Hot Fish Tank

[mslittlebear]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first visit to the forum and I am concerned about the water in my tank. I have a 55 gal long freshwater tank. The temp usually runs between 72-75. We are having extremely warm weathr here and my tank is going up to 80.2 to 80.5. I have unplugged the light, but we are getting temps going up to the 90's already and it is only the first of June. We have the fans going, to cool the room, but don't know what else to do. I have an outside Fluval cannister filter for a 65 gallon tank so we have good circulation. Short of putting the filter in a bucket of ice (not what I want to do) how can I keep the tank cool so I don't lose my fish. I only have about 8-10 fish, but don't want to put any more at this time. The heater doesn't seem to be going on so I don't know what the problem is. I have had the tank for a couple of year and never had this happen before, of course, I live in Rochester, NY and we don't often have it this warm this early either.

Any help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks!

mslittlebear

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

the important thing to remember with warm weathers is that the higher the temp of the water the less oxygen it holds, this is what will cause your fish problems not the actual temp. you need to keep the water very well aireated.

so make sure your filter output is breaking the surface of the water to get oxygen in. you'll tell if there's no enough as the fish will all hang out at the water surface

keeping the room cool with fans etc will oviously be a big help, glass isn't a very good insulator so point a fan at the tank and it will cool it down a bit

freeze some small bottles of water and then if the tanks really warm float them in it (don't just add ice to the tank as it'll cool down too fast and could shock the fish)

really though you don't need to panic at this temp, if they get up to 85-90 then you can star to worry

 

[mslittlebear]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

the important thing to remember with warm weathers is that the higher the temp of the water the less oxygen it holds, this is what will cause your fish problems not the actual temp. you need to keep the water very well aireated.

so make sure your filter output is breaking the surface of the water to get oxygen in. you'll tell if there's no enough as the fish will all hang out at the water surface

keeping the room cool with fans etc will oviously be a big help, glass isn't a very good insulator so point a fan at the tank and it will cool it down a bit

freeze some small bottles of water and then if the tanks really warm float them in it (don't just add ice to the tank as it'll cool down too fast and could shock the fish)

really though you don't need to panic at this temp, if they get up to 85-90 then you can star to worry

 

[mslittlebear]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

the important thing to remember with warm weathers is that the higher the temp of the water the less oxygen it holds, this is what will cause your fish problems not the actual temp. you need to keep the water very well aireated.

so make sure your filter output is breaking the surface of the water to get oxygen in. you'll tell if there's no enough as the fish will all hang out at the water surface

keeping the room cool with fans etc will oviously be a big help, glass isn't a very good insulator so point a fan at the tank and it will cool it down a bit

freeze some small bottles of water and then if the tanks really warm float them in it (don't just add ice to the tank as it'll cool down too fast and could shock the fish)

really though you don't need to panic at this temp, if they get up to 85-90 then you can star to worry

 

[mslittlebear]

Hi Miss Wiggle,

Thanks for the quick reply. We do have plenty of oxygen in the tank as we have an added aireator that moves the water and provides enough oxygen. The fish seem to be doing okay so I won't worry too much. They are in the middle of the tank where they belong. I appreciate the help.

mslittlebear