Ok guys! I know my pool is finally set up and you know what that means! Less time indoors. I can already sense the nation wide neglect that is about to happen.
Working at a pet store for and running my own small town aquarium business gives me the eyes and ears to know when its time for a reminder. There are less people in the fish section this time of year. Even the pet stores reduce their stock.
Between going fishing, bbqs, taking vacations, and just lounging on the deck this leaves less time for your tanks.
Don't forget you have a reef this summer!! In fact, this is when the tank needs you most! The extra heat can cause serious issues in your tank from faster Evap to straight boiling water. (Ok maybe not that hot, but dangerous none the less). Make sure you have the means to top off the tank more frequently.
If you have your tank in a non heated/cooled room like mine it is a very good idea to consider a sump that is far away in a very cool room like a basement. You may even need a chiller. Another factor is that the sun is a little bit closer than it was in December. This can (and has caused mine) make excess light that feeds your algae. My tank has already got a nice chunk of diatoms and cyano from the sun light.
So make sure to have plenty of everything. Get some type of insulation for your tank if the AC goes out. Have excess ice ready for emergency cooling. And the best thing you can possibly do is have a quarantine tank set up just in case you have an emergency.
If a chiller cost too much for you there is another option but it involves a ton of space and a basement sump. If you make the sump larger than the aquarium itself it will actually level the temperature dramatically. Heat dilution. Aka radiation. Bigger radiator (sump) means it will take much longer to heat up!
Another cheap and quick method is to throw some air pumps in the sump and run the hose through a vat of ice water or ice cubes. The cooled air will add a little bit more security for those hot days.
So don't neglect your tanks this summer, and don't forget they STILL SELL CORALS! Don't forget to keep buying them! And don't leave them in your car when you stop at the grocery store on the way home. They will bake.
"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon."
Working at a pet store for and running my own small town aquarium business gives me the eyes and ears to know when its time for a reminder. There are less people in the fish section this time of year. Even the pet stores reduce their stock.
Between going fishing, bbqs, taking vacations, and just lounging on the deck this leaves less time for your tanks.
Don't forget you have a reef this summer!! In fact, this is when the tank needs you most! The extra heat can cause serious issues in your tank from faster Evap to straight boiling water. (Ok maybe not that hot, but dangerous none the less). Make sure you have the means to top off the tank more frequently.
If you have your tank in a non heated/cooled room like mine it is a very good idea to consider a sump that is far away in a very cool room like a basement. You may even need a chiller. Another factor is that the sun is a little bit closer than it was in December. This can (and has caused mine) make excess light that feeds your algae. My tank has already got a nice chunk of diatoms and cyano from the sun light.
So make sure to have plenty of everything. Get some type of insulation for your tank if the AC goes out. Have excess ice ready for emergency cooling. And the best thing you can possibly do is have a quarantine tank set up just in case you have an emergency.
If a chiller cost too much for you there is another option but it involves a ton of space and a basement sump. If you make the sump larger than the aquarium itself it will actually level the temperature dramatically. Heat dilution. Aka radiation. Bigger radiator (sump) means it will take much longer to heat up!
Another cheap and quick method is to throw some air pumps in the sump and run the hose through a vat of ice water or ice cubes. The cooled air will add a little bit more security for those hot days.
So don't neglect your tanks this summer, and don't forget they STILL SELL CORALS! Don't forget to keep buying them! And don't leave them in your car when you stop at the grocery store on the way home. They will bake.
"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon."
