Fish tank need a way to cool it?

Question

I have a big metal fish tank. and other than ice i was wanting to know a cheat way to cool the water..

we are in ohio and it is 100 F it is for minos

Answer 1

what temperature is the tank? and what do you mean by metal fish tank? is it an old style one with a metal frame? do you need to cool the tank because the air temperature is getting high?

100F in March?! and what fish do you keep?

do not try and add ice cold water to the tank, this can shock the fish.

i had similar problems last summer, for a start make sure the heaters in the tank are off, sounds silly but can be easily forgotton! you can float some ice cubes in a bag or bottle in the tank, they will melt quickly and need refreshing. if you don't have jumpy fish you can open the lid for ventilation and put a fan to the side of it blowing across the top, for temporary summer fix anyway.

if you're trying to cool the tank on a permanent basis you can buy fish tank chillers, which are shockingly expensive, or as others have said, do a DIY job, or maybe change your fish tank stocking to tropical fish instead??

Answer 2

I know the tanks your talking about, looks like a bathtub with a circulation pump.

If you have an extra long hose, get a Styrofoam cooler, coil the hose in it, cover the hose with water, and add Ice and salt this will cool the water without making it to cold.

The minnows should be OK in the higher temp water though,as long as its below 104, the only thing that will happen is they will grow a little faster. If you go to the lake and measure the water temp near shore on a sunny day you'll find that it is in the high 90s

Good luck.
E.

Edit: For the other answers, This is a bait tank made out of stainless steel that uses a very strong pump motor which can raise the water temp.

Answer 3

Aquachillers are quite expensive but you can go that route if you really have a problem with cooling the tank. A small apartment refrigerator can also help. Use a small water pump to pump water through food safe tubing that is coiled up in the refrigerator. It will only cool the water a little at the time, but will eventually make quite a difference in the over all temperature of the tank. You can calso insulate the sides and bottom of the tank to help keep whatever cooling you can create.

MM

Answer 4

Is the tank dark in color and sitting where it gets some direct sun? If so, this is your problem.

The dark color is absorbing the light energy and converting it to heat. You may want to try putting a tap up over the tank (suspend from trees, poles, closeline) to keep it out of direct light. This should cool it to at least air temperature. Sinking it into the ground may also help lower it by a few degrees (when used with a shade), as will blowing a fan over the water to increase evaporation. Freezing water in milk jugs and floating them or replacing several gallons of tank water with cold water (from tap or refrigerator) will lower the temperature temporarily, but will create a bit of fluctuation that your minnows may not like. Other than that, a chiller would be your best permanent (but not cheap!) option.

Here's a link where you can see models, specs, and pricing for chillers: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/advancedSearch.web;jsessionid=GLVpNFcrpsK0kK5fTkTG0GTW215Hhdhly69lJQh4k0PD2vPJtqwj!1357129855!300389548?command=Search&searchParams.keywords=chillers&searchParams.size=10#resultBody

Answer 5

My first question would be how in the world did it get to 100? Are you sure your thermometer is working? Fastest easiest way to cool the water is to add a fountain or waterfall. Allowing the cooler air to hit the water will cool the water. Shy of a chiller.

You mentioned you didn't want to use Ice, but you can use frozen milk jugs filled with water and capped and float them in the tank.

also a partial water change with cold water however you don't want to shock your fish.

Answer 6

depends on how much cooling you need evaperative cooling will work for a few degrees after that you will need refrigeration

evaperative example: wrap wet materal around tank blow air over wet materal with fan

Answer 7

You can use coils and pumps, but are you SURE that you need to cool it?

If so, then what's the cause of the high temperatures? You may want to remedy this as best you can, and then reassess.
-----

Answer 8

Keep it outside?