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Need to consider during summer for all your tanks!

3K views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  Angel079 
#1 ·
After we had the winter discussion what to do and how to heat tanks when the ice storms knock power out I'd like to pot the equivalent for the summer time....

As your house get's warmer and may only read 70's in your house and that feels good to you with the fan on you have got to consider & check at this point already what your tanks do as far as temp is concerned as their lights will produce a certain amount of heat as well; also the tank may get direct sunlight during parts of the day which heats up your tank. These 3 matters combined and yu can quickly wind up with your tank reading 90's.

This will apply even more so when you have smaller tanks, here's examples from today in my house:
Its 75F in here my 10g shrimp farm with no sunlight but just the bulbs for light just read 88F which is getting very boarder line for the shrimp.
The 55g naturally stay's cooler then the shrimp cause of its size vs the heat from the light, however it gets about 30mins sunlight in the PM it read 85F.
My 45g in the hallway close by a fan and no sunlight reads 82F so its perfect.

So just keep an eye on your tank these days before the A/C "season" starts and if its getting too high do a w/c with cold water on the tank in question. If you have a tank that get's too warm at a particular time a day due to sunlight - Just take a 1-2 liters Coke bottle filled with water & frozen and hang it in there to keep it at a decent temp for the fish.

Tropical fish or not too much heat is as bad as no heat, so I just wanted to post a lil reminder for ya'll :-D
 
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#2 ·
Running a fan over the top of the tank also goes a long way in keeping the water temp down. You can even put a bunch of ice in a bowl and let the fan run over that. It produces a rather cold breeze as it blows across the top of your tank and really helps.
Good time to bring this topic up, thanks Natalie!
 
#3 ·
Good tips! I remember Discus tank that took two 300 watt heaters to maintain stable 84 degrees during winter months.
Was performing water change one early spring morning and happened to notice thermometer reading near 90 degrees F ! Would have fried nearly all other tropicals.
Two litre bottles of water frozen,also helps keep my dogs water cool during the summer months. He stays outdoors and drinks from five gallon bucket. I place a frozen two litre bottle in the bucket before leaving for work and it's usually still quite cool some eight or nine hours later.;-)
 
#7 ·
Wow, GREAT tip. I never thought about doing something to keep my dogs water buckets cool. Excellent idea which I'm going to do!

Now, there's that reference to Hoover again. Am I ever going to get to see a pic of Hoover?
I figure if I nag long enough (here in this thread, and on multiple others) you're bound to get sick and tired of me and post one! :lol:
 
#4 ·
good post. i've notice my temp increasing on sunny days as my tank gets direct sun on part of it for an hour or 2 on sunny days.

summer doesn't really seem to have begun properly in the uk yet. its still only 11 degrees outside today and i've only had one barbeque so far this year!
 
#5 ·
Kym actually for the more handy / diy people here installing CPU fan's from your computer goes a LONG way (and its nicer looking and quiet) using 2-3 on a 50-60g tank does the trick already. I'm thinking to build one into the shrimp tank now (well rather have macgyver do it :lol: )

Oh wow 1077 that's scary right there, especially since I think to remember you used to breed Discus as well, either case that's scary high!
*Knock on wood* so far I always caught mine rise 'on time' thou the shrimp tank scared me already yesterday.
 
#6 ·
Kym actually for the more handy / diy people here installing CPU fan's from your computer goes a LONG way (and its nicer looking and quiet) using 2-3 on a 50-60g tank does the trick already. I'm thinking to build one into the shrimp tank now (well rather have macgyver do it :lol: )

Oh wow 1077 that's scary right there, especially since I think to remember you used to breed Discus as well, either case that's scary high!
*Knock on wood* so far I always caught mine rise 'on time' thou the shrimp tank scared me already yesterday.
Nope ,never bred Discus but raised babies to adult size. My water was/is not suited for spawning success.
Saw eggs,but they usually were eaten .:|
 
#10 ·
Don't be mad at Hoover just a sick hurting pup :) could be worst you could have my neighbors mastiff mix who REALLY chews up EVERYTHING in her reach the Porch railing, firewood, water hoses & wheels, any & all flowers& pots, power tools, riding mowers, the large garden tiller attachment for the Tractor.....I can go on and on over what that dog took apart in the past year of her puppy life......I LOVE dogs ya'll know that but with that kinda destructive dog I'd have lost patience long ago :roll: (especially cause she gets in other folks stuff too and its getting pricey for my poor neighbor by now)

SO looking at it from this perspective maybe Hoover ain't as bad :-D
 
#11 ·
My lab went through a chew stage. (and eat random object stage, and a pilfer anything within reach stage) I tell people that ask about him that it takes about 3 years for them to train them to perfection and another year after that to start liking them again. Glock is four now and I can't imagine not having him. I look back to the stunts he pulled and things he destroyed and have NO IDEA how we made it through it all.

To the topic: Great discussion. I was starting to worry cause my 55 is near two windows on either end. I was considering lining the end with foil or something reflective. I'll task my dad with the fans for the top. I'm in the process of getting/modifying a wooden canopy for it right now.
 
#12 ·
What are you housing in the 55 TX? Some fish are more tropical then others meaning some can withstand higher temp's then other...but judging from the name if you're in TX in the summer w/out A/C I'd def start collecting my 2 liters coke bottles and freeze them with water to add to the tank each day. If the windows have blinds keeping them down (and sowith the tank sheltered) during the time the sun would hit it also helps a LOT.
 
#13 ·
The name is for the tank itself, I'm not currently there. I'd sooner hack off a limb than live there without AC. Anyplace without it for that matter. I have AC but I worry all the same. It;s live bearers +3 emerald catfish.
 
#15 ·
@TexasTanker I hear ya I'd die in the summer w/out the AC on:lol:
Any commonly kept Platy, Molly, Guppy etc will tolerate up to ~82F but I'd still watch it doesn't go past 80's for them was it my tank.


@1077 oh you're so mean :twisted:
 
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