6g Nanocube overheating issue - HELP!

djconn

djconn

New Member
All through the colder months this year my new NC6 has been doing okay temperature-wise. My biggest fluctuation was from 78 to about 82 which is expected with a modded NC. With the Texas summer heat moving in, my tank reached 85.6 degrees today! The tank is modded by nanocustoms and he upgraded the stock fans but I guess thats not really going to keep the tank cool enough. So, anyone have any idea of how I can really deal with this heat issue. Do people actually use mini-chillers in nanocubes?

I've got another big fan blowing directly on the tank but that simply is not helping. I know dragon79 changed out his fans with something different so I've got to track down that post but in the meantime anyone else have any ideas. Thanks.

I've got to figure this out before I get my fish! :pom
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Have all of you here forgot about the Guru of the modded 12 gallon nano cube where the coined phrase Mike Guerrero signature series started???

DJ, I owned not one but two 12 gallon modded cubes both with the Integrated Chiller assist when he first launched it.

I ran the ICA during one of our hottest summers here in the SF bay area, I can share with you much knowledge on it....

What would you like to know?

MG
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
Man, how could I of forgotten the nanocube guru Mike G himself! I must of had a brain fart on that one...

So basically I'm struggling with my 6 gal nanocube temps. I've seen it as high as 85.6 degrees so far. Problem is that the house I'm in currently is 81 years old. Even with my AC blasting, temps hover around 76-78 degrees in the heat of the day. There is no insulation and I have really high ceilings so it just gets hot in my house and there is nothing I can do about it. So, the ICA chillers made by nanocustoms I think are sold out. Even if not, I think they are mainly used in 12 g models and I really don't want to spend that kind of money on a chiller anyway.

Would changing out the fans like your bro did with 50X50X10 fans from frys help that much? Chris already upgraded them when he did the mod on my cube I thought? Are his fans sub-par?

What other things can I do to help with the temps?
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
I just checked and nanocustoms claim to have have done this mod:

2 Upgraded 50mm Fans

Hmmm.. :???:
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I would contact Chris and see if he has an improved reflector/air baffle and then see if you could get higher CFM fans to move more air to help dissipate the heat. I seem to recall Chris mentioning something about changing the baffles in one of the cubes for better airflow.
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
DJ,

To the best of my knowledge, chris never developed the ICA for the 6 gallon tank. He had the peltzier but not the correct heatsink to fit the mold, so he never even got a prototype out.

Now this was almost a year ago, and he might have it ready on the website. Having said that, I would first upgrade the fans to what my brother is using.

Those fans you have even if they are upgraded are not the same design as what Steven got.

He thoroughly inspected what he had to work with and made the switch. Apparently with time those fans will go out because of dust particles and condensaton.

Steven recommends a ball bearing fan that exceeds the high standards on todays top PC's.

I would like Steven to chime in because he will be able to further assist you better than me.

The ICA unit is well worth the change in bills because it's an added security in prevention of the high temps, but not the cure, let me be brief.

ICA stands for integrated chiller assist, it's not a true chiller like what we purchase for our large reefs, therefore it cannot tackle large projects.

It will cool your nano in the night and as the lights fire up in the day, it gives the cube a chance to offset those temps.

Chris has cleverly calculated and I might be off, but a certain percent in watts that keep a cube cool, something like pulling your tank down 40 watts.

His website gives the exact figures...

All said and done, Steven has a great solution as he owns the exact tank you have...

Nuff said!!!

MG
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
Thanks for the links sadielynn...those fans are HUGE! I might have to just clamp one on those suckers over the the top of the tank.

My tank has been hovering around 83 the last few days. That is pretty much what I consider the upper limit for temps in a reef tank. What does everyone else think? I might have to live with it.

At this point, changing out the fans is all I can come up with to help my problem. I'm still thinking about other options...
 
D

dragon79

New Member
djconn said:
Thanks for the links sadielynn...those fans are HUGE! I might have to just clamp one on those suckers over the the top of the tank.

My tank has been hovering around 83 the last few days. That is pretty much what I consider the upper limit for temps in a reef tank. What does everyone else think? I might have to live with it.

At this point, changing out the fans is all I can come up with to help my problem. I'm still thinking about other options...
Click to expand...
Dj:

Sorry to hit this post so late, but I logged in at last. No surprise, it would escalate to high temps eventually, but the truth stands....those fans sucks!!

Take them out, put in the ball bearing fans I recommended, and that should help out more than what you have in there. If you are savy, you can even mod the feeding tray to fit a bigger fan there. (I plan on doing that when I get that 2006 tank)

For now though just go with the fans I recommended and crank up that ac as much as possible. Keep cold water around for your top offs, and put in the back, that will help keep the temps down. ( I do that and it works fine, hehe)

PM me if you need anything else, and good luck and happy modding!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top