I need help

I ve been told not to make drastic water temp changes do it slowly. You could use some ice cubes. Ive heard that works really well. Guess you just fix the water with the chlor. remover and then freeze it as you do the ice each day move the heater temp down a bit in the tank. Good luck and hope this helps. I seen a post like this when I typed in a search of Ohio, but dont remember what it said. So just type that in the search box and scroll down it was within the first or second page. Shannon

Position a fan blowing across the water. That will drop the temp a few degrees.

I wouldnt worry. 86 is not going to kill the fish. I agree with the previous posting. Get a fan or 2 to blow across the top of the water. I would worry if it was getting close to 90. I have heard the ice cube trick isn't the best b/c it casues the temp to drop fast and then when they melt it gets hot again causing the temp to fluctuate alot, which is worse than just leaving it at 86.

Really not an issue. Tropical fish come from a place where average temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, not to mention the fact that the sun is puring directly down onto the waters if they're not in the shade.

The notion of keeping our fish in 72-80 degrees is idealistic, and it's wonderful that we have the chance to do this - keeping them in the perfect, steady temperatures for their optimal health. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't be perfectly happy as you have them now.

Place a fan over the water, and all is well. Remember that the idea is imitating nature - and in nature there are no sudden fluctuations. So as long as everything is gradual and comfortable, your fish are fine.

But one note - fishes' metabolism will increase with the ambient temperature (being as though they're cold-blooded) so you might want to feed them just a little bit more often while the temperature is up so high.

Yeah, good point on that. Though I might also venture to think that the fan blowing on the surface would create a good enough bit of agitation to keep gas exchange in the happy range.

Oh I'm a poet! I didn't know it... :dance:

I never thought about the ice and temp going up and down. Just saw some others that said thats what they do. I myself have not had this problem yet knock on wood. Its been staying hot here too, but my ac runs all the time.Good Luck

as rbishop mentioned, higher temps mean lower oxygen for the fish and the bacteria that eat ammonia and nitrite. the temps might not kill them, but the rising ammonia and nitire might

Put the tank in the freezer!!!
JKen

I agree with everyone else. Instead of putting the ice cubes directly in put them in a baggy and float that in it. Then when the water in the baggy get hot take it out. that works for me.