Tank To Warm??

[MeganL3985]

Last night before going to bed I checked the temp on my tank and it was above the little lines for "normal", I think the normal stopped at 80 and it was at like 83-85. This morning it was down to normal but I think its cause its been really hot outside lately. I dont know what to do. Will the fish be okay (platies & neons)? I dont have a heater, so thats not an issue. Its a 5 gal.

[Lady Hobbs]

That's a problem in the summer months. A heater won't help because the room temps are heating it up. The fish will be fine, tho.

You may want to open the hood at night so the heat can escape or turn a fan on the tank but I think it's fine.

[crackatinny]

I had the same prob this summer with my 5G here in Australia (and our summers get quite hot), the temp skirocked but somehow the fish survived, do as hobbs said and try to circulate the air as much as possible with a fan, this is one of the many reasons a small tank is harder to keep than a large one.

[MeganL3985]

Thanks :) I have a ceiling fan that I keep on, but i'll get my small desk fan out and see how that works.

[Severus]

Thanks :) I have a ceiling fan that I keep on, but i'll get my small desk fan out and see how that works.

Sounds like a good idea. Just get as much air circulation as you can

[bscman]

How much does your temp fluctuate from day to night?
83-85* shouldn't be too much to worry about, IMO...the bigger concern would be how much the temp. fluctuates. More than a few degrees swing in temperature is very stressfull for fish.

Smaller tanks heat and cool more rapidly than larger tanks, so ambient temp will affect your tank more quickly than say a 20g tank. It's just something you have to deal with.

You could try relocating the tank to a cooler room, if possible. Also make sure it's not near a window, or directly sunlight.
You can buy chillers, or use water bottles filled with frozen water to help cool the water in emergency situations--same with small waterchanges with cooler (but not cold!) water.

[MeganL3985]

It really doesn't fluctuate too much, maybe just a couple degrees between night and day, but nothing major.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Crackatinny, have you ever made up some special ice cubes (made up with proper tank water) then added them, one by one throughout the day, to your tank?
It's advice I've read about, but never tried.

It may work for you, Megan, but I don't think your temp fluctuations are big enough to justify it.

Any others heard of the ice cube theory (those of you whom have really darned hot summers)?

[MeganL3985]

Wow that ice cube theory sounds awesome. I may have to try that later on this summer. It gets pretty hot here through mid summer.

[crackatinny]

Crackatinny, have you ever made up some special ice cubes (made up with proper tank water) then added them, one by one throughout the day, to your tank?
It's advice I've read about, but never tried.

It may work for you, Megan, but I don't think your temp fluctuations are big enough to justify it.

Any others heard of the ice cube theory (those of you whom have really darned hot summers)?

Heard of it but never tried it, I was worried about that area of tank cooling to quickly. I only use the 5G as a fry tank now anyway, to much hassle a small tank like that.

[Chris24]

i got the same problem. typical temp in my tank is 82, and this is june. i live in houston where august temps can be over 110. is it possible to get a chiller. like a heater, but a cold source with a thermostat that will help keep the temp low enough?

[Chrona]

i got the same problem. typical temp in my tank is 82, and this is june. i live in houston where august temps can be over 110. is it possible to get a chiller. like a heater, but a cold source with a thermostat that will help keep the temp low enough?

Yes but you almost never see them except in saltwater tanks due to the cost

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[zackish]

i got the same problem. typical temp in my tank is 82, and this is june. i live in houston where august temps can be over 110. is it possible to get a chiller. like a heater, but a cold source with a thermostat that will help keep the temp low enough?


Have you tried just turning the heater off and putting the tank in the coolest spot in your house. I imagine your inside temperature of your house can't be much more than 80?

[Lady Hobbs]

I froze small juice bottles full of water last summer during a really hot spell here and let them float in the tank. They last longer than ice cubes but still thaw rather quickly. Fortunately this year I have invested in a window air conditioner so won't have to worry.

When I was in TX during a particularly awful hot spell, I noticed several people put foil on their windows facing the sun. It reflects the sun away from the house.

[crackatinny]

When I was in TX during a particularly awful hot spell, I noticed several people put foil on their windows facing the sun. It reflects the sun away from the house.

WOW, I would imagine the refections would cause havic to the traffic on the street outside.

[crackatinny]

Another possibility (though I have never tried it), could be to tape some styrofoam to the back and sides of tank, it may work by insulating the 3 sides.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

I froze small juice bottles full of water last summer during a really hot spell here and let them float in the tank. They last longer than ice cubes but still thaw rather quickly.

Ah yes, I'd also read about this one!
I personally think it's a better idea than having to prepare special ice cubes just of tank water.
Especially if you decide to have a party and everyone wants ice cubes for their drink, you don't want them reaching for the wrong ones...

[gm72]

If you have a HOB filter you could open/remove the lid to the filter and allow a little bit of heat dissipation that way.