How hot is too hot?

[Just John]

It seems like the hottest week in human history and my air conditioner just broke and won't be fixed until Saturday. It's supposed to be in the low 90's here tomorrow and I have two tanks around 10 gal going. Since they are so small, they generally follow the room temperature when it gets warm. I have softies and lps. Any idea of when they will start dying off?

 

[dtm2420]

I would die for low 90 days at this point. The next three days in middle Tennessee is supposed to be 101

 

[wtdenk]

It seems like the hottest week in human history and my air conditioner just broke and won't be fixed until Saturday. It's supposed to be in the low 90's here tomorrow and I have two tanks around 10 gal going. Since they are so small, they generally follow the room temperature when it gets warm. I have softies and lps. Any idea of when they will start dying off?

Had similar issue last week. Pretty amazing what a normal fan blowing across the top of the tank will do for dropping temp. Also radically increases evaporation fyi

 

[Kmst80]

Had similar issue last week. Pretty amazing what a normal fan blowing across the top of the tank will do for dropping temp. Also radically increases evaporation fyi

Absolutely agree. Did that with my freshwatertanks and they survived roomtemps of 35°C just with a fan.
These days I got a chiller on the reef coz it gets to 38 inside the house.

 

[lubeck]

Agree with the fans. You could put ice in a ziplock and Float it for a few minutes. Watch your evaporation with the fan

 

[Just John]

Absolutely agree. Did that with my freshwatertanks and they survived roomtemps of 35°C just with a fan.
These days I got a chiller on the reef coz it gets to 38 inside the house.

38! Holy cow, you Australians really are crazy. I would either get an air conditioner or move. or pass out occasionally.

 

[Kmst80]

38! Holy cow, you Australians really are crazy. I would either get an air conditioner or move. or pass out occasionally.

That's nothing. Some out back towns Have a few days in summer in the 50°...yes Celsius. Hottest here was mid 40s.

 

[Gatorpa]

Can you buy a window box ac unit just for that room?

 

[HB AL]

Absolutely agree. Did that with my freshwatertanks and they survived roomtemps of 35°C just with a fan.
These days I got a chiller on the reef coz it gets to 38 inside the house.

38 in the house, geez

 

[Just John]

Can you buy a window box ac unit just for that room?

no, no normal sized windows. This is Florida - nothing is normal.

 

[ChiCity]

no, this is Florida - nothing is normal.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Warmer temps contibute to coral bleach. Higher than 92-83 starts to create issues

Some things you can do:
-Home A/C does help
-Fan helps
-Making ice packs from zip lock bags effective. Fill 4-6 with water and freeze. When temperature rises, add a bag or two in sump. When they melt, take out two more and place melted ones back in freezer until temperature reaches safe range

 

[Johnz]

Float ice bags for sure. Florida man here, that's what I do when hurricanes hit and my generator isn't big enough to power my AC. Anything over 84 and you're risking a crash. Even 84 is pushing it.

 

[wculver]

It seems like the hottest week in human history and my air conditioner just broke and won't be fixed until Saturday. It's supposed to be in the low 90's here tomorrow and I have two tanks around 10 gal going. Since they are so small, they generally follow the room temperature when it gets warm. I have softies and lps. Any idea of when they will start dying off?

Get you a fan and have that run over the top. In a few hours it'll significantly cool the tank.

 

[AydenLincoln]

You can try fans and putting a bucket of ice in front/wet paper towels. A lot of places around the world are breaking temperature records right now or in a heat wave/advisor. Just make sure you constantly monitor the temp/adjust as needed and turn off the heater.

 

[Mark Gray]

Right now I have a couple leather s 1 hammer 1 gongi and a clam. Today the tank got to around 85 have not seen any problems yet. 2 years ago had one in the garage it stayed at 89 to 92 I did run a fan on it. Only leathers and some zoos but everything was fine all summer.

 

[Krampus]

Roughly north of 84 is when the trouble starts happening. Softies will fair better, sps check out around 85-86, and I think LPS check out around that point too. Softies seemed to start dying at 87-88+. The only thing that survived a little while after 90+ was a sand sifting starfish.

Source: I had to involuntarily watch this situation unfold in my tank about 10 years ago.

 

[Spare time]

I agree with the rest. Mid 80's is the highest I would let my tank get to. At 81F I begin to get very cautious (this is my invert qt temp). Above this number, I'd be concerned. I'd panick above mid 80's lol

 

[Krampus]

You can try fans and putting a bucket of ice in front/wet paper towels. A lot of places around the world are breaking temperature records right now or in a heat wave/advisor. Just make sure you constantly monitor the temp/adjust as needed and turn off the heater.

That's a nice advertisement gif in your signature. Are you affiliated with the company?

 

[Gatorpa]

no, no normal sized windows. This is Florida - nothing is normal.

The you can buy a portable AC unit that runs the hot “exhaust” air out a window. Cut a piece of cardboard to fill the gap in the open window and make a hole for the exhaust hose.