problems in paradise- heating and cooling

[dbacksrat]

Here's my dilemna: the room I keep my aquarium in has an average daily summer temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Would most tropical fish available be able to live comfortably at this temperature, or are there certain risks and hazards involved. I want to keep the temperature at around 77 degrees. Any one have a solution/suggestion?

 

[Somonas]

85F is a bit warm but your fish will be fine if you keep a good level of aeration and water movement... don't overfeed... most fish can handle temps in the low 80's with the exception of goldfish and other carplike fish (barbs, cherry barbs, pers. comm. fellow in our aquarium club who used to breed them).

 

[SoulFish]

try sticking a clip on fan to blow along the surface, this will help a little, they should be ok

 

[fishaddict]

If youre willing to invest a little money arent there coolers out there made for this thing although i suppose both of the above methods work.

 

[SoulFish]

coolers are ridiculously expensive, for the price of one of them you could buy a mini frig a pump and some pipes and just pump your water through it

 

[dana307]

I have heard of an idea on this board before that I would try if needed. Get either two or four balloons, fill partially with water and toss in the freezer. Course you need room in the balloon for ice expansion. Then you can swap the balloons out twice a day for a frozen one. Do you guys think this would work out? I haven't tried it yet. Not hot in the northeast yet.

 

[Somonas]

Sure it would work but it sounds like a lot of effort for something that is not necessary.

 

[420Loach]

the a/c in my room works great i turn it on around 11:30pm before i go to sleep and keep it on till about 7:00 am when i wake up. it keeps the water a nice cool 74-76 degrees all day( i DONT blast my a/c on them!, low cool! low cool!

 

[RedTurquoise]

I wouldnt worry about it for a number of reasons.

One being that the temperature will fluctuate as the ice/cold water are added thenwarm up therefore your tank cooling down then warming up again. Second, by following somonas post and providing aerate, etc, the fish will tolerate higher temps. Third, not worth the effort. Im tank temp in the summer will rise to 92F on a really hot day! Fish are fine (norm is around 86 though).

 

[wethead]

Watch out for the corys though, alot of them really don't do well in temps above the high 70's......Rich