Why are marine tanks hot?

[forddna]

I'm not understanding something. I have kept a planted freshwater tank, and at room temp, the water was 72F. I bought heaters to raise the temp to 78-80.

I understand that metal halides are hot, but why do so many people need chillers? Surely they don't all have halides???

Is it all the equipment running that raises the temps?

[reefergeorge]

Just my mag 9.5 return raises 100 gallons 3 degrees. Along with the skimmer and high powered lights it starts to add up.

[fishworm]

the high intensity lighting raises the temperature quite a bit.

and all the pumps and powerheads and skimmer, etc all raise the temp too. but it's mainly the lights. even my PC lights put out a heck of a lot more heat than any of the lights on my FW tanks.

[forddna]

I'll be using the same lights from my planted tank on my salt tank. They are PCs.

I guess I'll set it up with all the equipment and see what temp I'm at before I buy a heater or a chiller. Like I said, my starting point will be 72 degrees. It's 66 in our house.

[Mini Me6]

don't forget you are are adding density to your water which in turn adds to molecules that can be heated. saltwater aquariums always run hotter than freshwater because of the added molecules.

increase water movement(surface included) and you should be able to lower the temp.

[forddna]

ah ha. Okay. So between the additional equipment and water density, same lighting for same lighting, the saltwater will run warmer.

Thanks, all!

[blakesreefbruz]

Why not turn the heaters down a bit to get the temperature you want?

[forddna]

I don't have heaters. Well, I do, but I want to buy a more reputable heater for the salt tank. So I'll hold off on buying any until I see how the tank runs without them.

I have to setup and cycle the tank anyway.