Chillers, Fans and Air Conditioning: How will you keep the tank cool this summer?

[Mike from TN]

Central A/C keeps out house at a pretty comfortable temp year round. I do have an aquarium cooling fan above my tank. It’s designed to mount to the rim of the tank but I made a bracket to suspend it above the tank. Did this for a few reasons.
1. No salt creep on to the fan from the glass
2. No vibrations from the fan resonating through the tank
3. I didn’t want to cut a notch in my screen cover to accommodate the fan mount.
Its plugged into the “chiller” side of my Inkbird. It kicks on at 80* and drops the temp to the set 79* within a few minutes.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Canada is a place of extremes. WInters are FREEZING, and our summers are BURNING HOT. My tank would sometimes get up to like 83F, once it went to 85. I usually keep a fan running in my room in the summer, but if it gets too hot I will take some ice cubes, place them in a plastic bag and float the bag. I've heard of some people who would take tank water, freeze it to make saltwater ice cubes, and they would jsut place them into the tank. I'll probably give that a try sometime soon.

 

[Ippyroy]

I finally get to go down to only one heater. I have to run 2 all winter here in Montana at 6700 foot elevation. During the summer we might reach the 80s for a week or 2. I don't even own an AC, just open the windows and run a box fan.

 

[SPS2020]

1. How do you keep your saltwater aquarium cool during the hot months?
JBJ 1\3 hp chiller on my IM 100 EXT.

2. Do you struggle to maintain a cooler temperature in your reef tank at times?
Most certainly, without the aid of a chiller. It gets hot here in central NC in the summer.

 

[David Gaskins]

Our house has central air, but keeping all the rooms at comfortable levels in SE Georgia in summer is a challenge, and that’s without adding the load of a 200 G reef tank w/8bulb T5 fixture. I had the luck of getting oldest kids room donated as “fish room” after he moved out, and ended up keeping things comfortable in room with a decent window AC unit. Keeps tank at 78 (InkBird controller for heaters) when 98 outside.
Sincerely,
David

 

[ZoWhat]

 

[luisgo]

Live in Puerto Rico and there is no way I can keep my tank without a chiller during 10 months of the year! My tank is outside in a terrace and air conditioning is not an option. I have a spare chiller just in case.

 

[robert teseo]

chiller/ heater combo. truly, the best $$$ i spent on equipment

 

[revenant]

Home AC... I keep the house around 72 ~ 74 during the summer months. I suffered without central AC for YEARS and now when it's hot out I use the crap out of it. My tank hovers around 79.something during the summer.

 

[Mike Butler]

Here in Australia we have just finished with summer which was fairly mild this year in Sydney. I have used a chiller for years now and it's proven to be the best thing to keep my tank cool and stable.

 

[elcapitan1993]

I haven’t had to deal with summer heat yet and I’m a little worried because I cannot afford to buy a chiller for my 90 gallon and I don’t know what else I can do, my freshwater tanks usually go up to 84-85 degrees but I know corals cannot deal with that so basically I’m screwed so far

 

[Moab_Reefer]

Run a swamp cooler in the house and fans on the sump in the fuge.

 

[drblakjak55]

Four tanks in Mancave/basement. Stays quite stable around 72 all year

 

[eleslie3]

as with sp1187 - Tank is in the basement so it is all about humidity control and ATO

 

[Peace River]

I have several tanks that are cooled by fans and air conditioning. I do have one reef in a semi-climate controlled space here in Florida so that is always a challenge. Tank temps can reach 86F in the summer so clearly I am pushing the boundaries and it creates a learning space for me.

 

[54Dutchman]

The tank is in the basement which never goes above 75 degrees.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I live in Buffalo NY so not too many days over 90 in this region. that said, I like to be cool so keep central air at 74 degrees F.

 

[Jax15]

I live it San Diego, and it can get warm. Previously I'd use fans, with frozen RO bottles in the freezer for those really hot days. Fans are good for ~1-2 degrees, bottles are a huge pain. But! I'm now the proud owner of central AC, and I'm so glad I won't have to do the whole song and dance this summer!

 

[paul barker]

I don't do nothing I live in north Boston New York it's gets it don't get that hit here in the summer in the 80s haven't had a problem yet tank runs 76 to 86

 

[paul barker]

I live in Buffalo NY so not too many days over 90 in this region. that said, I like to be cool so keep central air at 74 degrees F.

I am 20 minutes south of Buffalo