summer heat!

[zach_1_6]

hi, my house is not aircondisioned, and i am loosing fish due to my tanks temperature. i have lot a bala, 3 tetra and my loved pleco, i have a fan trying to get cool air into my room, but my tank is still to hot and im worried im going to loose many more fish? please help.

 

[mfdrookie516]

how hot is it? More than likely, its not that its too hot, its that the temperature swing was dramatic, which can happen easily in a house that's not air conditioned. Depending on the temp its at, you've got a few options...

 

[zach_1_6]

the higest it has gotten was 31 degrees celcius, horrifiying, i brought it back down and is at 28-27 celcius now.

 

[maxima423]

get iced bottled water, dunk them in, put some clip fans on top of your aquarium, more air tubes to create more surface agitation

i also had the same problem as you, my tank got so close to 90 during the heatwave in NY, i didnt have any fish since i am still cycling, but what i wrote was basically what i did and it cooled to around 83* within 2hours or so, the water bottles are just temp fixes, a fan really helps and i added a 2nd air tube and took out the air stone and put it near the surface it create lots of surface agitation

 

[zach_1_6]

ok thanks for the help i will give it a try, i dont want to loose more than what i allreadt have.

 

[mgamer20o0]

how big is the tank? i use powerade bottles and freeze some tank water. this way you can help lower the temp. taking the lid off and have fans blowing can help a lot too. small water changes and also cool the tank for the short time.

how hot is the room?

 

[krap101]

Keeping the tank lights off can help too, if you don't have plants.

 

[Bobz]

Unplug your heater! Fish can tolerate 82-84 degrees f! Keep lights off. I'm in NY also, tank (29 gallon doesn't get that hot). If small enough, get tank out of sun light.
Bob

 

[clark4feathers]

I bought a clip on fan and aim it right at my tank...I only have a 12 gallon, this seems to help if I turn it on before it has a chance to heat up with the lights on

 

[zach_1_6]

my tank is a 65 gallon, and is planted, i have a fan blowing on it right now, but i cant take my lid off or my balas will jump, its happend before.

 

[Crepe]

Try some styrofoam panels on the sides and back of the tank and duct tape and cool it with some bottles of frozen water. Fan is good for maybe 2-4 degrees but that still puts you at 26C.

 

[zach_1_6]

ok, how long will the strofoam last? or will i have to add cold water every once in a while?

 

[krap101]

I wasn't too clear on that either, but I think the styrofoam panels are for insulation, so it will last indefinitely, and I think he meant freeze the bottles of water, and put them in the tank.

 

[zach_1_6]

ok sounds simple enuogh, il give it a try, i heard that doinging this may hert the fish?

 

[krap101]

Water can absorb alot of energy and releases it pretty slowly (so there won't be a huge change in temp). Keep your heater on, and it will reach a type of equilibrium until the ice melts and temps start going up. That said, don't put in an entire box (24 bottles). I haven't done this personally, but depending on the tank, maybe 1-4 bottles?

 

[zach_1_6]

ok, and i set my heater for 24c and thats when my tank spiked at 31! so i took the heater out and is still at 28, but i will add a few frozen bottles and hope for the best.

 

[krap101]

What kind of heater do you have? It's possible that the internal thermostat is screwy or that it might have been a coincidence. Personally, I think you need the heater in there to prevent swings and keep the temp from going too low.

 

[zach_1_6]

ok, i will add the heater agian, and keep a good eye on the temperature. i just checked it agian and i brought it down to just over 26c, hopefully it will rain tonight and i will bring the cool air inside my room. ps im not sure on the model, i will buy a new one if it is broken.

 

[i3k]

I'm starting to have the heat issue too. It's finally getting into triple digits out in So Cali and my air conditioned room has two tanks. Both are around 86 degrees with heaters off. My fish are used to higher temps though so they are doing fine. But still, I would like my tanks to be around 78-80 degrees...this **** AC isn't doing it's job. I did add an air-stone to both of these tanks.

 

[zach_1_6]

well it rained today and i brought alot of cool air into my room, so with luck i will try and keep my room cool and it will keep the temp down in the tank.