Cooling the planted tank?

[isda]

How do you guys lower the temp of your planted tank with out a chiller....what temp is your aquarium water?

What is the room temp during summer in singapore?

[mab]

with fan on 24/7
- tank 1 (2ft) 27.5 to 28
- tank 2 (1ft cube) 27
room temp is around 30 deg celcius.

i guess it depends on tank position and your apartment ventilation. some can go below 27.

[isda]

Oh man...here room temp is almost 34

[diki]

There is so much that fans can do to reduce the temp of water. So adding more fans (to a certain numbers) would not make the temp any lower. Also using fan max can down the temp by 1-3 degrees. Also need to top up water more often. Big tanks need chiller. Fan is limited effective for them.

[bclee]

How much the fan can cool depends on 2 factors: humidity and ambient temperature.

If you are staying in a relatively dry region, you can get quite significant cooling from the forced evaporation by fan. Unfortunately, here in Singapore, our humidity is always >60% in the day and >80% at night and almost 100% on rainy nights.

BC

[isda]

ok, so aside from fans what else could I do to lower the temp?

[sheng]

another way is to use a chiller

[|squee|]

There's also the Iceprobe for small aquariums.

Cooling a aquarium has limited methods available. The chiller method is the most effective.

[kemp]

what's your tank temperature like then?

Oh man...here room temp is almost 34

[bclee]

ok, so aside from fans what else could I do to lower the temp?

IMO, fan is the most cost effective method if you do not need really low temperatures and the tank size is not extremely large. For most planted tank, this should be sufficient.

For absolute effectiveness, it is the chillers.

For planted tank, I am not so keen about Iceprobes. Capacitiy of Iceprobes is small and is only suitable for small tanks. I will rather use fans for small tanks. Iceprobes are only good if you need lower temperatures (<26&#176;C) in small tanks (reef tanks especially) which cannot be acheived using the fans. Again, you might need multiple Iceprobes achieve the chilling capacity, because 1 Iceprobe can only give you the chilling capacity of 3-5&#176;C below ambient temperature for a 10-gal tank. It might even be cheaper to use a China-made chiller instead. (I am using a chiller for my 15-gal tank.)

Other than these methods, I cannot think of anything else except for DIY chillers. If you DIY, you will probably need a compressor with good enough capacity. A bar fridge will not be sufficient. Nowadays, cheap China-made chillers made DIY chillers seems not worth the effort.

BC

[isda]

has anyone kept their plants in water 32 deg celcius and/or above?

[richietay]

i don't think so. i have another tank rearing discus, without fan, temp @29-30.

[isda]

what's your tank temperature like then?

My tank temp is around 33. No fans.

[kemp]

frankly, i think you should seriously consider getting a fan soon. Your temperature for your tank is really a tad too high.

[isda]

yup I do need fans

[moss_guy]

If it is a nano (small) tank you can add ice bottle to cool down the tank. (Cheap chill) down to 24 degree depending on tank size.
1) collect empty distiled water bottle.
2) top-up water and cool bottle in fridge.
3) when water in bottle become ice it can be use to cool tank.

[kemp]

Hmm. Personally for me, i would find it too unhygenic to do so. Imaging floating your bottle on the tank top then wash it, put it back to freezer to free again.
I bet my wife will kill me for doing this
just my 2cent view.

If it is a nano (small) tank you can add ice bottle to cool down the tank. (Cheap chill) down to 24 degree depending on tank size.
1) collect empty distiled water bottle.
2) top-up water and cool bottle in fridge.
3) when water in bottle become ice it can be use to cool tank.

[Ssur]

If it is a nano (small) tank you can add ice bottle to cool down the tank. (Cheap chill) down to 24 degree depending on tank size.
1) collect empty distiled water bottle.
2) top-up water and cool bottle in fridge.
3) when water in bottle become ice it can be use to cool tank.

In a way, its does cool the tank down, but it wont be as even or naturally done. There will be cold spots and hot spots, and temperature control would also be upsetted (e.g. one side of the tank cooler that the other side)

But it will work, except for the hassle.

[diki]

Had tried this method before but gave up.

Reasons:
1. Killed all my shrimps in the tank. I could not figure why until some bros mentioned that the shock the shrimps get when the temp fluctuates.
2. Can only do it when I at home.
3. Troublesome. Since I use 500ml bottles for my 2 ft planted tank. Got 6 in the freezer then.
4. Shock for your fishes as well. However, my white cloud minow and swordtails are not so badly affected. Maybe I'm lucky with these fishes.
5. Not a long term solution. Might as well get a chiller if need to keep temp lower than 26 degree. Else use fan. If big tank, just use a standing fan and put beside your tank. Some more can swing left to right to cool water more evenly (I think)

[|squee|]

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