How to cool an aquarium?

How to cool too hot water in an aquarium? The water temperature tends to rise during hot periods. Water that is too hot can cause fish kills.

Many aquarists have certainly experienced a heat wave, requiring the aquarium to be cooled. In fact, when your fish have difficulty withstanding the heat, it is necessary to lower the water temperature for their well-being, but sometimes for their survival.

Most of us enjoy the heat of summer, but if you own an aquarium and don't have air conditioning, prolonged periods of extreme heat can be harmful, even disastrous.

Why cool my aquarium water?

In summer, the water temperature will often tend to increase which can kill your plants and your aquarium fish. The warmer the water, the lower the oxygen level in the water. It is essential to provide an air pump for aquarium to control the oxygen level. Nevertheless, if the water passes the significant bar of 30°C, watch out for your fish.

The effects of increased temperature for fish are different for every aquarium and vary depending on tank size, aquarium depth and surface area, fish population, water quality, etc. water, surface circulation and agitation and ambient temperature.

How to see if the water is too hot?

You will tell me...using an aquarium thermometer.... Yes, but not only :-)

If there is a lack of oxygen, you will quickly notice that some of your fish will be on the surface to breathe. Be careful not to add cold water too quickly to the aquarium, which could create a thermal shock. Too sudden a shock could upset the biodiversity of your aquarium and generate diseases such as white spot.

It is essential to proceed with a slow gradual drop in the temperature of the water in your aquarium. Also try to close the shutters or the blinds to avoid too high a temperature during the summer. You can also place the aquarium in cooler rooms.

Open the lid of your aquarium

By opening your aquarium, you will facilitate evaporation. Did you know that evaporation will allow you to cool the aquarium. When the lighting is on with the hood closed, it tends to keep or even increase the temperature of the water in the aquarium.

To keep the water colder, which does not exceed 30°, you can remove the cover so that the heat diffused by the lights decreases + evaporation.

• Use an air pump
• Using a fan
• Do not introduce ice cubes

The need to limit heat sources

When you use lighting and pumps, every watt you consume is then transformed into heat. Only a small part of the light received will then be transformed by the green plants thanks to the phenomenon of photosynthesis. In other cases, the water temperature may increase.

This is why it is important to limit the sources of heat by favoring the use of a ballast outside the gallery. If you do not have the possibility, then you will have to invest in an electronic ballast. Also remember to ventilate the gallery as much as possible and, if necessary, raise it slightly to allow better heat evacuation. If this is not useful, avoid operating the pumps outside the main filter.

Have you thought about room temperature?

When we talk about a warm room, it is often characterized by the presence of windows allowing exposure to the sun. However, it also increases the room temperature, so if you have an aquarium, then it is recommended to use curtains, blinds or shutters. In addition, effective ventilation is also recommended, especially during the night, so that the fresh air can lower the temperature of the room.

Technical solutions to lower the temperature of the aquarium

As a first step, you could set up an aerator. Thanks to this device, you encourage the exchange of gases, but it also allows a particularly appreciable supply of oxygen.

Because, you should know that with higher temperatures, some aquariums may suffer from a lack of oxygen. This is why the use of an aerator really makes sense.

If you use fluorescent lighting, be aware that this type of equipment will tend to undeniably heat up the temperature of the water.

Therefore, it will be necessary to reduce the number of hours of lighting or use a system that produces little heat. The third solution is simply to set up an aquarium chiller. As the name suggests, these are devices that have been specifically designed for the purpose of cooling your bin.

They act on the same principle as an external filter, but with the main function of providing cooling. However, even if aquarium coolers are particularly effective, they also have a significant cost.

In all cases, it will be necessary to use a cold group with a size corresponding to that of your aquarium. In order not to be mistaken, it is important to refer to the different specificities of the aquarium chiller by taking into consideration the diameter of the pipes required.

This is why, with a limited budget, the best solution is simply to set up aquarium fans. This is a particularly effective solution for lowering the water temperature by several degrees.

The main disadvantage is that the water evaporates much faster. So, you will have to be vigilant on this last element to make sure that the fish do not run out of water.

Actions to avoid to cool your aquarium

If you're trying to save the lives of your fish, you absolutely have to do it the right way, otherwise you'll have the opposite effect. This is why it is absolutely not recommended to place ice cubes or ice in your aquarium.

Although this action may seem obvious to many people, it should be avoided because you cannot control the drop in water temperature, which can then cause thermal shock to your fish.

Same observation on the use of a bottle with ice water. This is an even more dangerous option than the previous one and for the same reasons. Finally, there is no need to change the water temperature with a lower temperature. Again, keep in mind that fish are sensitive to this change in temperature and they may die.

_______________

At Foudebassin, it is essential to provide you with maximum advice for the maintenance of your aquarium. Are you looking for solutions? Contact us via support@foudebassin.com Our team will be happy to answer your aquarium problems.