AC unit went down- temp up to 84

[Spkarim]

Hi everyone

I live in a warm area and an AC unit doesn’t seem to be working well. The room where the 40g tank is located is at 81. The tank temp now is 83-84. Don’t think it will get any higher

tank is usually kept at around 78, so it has crept up.

Tank is running fallow with just LR and mixed corals.

I turned down the lights, but wondering whether I should considering moving maybe the corals to a different part of the house that is cooler until I get ac working better again.

any thoughts/ suggestions appreciated.

 

[splitting_lanes]

Hi everyone

I live in a warm area and an AC unit doesn’t seem to be working well. The room where the 40g tank is located is at 81. The tank temp now is 83-84. Don’t think it will get any higher

tank is usually kept at around 78, so it has crept up.

Tank is running fallow with just LR and mixed corals.

I turned down the lights, but wondering whether I should considering moving maybe the corals to a different part of the house that is cooler until I get ac working better again.

any thoughts/ suggestions appreciated.

setup a fan to blow across the water surface and you should get enough cooling to hold you over.

 

[Billldg]

You can either freeze some water in ziplock bags, or place ice in ziplock bags and float them in the tank to lower the temp until the AC gets fixed. The ice will melt quickly, so you will need to monitor it. Also, if you have a fan to blow across the top of the water it will work as stated above.

 

[AZMSGT]

Wow, where is it that warm?.. anyway turn off lights completely. It will help, depending on the tank size use bags of ice to help cool it down.

if you have a fan blow it direct on the surface. If you have a sump blow air in there too.

As I posted this, those guys ^^^^ beat me to it.

 

[Spkarim]

I am located in South Texas, where it can get pretty warm.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

Everyone stay safe!

 

[piranhaman00]

Blowing fan over water is surprising helpful, I’ve lowered tanks 8F using the method, but keep that ato full!

 

[legrunt]

It regularly gets to 100F over here.
We reefers here need dedicated chillers.

But yeah, to tide over, fans, ice in baggies... but these need a lot of extra monitoring.
Fans will drive your evaporation through the roof and if you don't have an ATO, your salinity will swing. Ice will melt and stop being effective, causing temp swings.

If you find yourself very dependant on cooling, might take a look at small 1/15 or 1/20 hp chillers...

 

[StatelineReefer]

Corals are surprisingly resilient to high temperatures... on the reef, they can take short periods of 86-90 degrees, but that is the key word, short. Ideally, yes, you want 78... but 84-85 for a day or two shouldn't stress them too badly.