what can i do?

[bluelagoon]

i just moved in to my dorm yesterday, and set my tank up. but it's pretty hot in all the dorms, and the only thermometer i have is one of those strip-like things you stick to the tank, and it reads 82- 84 degrees (farenheit) during the day, this morning it read like 78. i am going to buy a regular thermometer tonight at wal-mart. any ideas on how to keep my tank at the right temperature???? my mom suggested i get some of those plastic ice cubes you refreeze over and over. would those be okay???? i am pretty poor right now being at school, so i'm looking for the least expensive method! my tank is 5 gal.

 

[tuningvis]

some people use RO/DI ice cubes. that also double for top-off
others fill a plastic bottle half way full with water and freeze it then stick it in there tank...
i would start with the cubes... and see how much that effects it.
but def. wait till you get a good thermometer
82 is not bad but 84 is getting up there

 

[nomad]

A small fan will do wonders, it will increase the evaporation rate so be sure to keep up with the topoffs. Just position the fan so it blows across the top of the water.

 

[bluelagoon]

just got a good thermometer... it currently reads 78 degrees. i did put some RO ice cubes in earlier, well, some really really cold water anyways, i didn't have time to completely freeze it before a meeting i had to go to.

 

[tuningvis]

i would not put in just cold water... the cubes will time release the cold water to acclimate the whole tank ... i think dumping really cold water into a system may mess with it

 

[bluelagoon]

ok, i will not do that anymore then i guess. hopefully it will be fine, since i now know the actual temperature. the water didn't feel any warmer than it does in my mom's tank, so i wasn't sure.

 

[tuningvis]

yea just throw some RO/DI water into the cube tray and then when frozen put it in a ziplock in the freezer in case you need any in the future