Aquarium Chillers

[FishHobby99]

I may need one at some point for my axies. Reading they like 60-65F. I’m seeing very small tank capacity, <5 gal for ~$80 or huge ones for >&1000.00. My salamanders are in a 40 gal long breeder tank that is only half filled. I floated a few frozen ice water bottles yesterday when the temp went to 68.
Not a problem now, but need to be prepared for warmer days. Is there a reasonably priced one for my needs?

 

[Colin_T]

We keep axolotls in Australia and don't use chillers on their tanks. The tanks are unheated and the water gets cold in winter and w arms up to 30C (86F)+ in summer. They are fine with it.

They come from Mexico and it gets pretty warm there too.

If you are really concerned, get an airconditioner for the room and set it on 26C.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

On my reef tanks in the summer I used half a dozen 12cm computer fans connected up to a temperature controller. These blew directly on to the water surface and did a pretty good job of keeping the temperature down.

Must be noted that this was for a British summer though which depending on where you live might not be considered actually very hot.

I have looked at chillers a few times in the past as I want to do a native species rock pool aquarium at some point. They are normally pretty expensive bits of kit and also have pretty high running costs as well in terms of electricity consumption.

There are other DIY options. One would be to put in a small pump and get a LONG length of hose (ideally smaller diameter so there is less water mass in one area to cool). Mount the hose in a zig-zag on a board and returning to the tank. Then have fans blowing on it to cool it down. You can hook the pump and fans up to a temperature controller to only turn on when you need it.

Another method would be to drill the tank, add a sump and have the flow into the sump run down a "wall" or "steps". Then have fans blowing on this. As an added bonus you could add some lighting and fast growing plants (Aquatic or even semi aquatic can work) and have some really good nutrient export going on.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

Get some empty water bottles, fill them 75% and stick them in the freezer...when the weather warms up, float a frozen water bottle in the aquarium

I did that with my Axie...and have been known to do it with my temperate/coldwater fish too if required.

Use ordinary tapwater, no need to condition it as lid of bottle stays on. Frozen water inside bottle very slowly thaws...change when thawed and refreeze for next time.

 

[FishHobby99]

We keep axolotls in Australia and don't use chillers on their tanks. The tanks are unheated and the water gets cold in winter and w arms up to 30C (86F)+ in summer. They are fine with it.

They come from Mexico and it gets pretty warm there too.

If you are really concerned, get an airconditioner for the room and set it on 26C.

Thanks. I will consider a window AC. Downside is I keep many plants in the same room & they suffer enough from less than ideal temperature & humidity.