offminded

Summer is right around the corner...what are some tips that you have used to keep your aquarium at a stable temp during the hot summer months?

Shawnie

For my tanks, which ARE NOT sw, i periodically throw ice cubes in my big one..the oscars love it..and in the others, I change water if needed to lower the temps slowly ...bring on summer!!!!!! snow be gone!

Oil_Fan

Davbrown...where do you live? And I'm kinda curious myself. I live near Atlanta and have already dealt with temp drops because of it (lost 3 fish in 2 days because of it). Now I'm wondering what kind of temp increases I'll be facing. I'm hoping my A/C will be enough.

agsansoo

It's been hot down here in SoCal this weekend. Keeping the tank cool is always a challenge without a chiller. So I use fans, A/C and frozen water bottles in the sump (return section).

ninilie

I think it was 95 in Santee today ugh. We just used fans and all seems fine. But there will be hotter days during the summer. I guess i could throw in a frozen water bottle on my way to work and hope that helps most of the day.

agsansoo

So long as someone is home, the tank does OK. It's when we are all busy doing things away from the house, is when I worry. Today I ran the A/C most of the day. There goes the electric bill. LOL

offminded

i live up in norcal and we got hit with low 90s today...or at least felt like low 90s...its only going to get hotter too! i like the idea of the frozen water bottles in the sump. do you turn your tank heater off then?

agsansoo

I leave the heater on (plugged in). It has a regulator so it is off most of the year.

agsansoo

I've been thinking of making a DIY chiller using an igloo cooler, small powerhead and hose. Something like this but smaller.

offminded

wow...is that just the return line in the ice? what type of heater do you have?

Martinismommy

Andy,

Great tip on the water bottles in the sump! I am very concerned about Summer coming...It get's to be in the 120's here in Phoenix....Not only am I concerned about the tanks heating up I'm afraid of power outages...

offminded

oh yes...the dreaded rolling blackouts...we get those too

agsansoo

Yea.. just any return line coiled up in some ice. And my heater is just a regular 200 watt aquarium heater. The exact model is in my Member spotlight.

agsansoo

Power outages ! You need to keep the water moving plus give it oxygen. So all I use is a battery powered emergency air-pump with a fine air stone.

offminded

hmmm...i guess i will need to get a more poweful return pump and some longer tubing. my setup is pretty tight underneath.

offminded

is that something that you have on hand when an emergency hits? or is it hooked up all the time?

Oil_Fan

Good idea on the water bottle idea!! Not sure what I'm going to do when I leave for the Independence day long weekend. I guess I'll figure that out as I see what my temps are in the tank as it gets closer.

agsansoo

Only for emergency, takes two C-batteries.