How to keep tank cool?

[Alestro Bakai]

Hi guys and gals,

I happen to live in Northern California and today when I came home,
my main tank was at 84 degrees. Yikes! Room temperature was at
around 83-84. So I started to take out some water and refill it with
some cooler water. How am I gonna keep the water cool during the
day, without running the AC all day in an empty apartment or investing
in a sinfully expensive chiller?

Any advice?

 

[Jadis]

hmmmm....you could

put a fan (or two depending on tank size) pointed on your tank during the day. (<---this is the best option)

maybe leave the lights off if they put off a ton of heat.

or in the case of one of my 10 gallons i made an automatic top off (its an IV) that i fill with ice. (this only really works because its an open top tank and the evaporation in the summer is insane)

but if you get a really sudden spike ice cubes will work in a pinch

 

[Hereford]

I too live in N. Cal. and have the same situation. I have tried using a fan with no measurable effect. I agree that lights are a big contributor. House heating in winter keeps the tank warm and creates lots of evaporation. I keep the temperature down with plastic-bagged "artificial ice" sold for use in picnic coolers. But that said, I am starting to relax. Tropical fish seem to do quite well in water that is warmer than the book suggests. I no longer worry as long as the tank is below 85 F.

 

[Alestro Bakai]

Thanks for the advice! I think that's exactly what I'll do. Point a fan at it and drop one of those coolers in it. Maybe inside a breeding net, so the fish won't get in direct contact with 'the iceberg that brought down the titanic'.

 

[tricksterpup]

easiest way is just get an Air Conditioner for your apartment or room. This way, you can have a cooler room when you come home yourself. Fans only do so much and adding cooler water every day doesnt really help. changing the temp by 2-3 degrees either way could harm your fish. So I wouldnt do water changes when the temp go to high. So best way to do it? Keeping the outside temp cooler, hense Air conditioner.