Keeping my tank cool

[timfee]

:help:
Atm in England we are having a bit of a heatwave and the temperature is forcast to reach 33C sometime this week. Obviously I dont want high temperatures which would stress my fish. What can I do to keep my tank cool?

[HorrorShowRot]

Dump a few icecubes in puts it down a few degrees.

[robflanker]

Right now I've got a fan aimed at the surface of the water, and an freeze-pack thing (the blue stuff) in a ziplock floating in the water. Always drops my temps a couple of degrees. Temp was about 78F an hr ago, now its 74F.

You can also take some of your tank water, freeze it, and then add it back in

[KingFisher]

One good way is to freeze plastic jugs of water and float them in the tank to keep the temps down. Another is to remove the top and have a fan blowing across the water, but it causes a lot of evaporation. There are chillers they sell if you want to go that route as well. Keep the tank lights off as much as possible so they don't contribute to heating the tank. Good luck.

[KingFisher]

Dump a few icecubes in puts it down a few degrees.


If you choose this option, be sure to use dechlorinated water to make the ice cubes.

[jackson17]

What kind of fish? My tank stays at 80 degrees. 78 isn't that hot. A steady change from 74-78 over the day isn't that bad ( I don't think anyway)

[bushwhacker]

most of the fish we keep are fine till you start hitting mid to upper 80s... some even like it... fans are probably the best idea. as the frozen jugs may drop the temps too quickly

[korith]

That's the kind of temperatures I been dealing with here in georgia. I have a small clip on fan that blows air across the tank surface. Lowers the temp in the tank by a few degrees. If you have any jumpers in your tank, you may want to lower the water level before removing the hood. Also I have dark shades over the windows, to stop too much light/heat from getting in. I also cut back on when the lights for the tank go on, and instead of having the lights on the tank during the day, I have them turn on later in the evening when it is cooler out. Tanks are planted so just changing the lighting routine to later in the day seems to be working as well.

[_Shea_]

Quick credibility due to Wild Turkey for this method he told me about a while back.

What you need is 2 standard sized water bottles and a freezer. All you do is make sure there is water in the bottles and keep them in the freezer until the water is completly frozen. Then, you take one of the water bottles and gently let it float on the top of your aquarium, allowing it to cool the water. When the water in the bottle is no longer cold and it is unthawed, you rotate the used bottle back into the freezer and grab the second bottle, and repeat the process as neccesary.

Make sure the cap is on very tight, you don't want any water to get into your aquarium and throw off your parameters ;).

[timfee]

Was going to post again yesterday but my internet cut out :smad:

Thanks for all of the responses. I dont really want to put ice in as it'll only last for a short time and I need to keep it cool all day while I'm at school and I also don't want sudden changes of temperature. I simply left the lid open today and when I came home it was at about the right temperature but I don't know how hot it got during the day. My fish seem fine.

What kind of fish? My tank stays at 80 degrees. 78 isn't that hot. A steady change from 74-78 over the day isn't that bad ( I don't think anyway)
I said the temperature is forcast to get up to 33C = about 94F which is hot. I doubt that my tank would get that hot being inside but it could still get pretty hot.
The fish are platys which I know are hardy but I still dont want to stress them.

[jackson17]

I doubt the tank is going to gain/lose 5-10 degrees very fast. As long as the tank slowly goes up/down in temp (which it probably does) then your fish will be fine. Mine stays at 80 and goes up to 82 and then drops back down (10 windows in my room, way to sunny lol). Your fish will most likely be fine IMO.