Summer is here

[aquamanis]

Ok, I,m more or less thinking out loud here. The summer has come apon us with a great rate of knots as it normally does. Today the temp has gone to 35c and my tank water temp has crept up to 27-28c. The next few days the temp is going up to 38-40c and I think the water will go up to about 30-32c. While the fish might handle this, we have been warned of a hot summer with temps reaching low to mid 40s. Our nights stay very warm around 28c so the tank will not get much time to cool down overnight. I am wondering what the maximum water temp I can let it go to without having to cool it down. I was thinking the tank will be at around 30-35c in about a week. Do you think the fish will handle this ok? Also would I be doing more harm than good to cool the water everynight I come home from work or should I let it stay constant?

 

[Lithril]

This may not be possible depending on how far your tank(s) are away from a tap/drain but you could run a length of tubing from the cold tap into the tank and to the drain, this will help cool it down, if it starts getting too cold just slow the water flow down. I think I also read somewhere that you can buy coolers for fishtanks. will have a look around.

Edit: thought I'd better clarify something, the length of tubing is all one piece so you actually put the tubing into the tank.... could just see some peoples replies about adding tap water to tank

 

[CFC]

A trick i have employed on the rare occasions that it get too hot here is to place my external canister filters into coolboxes filled with freezer blocks, i drill a couple of 1" holes in the lids for the hoses to go through and there you have a perfect tank cooler unit, just replace the freezer blocks every 12 hours.
Also remember to make sure you are providing as much surface agitation as possible, warmer water holds less disolved oxygen and this is the main killer of fish in hot climates.

 

[aquamanis]

Thanks Guys, I have seen the chiller units for fishtanks but they are like over $1500 bucks so thats not an option. CFC, I like your idea because I was thinking of swapping to an external canister filter anyway. The method you described sounds the most viable to me, I have everything to do that so I think I will give that a go, Cheers. BTW whats the max temp you think I could safely go to with the tank water.

 

[Juggernaut22988]

82 F

 

[aquamanis]

Hi Juggernaut, my tanks is at 27c (82f) now. Its going to to go up more as the week goes on. I was thinking around 32c might be a realistic figure to try to keep it under.

 

[Eelzor]

It was 35C where i am a few days ago and the maximum temperature my tank reached was about 28.5C. Usually 28 though. I wouldn't worry about the whole temperature thing one bit aquamanis. Unless you have coldwater fish.

 

[CFC]

I wouldn't worry about the whole temperature thing one bit aquamanis. Unless you have coldwater fish.

Tell that to the countless members here who have lost fish from tanks overheating in hot weather.

Your fish will not appreciate extended periods of temperatures above 28oC and ideally the temperature should not exceed 25oC unless you are kepping warm water loving species like Discus.
Another thing you can do to help cool the aquarium is to leave the hood off and have a fan blowing cool air over the surface, of course if you have fish that are likely to jump this isnt possible. Some reef tank enthusiasts fit tiny fans like the ones used to cool computers into the hood to do this but unless you are a competent electrician i wouldnt recomend this.

 

[Eelzor]

Tell that to the countless members here who have lost fish from tanks overheating in hot weather.

Well, I haven't had any such problem where I am, which is supposibly meant to be even warmer than Perth, Western Australia. I'm In queensnland and it's the second most warm state in australia. I haven't seen this happen to my fish but i guess ill be aware from this happening. 8)

 

[ketyana]

I just have to add............I hate you and begrudge you the summer you will be enjoying while we in the uk have to worry about frost bite when we can no longer feel our toes when we wander cross the car park to sainburys!!

I hate winter......I hate winter.........I HATE WINTER!!!!!!