Tank getting too hot

Jay1661 · May 14, 2018

Tank is getting too hot. I like to keep it around 76-78 but as the weather warms up I am pushing 82 at night. I don’t even wanna know what it is during the day. How can I cool my tank? I have a shortened lighting schedule. 32 gallon biocube. Yes I have a lid because all of my fish are jumpers, so I have no room for fans. I can’t keep putting frozen water bottles in the tank. What can I do?

Mark Gray · May 14, 2018

I use a fan blowing across the top but you will loose tons of water my 55 looses about 4 to 5 gallons a day

GoVols · May 14, 2018

Jay1661 said:
Tank is getting too hot. I like to keep it around 76-78 but as the weather warms up I am pushing 82 at night. I don’t even wanna know what it is during the day. How can I cool my tank? I have a shortened lighting schedule. 32 gallon biocube. Yes I have a lid because all of my fish are jumpers. What can I do?

I'd plumb in an Teco Tk150
https://www.tecous.com/chillers/tk-150/

Or you could give this an shot
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/icep...MIgICNmNaG2wIVm4KzCh0vsgQpEAQYASABEgLlu_D_BwE

GoVols · May 14, 2018

Mark Gray said:
I use a fan blowing across the top but you will loose tons of water my 55 looses about 4 to 5 gallons a day

If he's open air with an screen top, these are real nice too.

https://www.tecous.com/cooling-fans/e-chill-1/

miPapareef · May 14, 2018

I’d replace the lid with a screen top and run a fan. This should get your evaporation rate up and temps down.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-for-rimmed-tanks-1-4-netting.html

tiggs · May 14, 2018

When I used to run my Biocube with the top on, I modified the back to be open, then attached something like this and had it turn on automatically when the lights game on..

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M9UV9R...a843-fcb8860507a9&ie=UTF8&qid=1526352363&sr=2

With only the back open, evaporation wasn't horrible, but it definitely increased. Personally, I ditched the top a while ago and my tank stays between 77-78 year round just by keeping the room at 74 degrees and using an oversized heater to quickly handle the downward fluctuations. This is with an AI Prime mounted approx 8 inches above the waterline. I don't keep a lid on my tank, but a lot of people with fish jumping issues just throw a screen/glass/plastic lid on the top.

Breadman03 · May 14, 2018

A fan is by far the most economical, otherwise you're probably looking at a chiller.

JaimeAdams · May 14, 2018

A nice window A/C in the room will keep temps down.

Jesterrace · May 15, 2018

Breadman03 said:
A fan is by far the most economical, otherwise you're probably looking at a chiller.

Yup, I use my overhead fan to cool the room down and it makes a big difference, it also doesn't cause nearly as much evaporation.

andyg1960 · May 15, 2018

I got soooo lucky getting a JBJ Artica chiller on Amazon. It is the 1/5 hp, lists for well over $500, and it had some cosmetic damage ( crack in the plastic case, a few of the rear plastic vent pieces cracked. Amazon sold it for $278. Works beautifully. I would recommend everyone keep an eye on Amazon for a similar deal.

Oldsalt01 · May 15, 2018

I had the same issue with my 14g BC. I got around it by installing a small computer fan over one of the holes in the back and connecting that to a cheap thermostatic controller. It worked very well, although my evaporation rates went up considerably. I eventually dumped the hood, upgraded my lights to a hydra 26 and cut eggcrate for a cover.

Montiman · May 16, 2018

I have a bio cube 32 in my office in Arizona and it started to overheat. I use a zoomed aquacool fan and it has kept the temperature 78-79 you can keep the stock hood just place the fan tube through one of the holes in the back of the canopy.

HB AL · May 16, 2018

What's the room temp get too? If the room temp is 80+ fans alone are not gonna drop the temp. If your room temp stays in the mid 70's max, fans will help a little. If not a chiller is the only option or installing a/c. I live a few miles from the ocean, but during some hot summer days or weeks frozen bottles where the only option as I didn't want to deal with the cost and heat from running a chiller in my bedroom where my tanks where located. I bought a portable room a/c and that worked great although it was a little noisy, but on those hot days I found my whole family would hang out in the " ac room ". 4 years back I had central air installed to solve all problems.

Montiman · May 16, 2018

If it were me I would try a $20 fan before I bought a $400 chiller. Even if I wasn’t sure it would work.

subzero · Apr 1, 2021

Montiman said:
I have a bio cube 32 in my office in Arizona and it started to overheat. I use a zoomed aquacool fan and it has kept the temperature 78-79 you can keep the stock hood just place the fan tube through one of the holes in the back of the canopy.

How’d you position the fan? Blowing air in or sucking out?

Unregistered1 · Apr 1, 2021

You can use computer fans that are cheap and make one sucking in and one blowing out put i on a timer. But i am not sure how small your hood is so just throwing it out there. I used to do that on my tanks in Texas and it worked great and it was really hot

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Apr 1, 2021

2018 post. For $100 get a air conditioner unit for a window off craigslist. Hths
D

((FORDTECH)) · Apr 1, 2021

tiggs said:
When I used to run my Biocube with the top on, I modified the back to be open, then attached something like this and had it turn on automatically when the lights game on..

With only the back open, evaporation wasn't horrible, but it definitely increased. Personally, I ditched the top a while ago and my tank stays between 77-78 year round just by keeping the room at 74 degrees and using an oversized heater to quickly handle the downward fluctuations. This is with an AI Prime mounted approx 8 inches above the waterline. I don't keep a lid on my tank, but a lot of people with fish jumping issues just throw a screen/glass/plastic lid on the top.

Yes I have used these also work great