This heat is killing my corals

That one guy · Jun 21, 2016

Within 24hrs I've lost 7 corals including my big colony of strawberry short cake acro. If you don't have a chiller please get one and don't be like me. I'm trying the best I can to control the temperature down. 90 dregrees and above is where it's been these past hours and nothin has changed. Corals look super stressed. I think this is the end for me and my reef :(
The full tank shot is how it used to look and to show off how it looks right now is heart breaking I could only show some pics. My reef needs a miracle :'(

pirate2876 · Jun 21, 2016

Turn off the lights. Any fans on top could help

Maddlesrain · Jun 21, 2016

Try cranking up the AC in your home, and as Pirate2876 suggested, direct fans on it. You might be able to put icepacks in the sump (make sure they absolutely don't leak!!) to cool it down a little too depending on how big your tank is and how many icepacks you have.
Sending good vibes your way!

Tahoe61 · Jun 21, 2016

The ambient temperature of the room should keep the tank temp down. I live in AZ and it was 120 degrees at my house yesterday. I use Hydra lighting as well. Fans will help as previously mentioned but evaporation will go up as well.

Sorry for your loss and frustration, that looks like a great tank.

Prozack199 · Jun 21, 2016

Man This Sucks You Got Such a Nice Tank, Hope You Can Get The Temp Down.

Piranhapat · Jun 21, 2016

Fill up some water plastic bottles and freeze them and float them in sump.

RyanCSGO · Jun 21, 2016

I put a standard desk top fan up on the wall. Doesn't look the greatest, but dropped the temp on my tank about 2.5-3 degrees.

Diesel · Jun 21, 2016

90 degrees is a lot, IMO if you run the AC it never can get that high.
Make sure your heater isn't on by default, it ain't the first time I hear that.
Check on pumps in the sump if they not running to hot by put your hand on them for about 30 sec.
Your light is a no brainer, you need light but you can just reduce it at least by 50% for a few days.
What is your room temperature?

NeuroticAquatics · Jun 21, 2016

Are you running AC? I've had mine set at 78 with ceiling fans going and all my tanks (from 28g-240g) have stayed cool. It was 126 in my neck of the woods yesterday.

Fingers crossed for you and the corals.

marcoss · Jun 21, 2016

So sorry to read! I agree- there must equipment failure to get that high or your AC is on the fritz. I run T5s on one tank and can keep it around 75 with a fan blowing across the water. I live in Utah and we hit 101 yesterday.

Mushroom Boy · Jun 21, 2016

Oh man, that's terrible. I hope you're able to get it under control. I would definitely have a couple fans blowing across the surface of the water to encourage evaporative cooling. Good luck!

CenlaReefer · Jun 21, 2016

Sorry for the trouble you are having. Any updates? I have a backup window a/c unit in my living room area in case the central unit is having a hard time keeping up or if it even fails. The only thing that is a risk for me would be a power outage.

Eienna · Jun 22, 2016

Mine has been suffering from the heat, too. A/C is broken. Gonna start with the water bottle bit today.
There's no way I could afford a chiller and the electric bill it would rack up....

Mushroom Boy · Jun 22, 2016

My experience is that if you can get fans over the surface of the water, it will be far more effective than the ice in the bottle trick. Sustained evaporation does wonders to rapidly cool a tank. Just the little clip on fans that you get at your local drug store have worked very well for me in the past.

Mushroom Boy · Jun 23, 2016

Any update?

ngvu1 · Jun 23, 2016

If the tank is open top, having a fan blowing across the water surface is going to work. So Cal is nice until this weekend. Open the windows at night to cool the house buffering for the next noon :-);
My tank was 78 when in side the house was 87. I was testing to see how much my fans could handle....Evaporation is huge though.

Eienna said:
Mine has been suffering from the heat, too. A/C is broken. Gonna start with the water bottle bit today.
There's no way I could afford a chiller and the electric bill it would rack up....

Bunnee911 · Jun 23, 2016

An ATO is cheap insurance if you don't have one. I run a muffin fan on my Biocube 24/7. Allows me to keep the stock lights. My ATO container has limewater in it.

Eienna · Jun 23, 2016

ngvu1 said:
If the tank is open top, having a fan blowing across the water surface is going to work. So Cal is nice until this weekend. Open the windows at night to cool the house buffering for the next noon :);
My tank was 78 when in side the house was 87. I was testing to see how much my fans could handle....Evaporation is huge though.

Other than not having a fan for it yet, we're doing that, thanks n.n

That one guy · Jul 12, 2016

After two weeks after the whole heat nightmare my reef was strong enough to survive. Just lost a couple frags and not to mention my strawberry shortcake colony. At this moment some are fully recovered and some still in process. I never saw my clown trigger as well as two chromis. The heat still goes on here in Cali at 80-90 degrees outside but been keeping my tank cool with ice fans and with the ac on seems to do the trick. I would of added a chiller but my reef runs sumpless. Thanks for the tips and for keeping in touch.