Heater

[Cubby]

Hi all.

I came home from work to find the heater in my tank is bust. I don't have a spare and the temp is droping quite fast since it's -14 outside and my tanks in the extension where the raditor is frozen (I'm having a great day).
Anyone got any ideas how I may heat the water up. My oscars are now staying near the bottom of the tank where I'm guessing the waters probably warmer there.

Cheers.

Cubby

 

[mattlee]

maybe do a warm water change and then wrap the tank in blankets to keep the heat in as much as possible. then get to an lfs asap and get another heater or 2 and use 1 at the same time as a back up

 

[Cubby]

Yeah. I was thinking of a hot water change but not wrapping the tank.

 

[mattlee]

Yeah. I was thinking of a hot water change but not wrapping the tank.

just dont do it too hot as a big change may shock the fish. i would defo wrap the tank if the radiator has frozen as the water wont stay warm for long

 

[Cubby]

I've been thinking of droping a couple of plastic bottles with hot water in the tank to try keep it warmish. Any thoughs??

 

[mattlee]

I've been thinking of droping a couple of plastic bottles with hot water in the tank to try keep it warmish. Any thoughs??

again if its that cold in the room then they wont maintain heat for long. better than nothing though i guess.

 

[Davo86]

tbh mate if the room is cold and the tank is cold the fish will seriously struggle to survive the night IMO even if wrapped in blankets,
The plastic bottle idea will help but unless you plan on replenishing the water every hour or so throughout the night it will only help very short term.

Do you have a large electric heater that can heat the room sufficiently overnight?

 

[Cubby]

I have an oil radiator pluged in the room now which has been on all day just by coincidence. Its next to the tankbut not really making much of a difference. I have done a water change (about 1/4 of the tank) so will see if that does anything and I'll do another before I goto bed. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for all your help/suggestions.

 

[mattlee]

how are the fish today mate?

 

[Cubby]

Still alive and well and enjoying their new heater.

I ended up doing another water change with hot water and put two bottles of boilling water in the tank overnight and it seemed to do the trick. Again, thanks for your ideas/advice.

Cubby