Hot weather

[lemmy_k]

I have a 180gal. that for 11 months out of the year stays the same temp. When summer rolls around my water temps go up around 4 to 6 degrees. I am just not willing to spend the $700 for a chiller for one month out of the year. Does anyone here have any ideas on how I can keep the temps down? The fish all seem ok with the exception of my longhorn cow.

[melosu58]

Have a fan blowing across the surface of the water. You might experience a little more evaporation but just top off more often. A fan across the surface is a very effective way to bring temps back to normal.

[austinsdad]

How's the a/c set. Ya let it get REAL warm when not home?

[tamra&steven]

fans blowing over the tanks water will work it will only cool it down a few degrees though, but it works. what you keep your temp at?

[lemmy_k]

We live at the beach. No a/c. We don't need it here except about two weeks a year. I normally run the tank around 82 degrees, it's at almost 88 now.

[tamra&steven]

are you in cali and is it a reef tank 82 is hot too. i run mine at 77-78 and i live by the beach too.

[lemmy_k]

Well, I have run my tanks at 82 for over ten years. Everyone does really well until it gets this hot outside.

[tamra&steven]

ok but if you are in california on the coast i know for a fact it got hotter then 88 last year and this year will be no different. if it is a reef tank running at 88 bad things will start to happen, im sure you know thats why your wrting. the only way to cool a tank down as much as you need is to run a chiller on it, it is worth the 700 that you will spend and it wont run very often once you get it to the temp you want. you can try fans on the tank but that only helps for a couple degrees. if you have had tanks for over ten years a 700 investment is worth it if you ask me, cheap insurance.

[ezy33]

Before I got AC, I used plastic bottles of frozen RO water (in case they leak) in my sump to cool the system. Along with shorter lighting periods (or no lights) and fans on top of the tank, this will work.

[Kurt_Nelson]

Originally Posted by tamra&steven

...the only way to cool a tank down as much as you need is to run a chiller on it, it is worth the 700 that you will spend and it wont run very often once you get it to the temp you want. you can try fans on the tank but that only helps for a couple degrees....

Try a couple fans blowing across the open top, or across your sump, before you plunk down the money for a chiller. I think you'll be surprised. I don't think 82 is too hot. Warmer than most run their tanks I think, but definitely not too hot.