summer heat?

Question

It's really hot right no, and my aquarium temp is @ 84F. I'm worried my zebra dans are going to fry. What can i do to cool the water down?

Answer 1

To be completely honest, 84F isn't that hot for your Danio (or any other tropicals for that matter). Worry when it breaks 90F and doesn't come down. I have 3 one acre ponds of african cichlids with a temperature of about 79F at night and about 87F at the end of the day every day for over 2 weeks. Haven't had a problem at all. One even passed 92 about 2 weeks ago before we got some rain and the water level was really low. It seems high, but no worries really.

MM

Answer 2

It's not a real good idea to put ice in a fish tank unless you have a HUGE tank. The reason is that the temperature discrepancy between the hot tank water and the melting ice water will stress your fish and in a limited tank, there's nowhere for the fish to go to get away and the fish stress bringing on a lot of disorders and often killing the fish.

The more moving air you can get across the surface of your tank water the more the water will evaporate lowering the tank temp as much as 5 degrees sometimes. If you use a good heater, you shouldn't turn it off, the built in thermostat will turn off the heater if the temp goes above the set point and more importantly, will turn the heater back on when the water temp drops below set point--so your fish don't go from being hot to cold if you're not around to turn the heater on. A stable temp is real important to fish. Every hour or so, take out about 10% of the tank water and replace with cooler water (NOT cold water, just a couple degrees cooler) and keep doing that; this will also keep the bacteria levels lower since bacteria love hot water. ALSO IMPORTANT: drop in an additional air line--just a plain air hose pumping out bubbles-- because hot water carries less oxygen and that will affect fish.

If you can, put a fan that blows across the surface of your tank, lower all the shades/blinds in the room, open all the windows (but block any sun coming in), get as much air as possible moving in the room and if necessary, put real dark paper (or whatever) around the tank to black-out the tank itself. Turn off the tank lights (fish will be just fine). If there is somewhere in your house that is noticably cooler all the time (basement or cellar?), move your fish there.

And if it gets just extremely hot, like goes up to 100 or more, move your fish into a tank inside a ice cooler (like a Coleman or even a large styrofoam box with a lid), put a few of those blue ice refreezable packs in the box (but not in the tank and not directly against the tank to prevent crackings and/or fish shock). The ice packs will lower the surrounding temp which will help bring down the tank temp. Put the lid on the box to keep the cool air in--this should keep your tank at least a few more degrees cooler. Check on the tank every few hours to make sure it isn't getting too cold in there.

But until the temp gets up into 100, just run a fan across the surface of the water, that should bring down the temp enough to keep your fish comfortable.

Answer 3

I would turn the heater down a bit in the tank until the weather gets a little and u c the temp dropping. sudden changes in the temp of the water could cause your fish shock and get ill. your could put a little ice the tank and i think it would b OK, my Oscar eats the frozen cubes whole and never cause him problems but if your worried put the ice inside a net and let it melt in there.

Good luck

Answer 4

Find out from the pet store what the proper temperature should be. Add cool water, not cold slowly not to shock the fish, until you reach the desired temperature.Also keep a fan in the area blowing gently around the area.

Answer 5

I can tell you what i do. I put a fan and have it blow over the top of the tank water. But than you have to make sure you replace the water that evaporate. And also i have put ice in my tank. You want to be sure not to add to much ice at a time you don't want it to cool down to fast. and make sure the ice is made out of the same water you have in your tank. Also on the really hot days i unplug my heater. I know its suppose to be on a regulator but i don't take any chance i just unplug it and keep a close eye on it.

Answer 6

DONT PUT ICE

that will lower the temp to fast and to low maby even causing them shock and die, instead buy a cooling "pod" they seem them at petco, or petsmart or even a local fish store, its like a heater but for cold.

Answer 7

Be careful with the ice, if it is straight tap water, it may alter your tank's chemistry especially at higher than normal temps. Freeze water in a sealed ziploc bag, then float the bag in the tank. This way you aren't introducing tap water to the tank.

Answer 8

keep your house cool in the summer and probably put ur aquarium in a shaded area...once that happened to me with my fish, and i changed the water to something cooler and i added a ice cube, jus to put it...my fish were fine..keep changing the water to something cooler

Answer 9

Don't put ice in it......when the ice gets small they will eat it and choke and die so my advice is to get a cooler close buy (air conditioner) and get the tank downstairs if you have one....its always cooler downstairs and keep it out of the sun.

Answer 10

place bags of water with ice in into the tank so that it melts slowly cooling as it goes, I take it you have the light off too....

Good Luck