Overheated fish tank

[nick amado]

Can anyone help me here? My outside temp has made my tank reach 84-86 Farenheit, and I'm sure the summer months will be worse. Is there a way to counter this? (aside from running up my AC and taking out a loan to pay my electric bill, here in CALIFORNIA....

Thanks!
nick

 

[wuvmybetta]

I'm having the same problem here in Texas, it's nice enough for the windows to be open (for another few weeks or so) but my tanks are hitting 86 and up so I don't know what to do.
I read last night something about leaving the lid open to let heat escape and hoping your fishies don't bail out (cross your fingers)
And also letting a fan blow on the water surface
and even more risky is adding a baggie of ice to float, but it seems like that may change your temp too much
I think you can purchase cooling systems of some sort but they may be pricey, I usually just break down & flip on the air just for the fish

 

[Jamnog]

well what about a netting thing over the top of the tank to stop them jumping out. and instead of putting the ice in the water why not hang it behind the fan or in front.

 

[tdnp]

what about making a waterfall type thing, Raise your filter output so the water splash's into the tank and then have your fan blowing across the flow this should cool the water abit more than just having your fan blow direct onto the top of the tank but the net over the top was a good idea

 

[Fishsmurf]

If the tank is big enough either float hot water bottles filled with cold / frozen water in (temp change fluctuates less as the cold dissapates through the rubber slower) or if the tank is small use the same idea but attatch the water bottles to the glass on the outside.

HTH.

 

[Dubby]

When we lived in the Thailand, I used to cover my tank with a chicken wire frame. This kept the tank cool and also discouraged our cats from getting at the fish

 

[Tanked]

Dubby,

I am curious as to how a chicken wire frame would cool the tank. I understand keeping the cats out but can't quite grasp how it would cool.

 

[Pufferpack]

...the chickens flapping their wings make wind blow through the holes in the chicken wire?? ...

 

[dolphin]

Hi Nick

Why not buy a chiller unit?

Dolphin

 

[Tanked]

LOL puffer, that was good... B)

 

[wuvmybetta]

Great ideas you guys

 

[Jamnog]

lol nutters i think the chicken wire was to stop the fish getting out.

 

[tdnp]

I've had another idea for you, What you need to do is connect your filter output to a hose, run the hose out of the tank and into a cupboard with lots of coils ( you could even insulate the cupboard ) and using a fan like whats on a computer cut a hole in the back of the cupboard big enough to fit the fan in to, then cut some breather holes, then run the hose pipe back into the tank. hey presto a tanker cooler for next to nothing!! don't know how good it would be as I've never tried it and living in wet wet UK were the sun only shines once a year I doubt I ever will hope it gives you something to think about!!!

 

[Dubby]

I liked that one on chicken flapping

Having a chicken wire frame means the entire water surface is exposed to the air (no hood) and in the warm climate water evaporates faster thus cooling the tank. The open surface also gets the benefit of whatever cooling device you have used for yourselves (fans, aircons etc.)

 

[superman]

Here's a link to a chiller idea that I thought up a while back and hope to use this summer, hope it helps!DIY water chiller idea