, with tubes and wires coming out of all ends of the thing, salt creep all over the place, a chiller on the floor and a top-off reservoir on a table next to the tank -- e.g., exactly what my last tank looked like.)

Are people generally happy with stock lighting in their nanos? What about those with upgraded PCs (e.g., nanocustoms, etc...)?

Am I overestimating the cost/annoyance of using a chiller? More importantly, if I don't really care about SPS and clams, am I underestimating what I can keep healthy with PCs in a typical nano? (whether that be 2x36W or 4x36W)?

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Ruge13]

if I don't really care about SPS and clams, am I underestimating what I can keep healthy with PCs in a typical nano? (whether that be 2x36W or 4x36W)?

I'd say yes, you would be fine with the PC's it comes with if you don't have high light needs but your mileage may vary. However, I found that even the Stock PC's gave me heat issues. It got hot during the day and large temp swing at night.

 

[TheStar]

Hello all... I've been out of pocket for a while and I am looking to get back in the game with a nano. I'm still a ways away from setting up, but while I'm plotting:

For those of you with closed-hood nanos with HQI lighting - do you deal with significant heat issues?

What about those with modded nanos with increased PC lighting (e.g., 4x32W PCs)?

I'd prefer to stick with a closed-hood version and would like to avoid having to leave the feeding flap open all day with fans blasting under it and/or having to install a chiller if possible.

I have the Biocube 29G with this upgrade from Nanotuners http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?products_id=431 with the upgraded fan kit and my temp stays right at 80. It's not an HQI but is 36X4. Pic quality isn't great as I took it with my phone.