High Temperature

[BJM]

I'm just cycling my first 10 Gal. tank. The water would be good for the fish by now, but the temperature is to high (80) for my platies. We live in Florida, so I don't have a heater in the tank, but it's still 80. The AC in the house is at 78. When I turn on the lights on the tank (which I should, when I have the fish in) the water heats up to over 86. Well, I don't want to cook my fish. How do I get the temperature down without throwing ice in the tank all day long?

 

[NonstickRon]

I'm just cycling my first 10 Gal. tank. The water would be good for the fish by now, but the temperature is to high (80) for my platies. We live in Florida, so I don't have a heater in the tank, but it's still 80. The AC in the house is at 78. When I turn on the lights on the tank (which I should, when I have the fish in) the water heats up to over 86. Well, I don't want to cook my fish. How do I get the temperature down without throwing ice in the tank all day long?

I went through a similar problem recently. I'm still fairly new to the hobby.

First off, get rid of the incandescent bulbs. They make flourescent screw in replacements for fish tank hoods that put off WAY less heat and are actually much brighter. I actually bought mine from Wal-marts anemic fish care section, they're about $5 each. Don't leave them on all day or you'll have a bunch of icky brown algae very quickly.

Second, oxygenation. Most fish will be fine with temps in the 80s, as long as you make sure the water is being thoroughly oxygenated. Water at warmer temps will hold less oxygen. If you don't have a bubbler, lower the level of the water in your tank a bit so the filter is churning up the water with its output. Add a bubbler when you can, although some folks have said on here that they don't really help...it sure can't hurt.

Third, higher temps speed up the metabolism of the fish. They will use up energy reserves quicker, grow faster and larger and not live as long. In theory anyway. /me shrugs

I've actually taken the heater out of one of my tanks (on my office desk at work) as the water never drops below 78 degrees. Where in FL are you? I'm in the Daytona Beach area.

 

[waterdrop]

I have a spray bar that sits parallel with the surface and has two suction cups. I tend to take my thumbs and gently slide the suction cups up and down to follow the surface of the water as evaporation occurs. This way I keep the desired compromise between good surface agitation and not too much water noise.

~~waterdrop~~
ps. Hope you guys didn't get flooded out down there by the hurricane. It sent some waves on up to the Charleston beaches!!