Current Uk Heatwave

[jennybugs]

Have to admit that having both my nano tanks in the two rooms that are south facing wasn't an issue when I set them up in October and March/April, but now....big fan on all day for the 90L (it got to 30 degrees on Sunday) with the feeding flap open a bit and blinds shut in both rooms all the time. I've noticed my hammer hasn't been too happy at all since the heat went up

I've also reduced my lighting on the 30L upstairs to 5 hours max as the softies shouldn't be too bothered about that (tank's running at 26-27 degrees at present). May even consider just lighting this tank with leds.

Still, the temps will drop towards the end of the week and I believe rain is back on the cards again

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

My tank hasnt seen anyting over 27c so far fingers crossed, blackout blind is down most the day to prevent too much heat from the sun getting into the room. Window open all night and day for a breeze and cooling.

Lights only on for 8hrs a day although only 2 T5's they still put out some heat.

 

[TigerIssey]

Thermometer on the 40 gallon is reading 29 degrees at the moment, just put the ceiling fans on. If it is this hot thousands of feet above the Blackpool coastline (if drive to top of hill you can see Blackpool tower) where the worst winds usually are, gawd knows what it is like for all you people down on the ground so to speak. Some days we are in the clouds, we are that high up. It is still roasting hot though.

Weird thing is that the freshwater is only at 31 degrees, I run that at 28 degrees aswell.

Must be heat produced by the power compacts that is making the temp in the marine tank worse.

 

[seffieuk]

My tank hit 30 today, even with patio doors open, lights off and a large ceiling fan on full whack

Seffie x

 

[SkiFletch]

Good luck guys. Kinda surprised you all are gettin slammed with the heat so soon. We've got a few more weeks in my neck of the woods. But when outside temps hit 95 and humidity is through the roof, I'll be following you in the complaints

 

[OscarWilde]

No need to worry. Look like the BBQ weather is over anyway

 

[TigerIssey]

Just one problem there Oscar, the weather here at the moment does not match the met office forecast (even for now). My tank despite having patio doors and velux windows open and 2 large ceiling fans on all afternoon and evening is still reading 27 degrees. That is still 2 degrees higher than usual. Other forcasts I have seen for tomorrow show temps in my area for between 22 and 25 degrees, still too hot to keep the tank stable.

I however do not need to worry about rain come the weekend, by Saturday evening I will be sitting in a Bar overlooking the aegean sea in Turkey.

 

[OscarWilde]

Just one problem there Oscar, the weather here at the moment does not match the met office forecast (even for now). My tank despite having patio doors and velux windows open and 2 large ceiling fans on all afternoon and evening is still reading 27 degrees. That is still 2 degrees higher than usual. Other forcasts I have seen for tomorrow show temps in my area for between 22 and 25 degrees, still too hot to keep the tank stable.

I however do not need to worry about rain come the weekend, by Saturday evening I will be sitting in a Bar overlooking the aegean sea in Turkey.

Very true. I dont know why I posted that link. How can anyone keep a job where they consistently give out the wrong information to millions of people every day??! I remember at Christmas time 'Temps will reach as low as -5 in come parts of the UK.' It was bloody -8 at my house!!!

Its certainly cooling off up here in Newcastle though. Hope Turkey is great. Let is know what you see in the Sea.

 

[Daniel Stevens]

Freeze bottles of water (coke 2ltrs etc) and float them in the tankor alternatively use the ice blocks you freeze to put in picnic sets.

 

[SkiFletch]

Freeze bottles of water (coke 2ltrs etc) and float them in the tankor alternatively use the ice blocks you freeze to put in picnic sets.

And watch the temp drop by maybe a couple tenths of a degre... I've said it before, and the math of thermodynamics proves me right every time, Ice is NOT an efficient means (nor realistic means) to chill a large thermal heatsink such as a tank full of hot water. In the smallest of nanos, the volume of the tank might be small enough for this to be effective, but in "normal" sized tanks, you need way more ice to fend off a heatwave than you can realistically provide

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I never knew that ski! Its one of them things you read a lot and just assume it would work (ice goes in water, water gets colder ). Thinking about it though it does make sense.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yup, just remember how many ice cubes it takes to really make a drink cool on a hot day... You almost need half the glass full to get it to work. Cant exactly use that much in a tank situation

 

[yabadaba]

I find that the lighting in my 60 litre tank, a solitary 15w T8, makes a hell of a difference to the water temperature. My heater switches in at c.25°C and without the light on the temperature will fluctuate between that and say 25.3°C. But, leave the light on all day (and I do because I have live plants) and the temperarure will have risen up to about 26°C just before I switch the light off.

Normally that's acceptable, but in this recent heatwave I was finding the temp rising into the mid 27's, so I tried leaving the light off and that lowered things back down to around 26°C.

So, my question is does anyone know of a different type of tube I can fit that gives off less heat, but still a good quantity of light. I've heard that such things exist and am trying to find out more. I understand T5 lighting is better in this respect but I'm sure I've heard about another type that is even better.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

For plants there are hydroponics "energy saving" tubes that you can use. They give off a lot less heat and put out quite a bit of light (and use standard light fittings so easy and cheap to make a diy rig for them). They also dont use very much energy and dont need to be replaced as often.

Was thinking of using them for my reef tank but not sure because they only come in the hotter colours (6500k mainly).

 

[Crazy fishes]

I have had no problems with temperature and I am running a halide!! I am a little confused by this but thankfully confused !!. I have been running the halide for a while now and besides allowing me to keep clams, it is actually been detrimental to the other corals. The plate and Zoa have regained their intense colouration but growth is next to nothing. The hardest hit are the Euphyllia, both hammer and frogspawn, they are not growing at all and the polyps don't expand as much as once upon a time....... T5 and PC are really the best lighting for these corals hence the possible move back to them. Halides also are really killing me with the electricity they are burning through, expensive don't not even come close!!

Regards