Ice, Ice, Baby - A/C is out

[>>klong<<]

Sharing a frustrating experience . . .

The tanks were starting to look good, then Sunday happened. We were returning home from an extended period away (home 1x per week to do some tank maintenance), and found that the high rise we live in had just had a major issue with the heating/cooling system. It flooded the electrical room and we were out of power for about 6 hours. My Ecotech battery backup worked very nicely, keeping one flow pump going in one of the tanks. Monday morning, though, we got a notice that we'd be losing A/C. I've pretty much planned on losing electric, pumps failing, heaters going, etc, and I've made all the preparations for those events. But our heating/cooling in this building has been rock solid, so I didn't get a chiller.

This A/C outage is on it's 3rd day in some of the hottest weather we've had in Philadelphia. I've gotten by by turning off all unnecessary pumps, UV, lights, etc. I've also gone through about 100 lbs of ice in the last few days. I fill gallon zip locks with it and float it in the sump and on the top of my AIO. I've had some pretty severe temperature fluctuations. One tank has fish and corals, the other, smaller tank has corals only. The fish look happy, but I'm worried about what the corals will look like after I turn the lights back on.

Besides telling me I need chiller, any advice on how to proceed? Should I be worried about he corals? What should I do to minimize losses? I have some easy SPS, zoas, acans, favia, hammers, torches, Duncans..

I maxed out at a little over 81 on the 73 gal tank and just over 83 on the 20 cube. The 20 cube temp creeps higher much more quickly (duh?).

 

[Gtinnel]

Is a window or portable air conditioner not an option?

 

[G Santana]

If a window unit isn't an option how about one of those stand alone units that you vent with the conduit it comes with.

 

[>>klong<<]

If a window unit isn't an option how about one of those stand alone units that you vent with the conduit it comes with.

Is a window or portable air conditioner not an option?

Frankly, I hadn't really considered that. We don't have normal windows. They're all sliding windows, about 4 feet tall. I don't think Lowes/HD would have anything that would fit without customization. It might be easier to find a chiller within a couple of hours drive.

At this point, the building managers are saying that we should be fixed sometime today, and I have a pretty much unlimited supply of ice in the deli downstairs. Right now I'm worried about managing the fallout with livestock.

 

[G Santana]

Frankly, I hadn't really considered that. We don't have normal windows. They're all sliding windows, about 4 feet tall. I don't think Lowes/HD would have anything that would fit without customization. It might be easier to find a chiller within a couple of hours drive.

At this point, the building managers are saying that we should be fixed sometime today, and I have a pretty much unlimited supply of ice in the deli downstairs. Right now I'm worried about managing the fallout with livestock.

Good luck, at least you were home when all this went down and are proactive!!!

 

[Goaway]

Throw ice in some zip log bags and let them float in the water as needed.

 

[>>klong<<]

Throw ice in some zip log bags and let them float in the water as needed.

Brevity is not my strong suit - this was in the middle of my rant

I've also gone through about 100 lbs of ice in the last few days. I fill gallon zip locks with it and float it in the sump and on the top of my AIO

 

[Goaway]

Brevity is not my strong suit - this was in the middle of my rant

I mean, you may need a lot if the other options can't be done. I don't know how to figure out the amount of ice needed to drop water down by 2 or 3 degrees per gallon.

We had another guy who's ac went down. I think he had a few losses, ran fans in the room. There was a suggestion to hook his freezer up with tank, swamp cooler rentals. I could probably find the thread if you wanted to read through it.

 

[Gtinnel]

IMO your upper temps being being 81-82 is nothing to be concerned about and won't cause any loss. My concern would be more about the size of the temp swings, although I still think you'll be fine.

Also, for future reference a portable ac just has the duct that goes to the window so it couldn't be hard to make it work. Pointing a fan at the water surface to increase evaporation can lower water temps a decent amount, when I use to use a 400w metal halide light I had to do this to keep my temps down.

 

[BZOFIQ]

We don't have normal windows. They're all sliding windows, about 4 feet tall. I don't think Lowes/HD would have anything that would fit without customization. It might be easier to find a chiller within a couple of hours drive.

The manufacturers did think of that and provide a section of plastic that is put together to close up the gap, the vent duct attached to that.

I know because our windows are taller than 48" and an LG unit worked ok during A/C unit swap last year.

That said, get a small chiller, these things are amazing at bringing temps down when needed. I'm super happy with a small AquaLogic unit I have which went on few times this summer.

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

From my own experiences if temps are below 82 your fine even with SPS. If you can, grab a 18” commercial electric fan from Home Depot and aim it at your sump, you’ll be good to go. These things move a TON of air.

 

[>>klong<<]

From my own experiences if temps are below 82 your fine even with SPS. If you can, grab a 18” commercial electric fan from Home Depot and aim it at your sump, you’ll be good to go. These things move a TON of air.

Thanks. I did that until internal temps in the apartment raised to 84 degrees. At that point, it became counterproductive.

 

[>>klong<<]

I'm super happy with a small AquaLogic unit I have which went on few times this summer.

I was just looking at AquaLogic. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Gtinnel]

Thanks. I did that until internal temps in the apartment raised to 84 degrees. At that point, it became counterproductive.

Why would it be counter productive? I would think even with the air temp at 84 it would still help keep the tank cooler

 

[>>klong<<]

Why would it be counter productive? I would think even with the air temp at 84 it would still help keep the tank cooler

I'm not a physicist, but I'm open to being corrected by one. I'm pretty sure that increasing airflow over a water surface accelerates the equilibrium between the water and ambient temperature. That's why they advise for people to turn off their fans during a heat wave when indoor temps raise close to human body temperature.

If the ambient temperature is lower than I want my tank, then the fan works. If the ambient temperature is higher, I'm thinking the fan is counterproductive.

 

[>>klong<<]

I'm not a physicist, but I'm open to being corrected by one.

Yeah, I'm totally wrong. Evidently with high airflow causing evaporative cooling, you can lower the water temp below ambient temp. Repointing my fan now . Thanks, @Gtinnel for calling out my false assumption.

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

I'm not a physicist, but I'm open to being corrected by one. I'm pretty sure that increasing airflow over a water surface accelerates the equilibrium between the water and ambient temperature. That's why they advise for people to turn off their fans during a heat wave when indoor temps raise close to human body temperature.

If the ambient temperature is lower than I want my tank, then the fan works. If the ambient temperature is higher, I'm thinking the fan is counterproductive.

We are actually talking about evaporative cooling which works differently

What is Evaporative Cooling | Baltimore Aircoil

www.baltimoreaircoil.com

 

[Gtinnel]

Yeah, I'm totally wrong. Evidently with high airflow causing evaporative cooling, you can lower the water temp below ambient temp. Repointing my fan now . Thanks, @Gtinnel for calling out my false assumption.

Yep it's all about evaporative cooling not reaching an equilibrium. It's the same reason that people sweat when it's hot to reduce their body heat by evaporation.
My son used to have axolotl (stupid cool water salamander thingy) and with a big computer fan pointed at the surface of a 10 gallon tank the water temp would get wayyyy below the ambient room temp.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I was just looking at AquaLogic. Thanks for the recommendation.

Just keep this in mind.

I had a drop-in unit previously and let me tell you the flow-through unit is so much more efficient that even though it's smaller it chills the system much faster.

AquaLogic is a staple at aquaculture facilities and public aquaria. That's all you'll see behind the scenes, and I've seen more than a few. Great units.

 

[Gtinnel]

Not saying that a chiller wouldn't be really nice in that situation, but a portable air conditioner keeps the tank and YOU cool. Of course assuming it's feasible to use one to keep the room where the tank is located at a reasonable temp.