Warm weather prep for newbies

[Moe_K]

Well, seems like a good time to remind folks to get prepared for warm weather.
Every year, we hear stories of folks losing livestock because their tank got too hot. usually, the problem arises when the water temp creeps over 85 degrees.

When the weather outside turns hot, it's difficult to lower the tank temperature. Just in case you get a heat spike, there are a few things you can do to prepare.

I take a few empty 20 oz soda bottles and fill 'em with tap water, reseal the tops, and put 'em in the freezer. If the tank temp gets above 85, and fans aren't cooling the water, I drop one of the bottles of ice into the tank. It can take quite a few bottles to drop the tank temp. Maybe you need 2 liter bottles of ice instead of 20 oz bottles (for those with bigger tanks).

Get prepared now so that when the hot weather arrives you'll be ready with ice.

 

[Armando]

you can also get a good quality chiller

 

[lickwidspace]

Good 'ol Moe, always looking out for us newbs ;-) Thanks!

 

[Duds]

you can also get a good quality chiller

http://216.235.242.50/forums/showthread.php?t=23365

hint hint
Duds

 

[RichConley]

^^ more shameless self promoting from Armando

Everything Moe says is right, just remember that nothing good happens fast. Get the tank temperature down, but dont do it fast. Things will be fine for a couple hours coming down from 85 to 80, but dropping from 85 to 80 in 20 minutes is going to kill a lot more stuff than being at 85 is.

 

[Armando]

Thanks Duds!

IME what really helps is to keep the room cool, by running an AC. If the room is too hot, the ice and the fans are not going to help much.

 

[clamm]

I know this is a very very slim chance, but I would use ro/di water vs tap water if possible. Just in case there is a leak or something happens and the cap comes loose... I guess its a little anal, but why take the chance.

 

[Richard]

Don't forget to turn off the lights. It would help alot without 1000W of MH and VHO shinning down tank

 

[Liam]

I always drop my tank temp to 78 in the summer months,this buys you a little extra time should there be a problem,and vica versa in the winter i bring it up to 80

 

[Yaktop]

I always drop my tank temp to 78 in the summer months,this buys you a little extra time should there be a problem,and vica versa in the winter i bring it up to 80

not to mention saves a few watts

 

[Liam]

not to mention saves a few watts

not in my basement in winter,does save few in the summer though.My bill drops considerably in the summer months,the friggin heaters kill me in the winter.

 

[dave601m]

clamm, if you're gonna use rodi might as well use salt water in the bottle too... then if it leaks, you're fully covered, and you'll also benefit from the freezing point depression to gain a little extra chill. i knew thermodynamics would come in handy for something

 

[Moe_K]

Oh, one thing I forgot...
The ice bottle trick is about the only thing that will work when we have a power outage on a 90+ degree day.
I think back in the summer of 2001 or 2002 we had a long power outage during a heat wave. Lots of people lost corals due to the heat. It was almost impossible to keep tanks cool.
Some folks were prepared with ice bottles.
I learned the hard way.

 

[NateHanson]

Definitely keep ice in the freezer, but to try to prevent overheating in the first place, make sure you have a good digital thermometer. The best ones have hi/lo limit alarms, and they record the max and min temps. This is important because I think people's overheating tank woes often go on for a week while they're away at work before they see their corals starting to die. Get a max/min recording thermometer so you can see if daytime temps are wreaking havoc in your reef.

I got one with these features for about $20 at a LFS.

Also, newbies may not realize how effective a small fan blowing over the sump or top of tank can be at cooling a hot tank. The evaporative cooling is very efficient. Just be prepared to top off the tank more often.

Good luck!

Nate

 

[dave601m]

now that you mention power losses moe, it may not be a bad idea to buy lots of the 1' thick rigid foam insulation and cut it to fit your tank.
in a power outage, you can wrap it around and over your tank to keep the heat out. it has to fit tightly for it to be very effective, but it'll stretch how long your ice packs last in the event of a long power outage...

imo, it's very very cheap insurance, and it pays to have it on hand and ready. i'm sure on a hot day with no a/c, your tank will heat up several degrees in the time it takes you to run to home depot, buy the insulation, cut it and install it.

 

[merk1_99]

For those of us thinking about a chiller. Drop in or inline? Which one is more efficient.

 

[Mike A]

Inline chillers are more efficient.

 

[Armando]

Inline chillers are more efficient.

I agree

 

[Duds]

I agree

at it again Armando lol
Duds

 

[Liam]

hey duds you better make sure your ready now you got the halides