Dont want to overwork chiller

[ClockworkParrot]

Ive been performing smaller daily to every other day water changes (about 20%) because I had to do an in cycle with my axolotls because the 40 tank is all I have and my house is 83 degrees and its the only way to keep them cool since I have a chiller attached.

Everything was fine until I had a sudden spike of nitrite and I have had to up my water change amount and now its going to be every day to make sure it doesnt cause damage to my axolotls. I have found that this makes my chiller work much harder and longer and I was wondering if I should freeze a block (Dechlorinated in a bottle or tub) of water and float it to help cool it faster so my chiller doesnt have to work so hard.

I was also thinking that keeping a bit of ice floating over the summer with the chiller wouldnt be too bad an idea to lighten the load on the chiller since it was expensive and I need it to last.

 

[keiko]

Why don't you use cool water when doing water changes? If you're using warmer water than your tank and then the chiller cools it again, the temperature in your tank is changing a lot all the time and causing stress to your axolotls.

 

[Geckogal]

You can also put a few gallon jugs in your refrigerator over night to be ready and cool for the next day. If you add them along with the room temperature water it will help equal the water temp out so it can possibly reduce the amount of stress on your chiller and your axies.

 

[scorpio110684]

I wouldn't recommend using ice cubes but I think the frozen gallon bottle will work best. In Florida even if you use cold water to fill up the tank the water won't be as cold as you think because our summer months are extremely hot so it heats the water.

 

[ClockworkParrot]

Ive been getting the water as cold as I can before adding at. Even then it brings my water temp up from 63 to around 66-67 so I have been adding frozen water jugs after each changing to help even it out. It seems to be working great as my water temp goes right back to normal after about 40 minutes to an hour.