Tank cooling help.

[tortugaviejo]

I just checked the temperature of my tank, and it's at 76 right now...at nearly 4am. It was rainy all day earlier with little to no sun, and where I live, summers tend to get very hot. I haven't gotten my axo yet, but I'm naturally worried about how to keep the tank cool so it doesn't get stressed and die.

I've read about the water bottle trick, but noted how it says that it's safe a week or two at a time. Does this mean to only do it once or twice a week, or per day? If it's only up to twice a week, that's not really going to help much when it gets up to 100 degrees outside, and since I don't have air conditioning. I want to put the tank on the floor since that's supposed to knock the temperature down a degree or two, but with young children, there's bound to be an accident (please, no "omg WATCH UR DUMB KIDZ AND WHAT THEY DOO" stuff here, especially if you don't have kids).

You know, I think I chose a pretty bad time to get an axolotl what with the summer weather and all.

 

[dragonlady]

Hi there,

Wow, already 76 and Summer hasn't even hit yet! With water bottles, you have to be diligent about changing them at the right time. Before the first is completely melted, you have to change it out so the temp of the tank doesn't fluctuate too much. It's all about timing.

If you have a hood on your tank, you can take that off and use a screen top or none at all. This should help a little. A fan angled so that it blows across the top of your water helps too.

Really, without an a/c, I think your only option may be a chiller. I really don't think you're going to be able to keep the tank cool enough without one. If you haven't, check out this article about cooling.

You may have your work cut out for you. Good luck!

 

[tortugaviejo]

Thanks again. I'm picturing the bottle swap going something like the Idol scene in Indiana Jones now.

Yeah, I'm really surprised about the temperature. Yesterday it was under 70, and when I checked it a little bit ago, it shocked me. What I'm worried about with the bottles, which probably makes it not an option, is that I work nights and my wife's hours vary big time since she's on-call, and could be gone while I'm gone, and while I'm asleep too.

I'll take the top off of the tank and see how much that changes it, if at all.

 

[Mac Myers]

Shannon's right. There is no way you can keep the temps cool enough with out a very good (good spelled expensive) chiller. If you can close off a room and use a window A/C unit you "might" be able to pull it off... but methinks not.
I'd get a bullfrog or some other warmer water animal if I was in your shoes (which I wouldn't be because even though I'm a 4th Generation Floridian I'd kill myself If I didn't have A/C )

 

[jclee]

Have you tried pointing a fan at the surface of the water? It can help. If the water's at 76 right now, a fan might be enough to lower it into the safe zone.

 

[tomkeogh]

I have found the bottles to be very un-reliable, I have tried a few time's when my tank has hit 22degree and the bottles melt within the hour with no temperature drop at all. This may be a very silly thing to say as you are experiencing high temperatures but I have found when my tank has hit 16-17 degree the water manages to maintain this temperature for a few days in hot weather, It has been 24-25degree in london the past week or so, trust me that is hot for us! and the temp has only just creeped up to 19deg. How large is your tank? I constantly see a chiller that will achieve a 10degree drop at 150litres for £170 on ebay

 

[Ajolote]

I wouldn't use the fan thing if I were you. This causes a strong current and can stress more than heat your axo. I don't have one, but I will, cause I have the same problem as you! The only thing is that I live in a tropical environments, which can reach 100F outside in summer, inside, without air conditioning, remains in the 80's. So, does the water bottle really melt in only an hour???

 

[dragonlady]

You adjust the fan so that it blows across the surface. This aids in the evaporation process which does help lower temps. It does not cause a strong current and there are many members who use this method, including very experienced breeders.

 

[jclee]

I have two axolotl tanks, and both have small fans nailed to the wall above the un-lidded tank. While there are tiny ripples on the surface of the water, there is no current caused by the fan at all. The only movement under the surface of the water is caused by the filter.

 

[Mac Myers]

I wouldn't use the fan thing if I were you. This causes a strong current and can stress more than heat your axo.

not unless you drop the fan in the water!

So, does the water bottle really melt in only an hour???

Water bottle cooling works differently depending on a number of factors... the two most important being the size of the Aquarium and the size of the frozen bottle.
My 55 Gallon will melt a half liter bottle in 5 minutes with no change in Temp.
A 2 Liter bottle will drop the temp about 1.5° F pretty quickly and last for 2-3 hours depending on initial temps.
A 4 liter bottle will drop it about 3° F and last for 6 or so hours.
That's in an air conditioned building with the air at an Average Temp of 23.9° C during the day and the tank starting at 21.4°C.
Cooling temps and time before melt also vary depending on proximity to any flowing water.
Make sure any water in the Bottles is treated for Chlorine, Chloramines and or anything else you think might be in the water or you could regret it should you have a leak.

 

[Ajolote]

Oh, well, I guess I was wrong. And how many F degrees does the fan drop?(Without air conditioning.)

 

[Mac Myers]

I only got 1° F give or take with mine. But it was mostly top open and pretty near a ceiling fan to begin with. I small airstone can help break the surface tension and help with evaporation as well.
But not too big or too deep or you"ll create an unwanted current.

 

[ted22]

Ive managed a whopping 6degree drop (24-18deg) with the evaporation (fan) method! I diddnt belive it at first and got a new thermometer coz i thought mine was broken but it wasnt! Its a bloody miracle i tell you! I dont even have a screen lid just a hood with the lid part taken off!

 

[NightWolf]

I use a "Holmes: 2 cool" fan, which managed to bring my temperature down by an astonishing 10 degrees F. in a couple of hours. Here are some pictures:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/members/nightwolf-albums-my-temporary-home-made-chiller.html

I highly reccomend this fan, as it works great, and I am sure you can pick one up from London Drugs, Walmart, or any other store that sells fans. If not, you should be able to order one for pretty cheap.

 

[lea]

HI
I have tried lots of ways to cool my tank and if you want it to stay regular then your only choice is a chiller but with a bit of work i used the frozen bottles in the water... last summer(we have temps of 35oC - 40oC) and it worked ok, i have also put my filter in a esky with ice and that was ok as well, but it did get a little expensive buy the ice(2 bags a day)....at the moment i have extra tubing attached to my filter and that is sitting in a tucker box freezer with the frozen bottles around the hosing......
i hope this helps
lea

 

[tomkeogh]

I wouldn't use the fan thing if I were you. This causes a strong current and can stress more than heat your axo. I don't have one, but I will, cause I have the same problem as you! The only thing is that I live in a tropical environments, which can reach 100F outside in summer, inside, without air conditioning, remains in the 80's. So, does the water bottle really melt in only an hour???

using a house fan gave me about a 2 degree drop, my only worry was the fan really scared my albino, I don't think it was the current more likely the noise or vibration.

 

[Crysta]

I've been using the ice cube method, it's been keeping it at a nice 19C, otherwise it would be 21-22C (which my un-chilled cold water fish are at)

It works well for me, or at least has so far, the Fan method however seems to be a favourite around here.