Got temp down 5 degrees in 3 hours

hogs

hogs

Member
I got home from my vacation yesterday and the tank was at 86 degrees!
I opened the glass canopy, I took out 2 trays of ice cubes, put them in a zip lock back and the ice melted in less than 10 minutes and temp didn't budge. I had to find a better way.
Since it's summer, I've been following alot of posts about getting the temp down. So I went out to the big orange store and picked up egg crate and Lexan for my light. Then went to the big blue store and got a 7 inch clip on, 2 speed oscillating fan. Everything was about $30.
I set up the fan, and cut the egg crate to size and the temp just plummeted. I even had to put the fan on low speed. It's alot cheaper than buying a chiller. Thanks to all posters here at SWF for an economical and efficient way to beat the heat!
 
michaeltx

michaeltx

Moderator
yes slower is better.
If you have corals in the tank watch them the next couple of days for signs of stress.
Mike
 
doktorj99

doktorj99

Member
i use my AC in my house it drops the tank temp slowly....hurts a bit in the electric bill department but anything for my tank...
 
cjml

cjml

Member
Originally Posted by doktorj99
i use my AC in my house it drops the tank temp slowly....hurts a bit in the electric bill department but anything for my tank...
 
S

sachsgang

Guest
Anybody got a picture of this Lexan/Egg carton contraption ?
 
hogs

hogs

Member
You asked for it!
Originally Posted by sachsgang
Anybody got a picture of this Lexan/Egg carton contraption ?

 
payton 350

payton 350

Member
86 degrees is not bad for the tank...most of these corals and fish come from temps in the 84-88 degree range and actually prefer it.....in the summer i let my tank go up to 87-88 and the growth is actually much better than in the winter when i have the tank at 80...just my personal preference ...but yes a fan works best to keep the temp down
 
hogs

hogs

Member
LOL.
There's no egg cartons. The egg crate is the white grid looking stuff on top of the tank. Egg crate is the name of the style. It's drop ceiling lighting grids that you can find in the big orange home store. It's about $12 each for a 2x4 piece.
Originally Posted by sachsgang
Looks pretty nice. Great idea!
Where is the egg-carton?
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Payton 350
86 degrees is not bad for the tank...most of these corals and fish come from temps in the 84-88 degree range ..
Do you have a source for that? That's sounds a bit high to me. I'd love to know otherwise if you have some info you could send my way.
 
michaeltx

michaeltx

Moderator
I actually started keeping mine a little higher a few months ago seemed that the corals looked better and opened up more with a little higher temp. I now keep mine about 84 degrees and everything is great and frowing good.
scientific nope but I see the results of it. I however dont think its good to keep it that high all the time and as the summer ends I will drop it a couple of degrees to simulate a season change LOL
mike
 
am00re34

am00re34

Member
people all over this board say things like that and i think its just wrong. They say the worlds oceans are in the high 80. I have been to many oceans and maybe in the first foot they are, but not 10-50 feet down. 88 is pretty warm, it doesnt seem like it would be but for water thats hot.
I dont think it will kill anything, but might cause stress if left in those conditions. The best explanation i heard was when temps rise the oxygen in the water lowers which is the reason for the stress in the fish. (dont know if its true but it sounds good!)
 
U

undulated guy

Guest
Originally Posted by Payton 350
86 degrees is not bad for the tank...most of these corals and fish come from temps in the 84-88 degree range and actually prefer it.....in the summer i let my tank go up to 87-88 and the growth is actually much better than in the winter when i have the tank at 80...just my personal preference ...but yes a fan works best to keep the temp down
88 degrees IMO is crazy, what kind of fish do you have. i would think only something like a damsel could live with that heat, but i could be wrong because i've never taken my tanks temp above 78. i get worried when it gets close to 80.
 
S

sachsgang

Guest
Ok, so where is the Lexan then? Between the light and the egg crate?
 
sk8shorty01

sk8shorty01

Active Member
88? Isnt that bathwater temp haha? I keep mine at 80 year round without a heater or chiller. That is what it stays at with the temp of the a/c and the heat of the light. It never budges.
 
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