Cooling a tank

[EmilyC]

Any suggestions on cooling a tank, or preferably keeping it cool? I don't have the AC on yet, and on a couple of warmer days, the 55 gallon had gotten a few degrees warmer than I'd like. I've cooled it with water changes, but does anyone have lees labor-intensive ideas?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

I let a couple of ice cubes, about five for my 50 gallon, melt, and add the melted water, I also put a fan in front of the tank
I add the ice cubes when it's the hottest of the day

 

[EmilyC]

Ice cubes from treated water, I assume?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Yea, from treated water, freeze them overnight

 

[ezy33]

Baggies or plastic bottles of tank water will last longer. How hot is it getting?

 

[EmilyC]

Baggies or plastic bottles of tank water will last longer. How hot is it getting?

Just a few degrees over where it should be. I think I'll start freezing some water from pwc's - it looks like we might have a hot summer!

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Where do you live, here in el paso Texas it does get like 105, so I need to use the ice

 

[EmilyC]

Where do you live, here in el paso Texas it does get like 105, so I need to use the ice

Chicago - not very far south . But we do have hot summers.

 

[Coyne]

Hey there... I'm in the NW 'burbs.

In your original post you said you didn't have the AC on "yet". Will it be on later in the summer?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Hmmmm, I wouldnT really want to lower it that much, it is also a natural time for your tank, but he again, I wouldn't let it go over 86 degrees, what's the curren t temp now?

 

[EmilyC]

Hey there... I'm in the NW 'burbs.

In your original post you said you didn't have the AC on "yet". Will it be on later in the summer?

Hopefully we will have it on in the warmer stretches. We live in an old building and have had problems with the window units tripping breakers. So until that is fixed, no AC.

Yeah Chicago!

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Yea, I would do the ice cube thing to bring it down to some 78 degrees

 

[Coyne]

Ha.. I used to have a similar issue, but it was with space heaters in the winter.
"If you don't like the weather in Chicago then just wait a few days... It'll change."

I've seen lots of folks suggest having a small fan blowing across the surface. I'd just make triple sure it was secure and couldn't accidentally fall in. Other than that, the small baggies of frozen tank water sounds efficient AND reusable. Maybe have four of them and rotate as needed.

 

[ezy33]

If you know someone handy with wiring you could use a temperature controller from Ebay for around $30.00 to turn your fans on and off.