Water Changes in Dubai..

**CrazedMichael** · 03-25-2010, 05:51 AM

Hi guys. I have a question regarding water changes where i'm from, Dubai. (British Expat)... But first let me explain something.

I'm sure most of you know already that Dubai is a hot country, and now summer is approaching the temps will continue to rise daily up to AT LEAST 45 degrees celcius. So, most apartment buildings in this country house their water tanks on the roof (this improves water pressure). The downside to this is that we never get COLD water because the tank is exposed to sunlight all day everyday, 325 days a year. The first 30 secs or so the water is cold, due to the water being in the pipes, but after that the water warms up. It then becomes lukewarm and even a little warmer than that, i've monitered the temp via a themometer and most times the water is 35 degrees. Having explained that, you can probably see where im going.

The temp of my aquarium water is 28 degrees and the water in the 5-gallon bucket is 35 degrees. Aside from letting the water sit for hours in an air-conditioned room, can you suggest any other ways to bring the temp down?

What if i took some tank water and froze it in an ice cube tray? Or if i bought a liquid ice block that you use in food coolers and put that in the bucket too?

Hope to get some advice. Thanks!

**korith** · 03-25-2010, 06:38 AM

The ice cubes really wouldn't make too much of a difference unless you put a lot of them in. Get a few 1 or 2 L plastic bottles and fill them with water, then freeze them. You can let them float in the tank and that should cool them down a bit. The only downside is you'll have to keep swapping them out. Use dechlorinated water as well, just in case the bottles leak.

Another thing you can do is to not use any lighting on the tank during the day when it is hotter out, save the lighting for the evening hours.

If you have a hood on the tank, maybe replace it with a mesh hood. That way the heat escapes from the tank and isn't trapped in by the hood.

One trick that has worked well for me is to get a small fan that can clip onto the side of the tank. This way the fan blows air across the top of the water surface, should be able to take a few degrees off the temp.

edit: sorry just realized you were trying to cool the temp of the water in the bucket not the tank. A few bottles with frozen water could work.
You could always buy yourself a chiller for the aquarium, they are a bit costly though. But it could keep your tank a stable temp.

**Scrup** · 03-25-2010, 02:40 PM

When I lived in Bahrain I would always shower before the sun came up, the water was usually coolest then (same system, water tanks on top of the building, if you use the hot water its actually cooler than if you use the cold...dont miss those days)

You could test the temp in the early morning. Might be the easiest route.

**Northernguy** · 03-25-2010, 02:50 PM

What about getting an aquarium chiller?
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/...5/category.web

**CrazedMichael** · 03-27-2010, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Northernguy

What about getting an aquarium chiller?
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/...5/category.web

Whooooo! Expensive! Anyway, i doubt that they stock that kind of item over here, stock is limited at best! But thanks for the link!

Any objections to using a ice block used in water coolers? Eg: http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/P...od_ID=RP091211. something like this.

Would it be safe to put it in the bucket of dechlorinated/treated water prior to adding it to the tank? It would be frozen via oy everyday freezer.

**gadget228** · 03-27-2010, 11:40 AM

Fill your 5 gallon bucket with water from the shower, water falling from the shower head to the bucket will drop a couple degree's. The finer the spray the better the temperature drop will be.

**Lady Hobbs** · 03-27-2010, 12:29 PM

korith has some very good ideas. I used the frozen 2-litter pop bottles during a heat wave one summer for about a week. His other idea of leaving the hood open and cutting down on lighting also were valid.

PS......drawing your water at night and just letting it sit inside overnight doesn't seem like too much of a problem, tho, if this is an easier option for you.

**Northernguy** · 03-27-2010, 03:13 PM

The chillers are expensive but would be an ideal way to keep your tank temp stable.You may find them for sale there for a decent price.
The ice bottles do work but are more temporary.

**souly** · 03-27-2010, 04:29 PM

I agree with the Chiller really, it is pricy, but its the best way to get your water rght :P

**wolf_eyes** · 03-27-2010, 04:58 PM

I can understand not wanting to buy a chiller. They're pretty expensive and if fish supplies are limited in your area it could be difficult to find. If it's just the water that's going into the tank I would suggest filling a water bottle with tank water and throwing it in the freezer and using it to cool as need. I also like the idea of filling up at night or in the shower. The problem with using a blue ice is, just in case the slight chance it breaks or leaks. You really don't want anything unnatural in the bucket you use for water changes.