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It has been 95-100 degrees up here in washington. I have no airconditioning. My water temp is 89 degrees. It is not a problem now because I am cycling it. I have heard blowing a fan over it works and puting frozen aquarium water in works also. What should I do once I get my fish? I will only have to worry about it for another 1-2 months (Seattle in the fall/winter is COLD). Then I will have to worry about warming it.

For warming the tank, you can always get insulation. Styrofoam I believe that's what it was called. Anyway, it won't be as pleasing to look at your fish tank, but you could cover 3 of the sides so you can save on the electric bill. So I heard. Cheers

Yea I have a heater I am going to use.

to cool the tank you definately want to run a fan along the top, and not use ice. Ice will cause huge temperature swings as the ice melts, which is not good for your fish. The fan will help promote evaporation, which will keep the temperature alittle cooler. On top of that, yu'll probably want to add an airtone, as hot water holds less disolved oxygen for your fish to breath than cool water. The airstone wil help to keep your fish from gasping at the water surface.

Is the tank in the lowest room in your house? Could it be moved to a cooler basement or the like if possible? How large is the tank?

Mike

ice doesnt cause huge swings at if it you put in the right amout!

You can also float bottles of frozen water in it. I did that once when our AC was out for 2 days ( this is Texas we have HOT summers).

ice doesnt cause huge swings at if it you put in the right amout!

No matter how much ice you put in, it will cause temperature swings.

[span class="edited"][Edited by Fatal Error 2004-07-25 10:54][/span]

Fatal it is worth it girl under is right us down here in texas get really hot summers. And that is what i did when my ac went out i put bottles of ice in the tank.

It is a 20g and I can't move it from where it is. I do have an airstone but it is not running currently.

I agree with the above, use a fan, and no ice. Put in that airstone to bring the level of dissolved oxygen to it's max. Be sure to acclimate very slowly when you get fish.

Set it up running, keep the shades drawn down, and use that fan. Expect to be topping off pretty regularly, but don't add *cold water* to the tank in hopes of cooling it down. The warning about ice is that the difference between the water temperatures before the ice and then with the ice in it is too different, which stresses an already stressed fish. Cold water would be the same way. Both will temporarily lower the temperature, but will not prevent it from reaching that high 100 degree temperature without almost constant intervention.

Its best for the fish to use the fan as it won't make your water nearly as cool, but will be more of a permanent solution, dropping the maximum temp down a couple of degrees.

I'd start using that airstone if I were you.

Mike

Throw some ice cubes in the tank. Or fill bags with ice and put them in your tank.

IMO putting a few ice cubes in the filter would be the best way to cool a tank down. As the ice melts, it makes cold water. But this water also mixes with (a large amount of) the water that the filter is taking in, therefore making the water a safe temperature.

Most fish like the addition of cooler water when they get a water change, so some cooler water from the filter should make them happy as well.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Unless you can stay home all day plopping ice cubes in, I would go with the fan and an airstone.