I think I have issues...

[FordForever]

My tank temp was 90 degrees when I got home today. Now my last hatchet is flipping upside down and recovering...I need to fix this heat issue somehow...Right now tank temp is 86 degrees. I think I will give all my fish back until I figure out a way to keep the temp down.

If I give my fish back, can my tank 'un cycle' ?

[smaug]

Yes your tank can lose its cycle,it would take a while though,you would have at least a week I would think.How are you going to fix the temp.A chiller is the only relaible way I can think of.

[gm72]

I would think the beneficial bacteria would be killed off before a week's time, but not sure.

Chiller is indeed the only real way to keep the temp down.

[FordForever]

Chillers are expensive I don't know how I am going to cool the tank yet I'm thinking on that. I would like to build/create something cheaper than a chiller. I dunno...

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, in a while it will un-cycle.

if you only need to drop the temp a few degrees, and you dont want a chiller, you can grab a bunch of ice cubes, stick them in a ziploc bag, and let them float

[FordForever]

ill leave a few floating frozen gatorade bottles in it tomorrow and see what happens...I might move it to my office and enjoy the fish while I work.

[xoolooxunny]

ill leave a few floating frozen gatorade bottles in it tomorrow and see what happens...I might move it to my office and enjoy the fish while I work.

the gatorade bottles might lower it too much . . . How big is the tank? Moving it to work is a good idea, or is there a cooler room in the house? If you dont want to lose your cycle, all you have to do is add ammonia drops just like during a fishless cycle, it will keep your bacteria thriving.

[fastfly]

If you take the fish out, just keep feeding the tank (pretending the fish are still there).

[smaug]

If you take the fish out, just keep feeding the tank (pretending the fish are still there).
not a good idea at all,sorry.All that will do is add to the bioload,not the biofilter.

[FordForever]

The tank is only 10 gallons...

[fastfly]

not a good idea at all,sorry.All that will do is add to the bioload,not the biofilter.

We are trying to add to the bioload. :14:

[MandyL]

Yeah that's what I thought too? Add fish food to an empty tank... It decays and creates ammonia... May be a round about way but it's ammonia just like the stuff in the bottle.

[gm72]

It does however take time for the decaying food to start producing ammonia. Not confident that it would be fast enough to keep a cycle stable. Pure ammonia would be far more effective.

[smaug]

Its not a good idea from experience with trying it in a tank.It was late yesterday and I forgot to add that.Mostly it just lies on the bottom getting moldy and creating a mess ,while not adding very much ammo to the water.Didn't mean to be terse with you.

[FordForever]

Thanks for the help guys! Good news...I surounded the tank with frozen milk jugs and pointed an industrial fan at it and when I got home it was 84 degrees (in the green on my thermo...).

For now this will work but I am hoping to upgrade to a 50gal I ditched the 30 gal because I want enough water to stay more stable. I just need to buy the new tank and gear, I cant wait!!! :)