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Air conditioner for cooling the water in the aquarium. How to cool the water in the aquarium? Cooling methods. Overheating, how to prevent high water temperatures in the aquarium
Every summer, the same question arises before aquarists - what to do when the water temperature in the aquarium exceeds 30 degrees? For beginners, such a problem at first seems far-fetched - what can happen to fish, because they are all from the tropics and should be used to the heat. However, this is misleading. Water whose temperature exceeds 30º C can be fatal for most species of fish, even if their historical homeland is countries with a hot climate.
Why is such water dangerous? First of all, the fact that with an increase in temperature, the solubility in it of the oxygen necessary for the respiration of fish decreases, and the harmful carbon dioxide increases. In addition, the process of decomposition of organic waste in heated water also goes faster, which causes a sharp increase in the concentration of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and phosphates, which can also cause mass poisoning of aquarium inhabitants. If we add here the fact that at high temperatures, many biological filters (that is, those that contain colonies of special bacteria that decompose toxic substances) also stop working, since the bacteria die from overheating, it turns out that it is in the heat that the aquarium is most vulnerable to organic pollution.
It should also be noted that not all fish are able to endure a sharp increase in temperature. Many of them, like terrestrial creatures, become victims of heatstroke, which, surprisingly, can also strike in the water column. Perhaps only discus and some types of labyrinth fish feel comfortable in an overheated aquarium. All the rest usually begin to "protest" against the heat already at 28-29º C.
Overheating also affects the operation of aquarium equipment. After all, the various filters and pumps we use do not have their own cooling system, they are cooled by the water that they pass through themselves. But superheated water is a very poor "protector" against overheating of the motors of aquarium electrical appliances, so it is not surprising that they fail more often in the heat.
Marine aquariums in the heat lurks another danger. With an increase in air temperature, the evaporation of water increases, but the amount of salt contained in it, as we know, does not change. This leads to an increase in the overall salinity of the water, which, in turn, causes metabolic disorders and a surge in various diseases in marine fish and invertebrates.
So, as you can see, it is better not to overheat. But here a natural (especially relevant for the abnormally hot summer of this year) question arises - how to deal with it if it does happen? In fact, there are ways to deal with it. But each of them has both its advantages and disadvantages.
For a long time in the assortment of various aquarium stores there are special coolers for aquarium water (or chillers, as professionals call them). This device, weighing about 15 kg, resembling a small box with hoses, is connected directly to the aquarium (or external filter) and, pumping water through itself, cools it. It has been experimentally established that in aquariums up to 100 liters in volume, the chiller can maintain a temperature 8-10 ° C below the ambient temperature, and in larger ones - 4-5 ° C. These "refrigerators" have proven themselves very well, they are reliable and do not require a lot of electricity.
However, they also have some drawbacks, among which one of the most important is the high price. Now it is difficult to find a chiller suitable for your aquarium (even made in China) that would cost less than $500. And if your aquarium is large and you need to connect several “refrigerators” to it, then you can generally go broke.
In addition, many chillers operate reliably only when the ambient temperature does not exceed 35 ° C. At higher temperatures, their efficiency decreases sharply. So in a heat like the one that the Russians and their pets experienced this summer, they may not be useful at all.
But the main drawback of this device is that it also does not have its own cooling system. Working for several hours without a break, the engine heats up the entire device so much that it starts not to cool, but to heat the water passing through it (nothing can be done about it, no one has yet been able to cancel the law of conservation of energy). This means that you need an additional device in order to cool the chiller itself (usually they just put a fan near it), then a device for cooling the “cooler”, etc. As a result, we have a huge electricity bill and a still overheated aquarium.
Is it possible to do without all this? Of course yes. For example, attach several computer "coolers" with inside aquarium lid (of course, so that they do not touch the water). The flow of chilled air created by them will lower the temperature of the surface layers by the same 4-5 ° C. And in order to cool the entire thickness, it is necessary to install a pump in the aquarium that will perform vertical mixing of water (for the same purposes, you can use ordinary air compressor). Then warm water from the depths will rise to the surface, cool there and again sink to the bottom.
The disadvantage of this method of cooling is that the "coolers" and the pump will create a very intense current, which not all fish like. Some of them, for example, danios or pantodons living near the surface, or neons - inhabitants of the water column, can be frightened by powerful currents of water and migrate to calmer areas of the aquarium, where not this crazy circulation, but where, as you understand, due to its absence more hot. It turns out that when we create such a cooling system, we “drive out” some fish to places of the greatest overheating. That is, in other words, we arrange a vicious circle.
In addition, this method is not very good due to the fact that an increase in the number of electrical appliances (again, without their own cooling system) in a single aquarium can result in an overall increase in temperature. And also create a strong electromagnetic field that will negatively affect the health and behavior of fish, since these creatures are very sensitive even to weak electromagnetic vibrations.
So, it turns out that the most reliable ways to lower the water temperature in the aquarium are those that our grandfathers used. One of them is a daily water change. The essence of this method is that part of the heated water is replaced with colder water and the overall temperature in the aquarium decreases. In an extreme situation, you can even replace up to 50 percent of the volume of the aquarium. However, in the event that the weather is extremely hot, there is nowhere to get this coolest water, because due to the heating of the water pipes, often even warm water comes out of the tap.
A more reliable way is to place bottles or ice packs in the aquarium. At the same time, care should be taken that the ice storage container is carefully closed, because if very cold water leaks into the aquarium, the fish can die from sudden hypothermia. It is advisable to place such "refrigerators" in the least visited corner of the aquarium - sometimes even a short touch of a fish on an ice storage can end badly for it.
Every summer before the owners aquariums
Instruction
aquariums
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Related videos
note
The main disadvantage of cooling water with a fan is the loss of water. In a week, about 5 liters evaporate from a 100 liter aquarium. In addition, the humidity in the room is very high, which can be harmful to others. Also, too high humidity can lead to damage to furniture and the formation of mold fungi on the walls.
How to cool the water in the aquarium? Cooling methods
Measuring instruments
Ice cubes
How do we make cool tea in summer? We throw ice into it and enjoy its taste. The same principle can be adopted if the question arose of how to cool the water in the aquarium on your own. If you have a small aquarium, then just freeze the cubes and throw them into the vessel. The temperature drops quite quickly, but you need to watch, as soon the water will heat up again.
If the aquarium is large, this method is not suitable. You will need several kilograms of ice to normalize the temperature of the water. Why not? We take plastic bags or plastic bottles (2 liters), fill with water and freeze. Now carefully place this vessel on the bottom of the aquarium and observe the temperature. Remember that a large amount of ice will lower the temperature very quickly and greatly, so be prepared to stop the experiment. This is the most effective way. In addition, it can help out if you leave for a long time, and it is very hot outside. Then throw an ice pack, close the curtains and go about your business.
Using a filter
The temperature is above the critical point
You need to start sounding the alarm when the thermometer rose above 26 degrees. In this case, you need to urgently decide how to cool the water in the aquarium. At the same time, if there are a huge number of heating devices, of all shapes and sizes, then everything is very modest with coolers. There are practically no special offers on the market that could make life easier for the inhabitants of your home pond.
First of all, mothers need to think about how to lower the temperature in the room in which the aquarium is located. All methods are suitable for this. The ideal solution will be a modern climate control system or air conditioning. In this case, you no longer have to worry about the temperature of the water, except to heat it up for the most heat-loving inhabitants. And if there is no air conditioning in the room, and the sun is scorching mercilessly? 
We close the windows
aquarium lid
Size matters
Frequent water changes
Water aeration as a way to reduce temperature
Technique on the verge of fantasy
❶ How to cool an aquarium:: Equipment and accessories
Every summer before the owners aquariums one problem arises - what to do when the water in the aquarium heats up to 30 degrees. It is known that such a temperature can be fatal for most species of fish. So what to do?
Instruction
1. Too high water temperature in the aquarium is dangerous because the solubility of oxygen in it decreases, while the content of harmful carbon dioxide increases. In addition, the decomposition of organic matter occurs faster in overheated water, and this can also cause poisoning of the inhabitants of the aquarium. Please note that not all fish can tolerate a sharp increase in water temperature, many can get heatstroke. Also, overheating Negative influence for the operation of aquarium equipment, since various filters and pumps are not equipped with their own cooling system, they are cooled with the help of water passed through themselves, overheated water often causes them to fail. So how to cool the water in the aquarium in extreme heat? There are several ways, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
2. Use special coolers for aquariums. Such devices are reliable and do not consume a lot of electricity. However, note that they have their downsides. They are very expensive (less than $500 and don't count), aquarium large sizes will require multiple devices, which means exorbitant costs. In addition, many of these devices work only on the condition that the ambient temperature does not rise above 35 ° C, which, with abnormal heat in summer period makes them just useless. In addition, these devices are not equipped with their own cooling systems, which means that you will have to cool the device itself (most often with a fan).
3. Try to use for cooling aquariums the so-called "grandfather" methods. For example, change part of the water in the aquarium daily. Take some of the warmed water and replace it with colder water, thereby lowering the overall temperature of the water in the aquarium. In the most advanced cases, replace up to half of all the water in the aquarium.
4. Method two (even more effective). Place ice packs in the aquarium. The main thing is to make sure that the ice container is well closed, because if a leak occurs, the fish may die due to sudden hypothermia. Put ice packs in the least visited corners of your aquarium, as the contact of fish with the ice pack can end in failure. Change packages every 5-6 hours. And one more tip. In extreme heat, keep the lid of the aquarium open, as the evaporation of water will help reduce the temperature of the water. If you keep the so-called jumping fish, then cover the aquarium with a mesh with small cells (precisely small so that the fish do not get stuck in them).
The hot sun heats up the apartment, and with it your aquarium. Not all of its inhabitants will like such tropics. Therefore, the owner will have to think about how in the aquarium even before his pets begin to get sick from overheating. In fact, there are many ways to do this. If you think and approach the matter with imagination, you can find new, original solutions. However, let's talk about everything in order.
Measuring instruments
This is a necessity that is often overlooked by beginner aquarists. If you have heat-loving fish or ordinary guppies that normally survive with a temperature range of 15 to 30 degrees, then you can sleep peacefully. But barbs and goldfish will stop eating as soon as the water temperature rises above 27. Yes, and tropical beauties feel good at temperatures from 24 to 26 degrees. This is not to mention snails and aquarium plants, which do not tolerate overheating at all. Thus, before thinking about how to cool the water in the aquarium, you must definitely install a thermometer.
The temperature is above the critical point
You need to start sounding the alarm when the thermometer rose above 26 degrees. In this case, you need to urgently decide how to cool the water in the aquarium. At the same time, if there are a huge number of heating devices, of all shapes and sizes, then everything is very modest with coolers. There are practically no special offers on the market that could make life easier for the inhabitants of your home pond.
First of all, mothers need to think about how to lower the temperature in the room in which the aquarium is located. All methods are suitable for this. The ideal solution would be a modern climate control system or air conditioning. In this case, you no longer have to worry about the temperature of the water, except to heat it up for the most heat-loving inhabitants. And if there is no air conditioning in the room, and the sun is scorching mercilessly?
We close the windows
Since it is quite difficult to cool the water in the aquarium, let's try to create favorable conditions for this. First of all, you can remember about blackout curtains that cover the windows. This avoids heating the water in the aquarium by direct sunlight. However, the air temperature in the room is still rising, which means that the water will also heat up.
In this case, screening films on windows and on the aquarium itself are a good solution. The shiny material that covers the inside of cooler bags is ideal for this. Such a screen allows you to protect your room and home flowers from overheating, and at the same time maintains normal conditions for the life of fish.
Recall the school physics course
Speaking about how to cool the water in the aquarium in the summer, it is necessary to remember how cooling can occur? That's right, evaporation. To use this mechanism, you need to wrap the aquarium with a thick wet cloth. As it dries, it will need to be moistened again. Evaporation will cool the walls of the aquarium, and you will achieve the desired effect.
aquarium lid
When figuring out how to cool the water in an aquarium, do not forget about the easy way. Open the lid and increase evaporation. Due to this, the temperature of the water will begin to drop sharply. If you are worried that the fish may jump out, then tighten the top with a thin cloth or gauze.
The second point is aquarium lamps. In extreme heat, be sure to turn them off, as they themselves heat the water.
Size matters
Indeed, if we talk about how to cool the water in an aquarium in the heat, then the question immediately arises of how much volume we are talking about. A small container in the sun literally boils, and this happens quite quickly. However, it is much easier to cool water in it. If we are talking about a container of many hundreds of liters, then such a colossus is more difficult to heat, but the reverse process will be more difficult.
The temperature is much more stable in large aquariums. Here, its inhabitants have the opportunity to go to the bottom layers, which do not warm up so much, and wait out the intense heat. Therefore, if you do not have air conditioning, then choose an aquarium with a volume of at least 300-500 liters.
Frequent water changes
In the bathroom, the temperature is usually much lower than in all the others. In the heat here, you should have several buckets of water to settle constantly. The rest of the principle is clear. Drain the hot water from the aquarium and add fresh water. However, a sudden change can harm your underwater inhabitants. Therefore, it is desirable to carry out partial replacement, 10-15%. If possible, this procedure can be performed every hour.
Water aeration as a way to reduce temperature
Why are many seasoned aquarists so concerned about how to quickly cool the water in the aquarium? First of all, because as the water temperature rises, the amount of oxygen dissolved in it sharply decreases. That is, aeration on hot days is very necessary and important. In this case, you can use some tricks. For example, move the filter closer to the surface of the water so that it creates movement. If you have an external filter installed, then install a flute that pours water above the surface of the water. With the lid open, this will increase gas exchange and cool the water.
Technique on the verge of fantasy
In fact, aquarium life support systems already exist today. It is engaged not only in heating water, controlling its hardness and softness, but can also cool if necessary. This happens with the help of special tanks that are in contact with copper tubes filled with freon. Water passing through them becomes cold. But such systems are too expensive to be popular.
Aquarists usually find their positions much easier. They remove the lamps from the lid of the aquarium and install fans in their place. You can simply take a home fan and direct it to the surface of the water.
Ice cubes
How do we make cool tea in summer? We throw ice into it and enjoy its taste. The same principle can be adopted if the question arose of how to cool the water in the aquarium on your own. If you have a small aquarium, then just freeze the cubes and throw them into the vessel. The temperature drops quite quickly, but you need to watch, as soon the water will heat up again.
If the aquarium is large, this method is not suitable. You will need several kilograms of ice to normalize the temperature of the water. Why not? We take plastic bags or plastic bottles (2 liters), fill with water and freeze. Now carefully place this vessel on the bottom of the aquarium and observe the temperature. Remember that a large amount of ice will lower the temperature very quickly and greatly, so be prepared to stop the experiment. This is the most efficient way. In addition, it can help out if you leave for a long time, and it is very hot outside. Then throw an ice pack, close the curtains and go about your business.
Using a filter
If you have an internal filter installed, then it can become an assistant. Since the easiest way to cool water is with ice, you freeze the cubes in the freezer, and then open your filter. From it you need to remove the washcloth and what it is attached to. Instead, ice is placed in the container. The water in this case cools very quickly, so it is important to monitor the temperature and turn off the filter as needed. Do not forget that beneficial bacteria live in the washcloth. They need to be left floating in the aquarium, otherwise you can dry them out and they will die.
Summing up
As you can see, there are really many ways. You can choose one of them or use a whole range of measures. It depends primarily on how hot it is outside. If one day the heat has stood and the breeze has risen, then, most likely, none of the described will be useful to you. But if the heat is not the first week and the whole house is hot, like an oven, then you will have to show miracles of ingenuity so that your fish can normally endure this summer.
Optimal for its inhabitants ranges from 22-28°C. When it's hot outside, you definitely need to watch the behavior of your pets. The high temperature in the aquarium helps to reduce the level of oxygen in the water. The fish are forced to swim in upper layers water, they become less mobile. In addition, plants are also uncomfortable in the heat, the process of decay of organic substances is accelerated, and biological filters become ineffective. For artificial reservoirs sea water, the danger is also that the concentration of salts increases. There are various tips on how to lower the temperature in the aquarium, from which we choose the most suitable for ourselves. Our main task is to increase aeration and filtration.
How to cool the aquarium in the heat?
The first thing to do is remove from the aquarium. Evaporation itself is a way to lower the temperature in an aquarium. It is advisable to close the windows during the daytime so that hot air does not enter the room, but the rays of the sun on the aquarium, and to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the compressor. It is better to turn off lighting fixtures as heat sources, and put the aquarium itself, if possible, on the floor. These simple measures will help to lower the water temperature by 3-4°C without investment.
Another cheap way to cool water is to use ice. Plastic bottles with water chilled in the freezer, they are immersed in an aquarium, while controlling the temperature. It must be taken into account that too sharp a decrease in temperature has a bad effect on the fish.
Fans are widely used to lower the temperature in the aquarium. 
A small effect can be obtained from ordinary floor if you direct the air flow to the water. Having adopted progress, coolers from computers are used for blowing. Installed in the lid of the reservoir, they drive the air away, working for evaporation. And one air pumps in, and the other pulls out.
A more expensive method is to buy a chiller, a kind of air conditioner for aquariums. But, unfortunately, not everyone can afford such a luxury. And the chiller itself is more suitable for large aquariums. It has been noticed that if the heat is too high, this device, without a cooling system, may not be able to cope with its task. It is possible in this situation to buy an ordinary air conditioner, when both the fish and their owners would feel good, it will be more useful.
Every aquarist knows that not all types of fish endure the summer heat, when the water in the aquarium is heated to the limit. High temperatures can not only harm and cause discomfort to the pet, but even lead to death. Therefore, it is important to know how to cool the water in the aquarium to the temperature you need. There are several options for exactly how to do this.
Turn off the lights
The very first thing to do in the presence of lighting in the aquarium is to turn it off, because the lamps heat the water. A couple of days the aquarium can do without it. If there is no way to turn it off, then there are many other options.
Control stations
If you want to monitor not only the temperature, but absolutely all the parameters of the liquid in the aquarium, then you need a control station. It can detect heat and cool water to the right temperature.
However, this method is very expensive, and such stations will most likely have to be ordered from abroad. Not all fish need precise control of water parameters. Therefore, such devices are purchased mainly by professionals who have rather capricious individuals that need special care.
Methods related to aeration
Open the lid
Many types of aquarium lids prevent air from circulating inside the water tank. To lower the temperature, just remove the lid from the aquarium. This method helps well in the summer, on those days when there is no particular heat. If you are afraid for your fish, and you are worried that they might jump out of the tank, then cover the tank with a light cloth or choose another method.
Decrease in ambient temperature
Probably the easiest method of all presented. The temperature of the water in the aquarium directly depends on how warm the air around is, so that the water does not overheat, it is enough to close the curtains. Then the sun's rays will not penetrate into the room and heat the air in it. You can also use air conditioning, if available.
Changing filter options
Heating mainly affects the amount of air dissolved in water. The hotter it is, the less it is. If you have an internal filter, then place it as close to the surface of the water as possible, the movement of water created by it will cool. If the filter is external, then additionally install the so-called "flute", a nozzle that allows you to pour water onto the surface, which will provide sufficient aeration and reduce the temperature.
cooler
The method is cheap, however, it will be necessary to work hard. Probably every house has an old computer with a cooler. With it, you can cool the water in the aquarium, just mount it in the lid of the water tank.
To do this, you will need: an aquarium cover, an old cooler, an old 12 volt phone charger and silicone sealant. Also, all this can be purchased in the store. The cooler costs on average up to 120 rubles, for the charger they will ask for 100 rubles.
- Put the cooler on the cover in the place where you would like to install it later, and circle it.
- On the resulting contour, cut a hole in the lid.
- Insert the cooler into the hole and coat the space between the cover and the cooler with sealant. Let the structure dry. The exact drying time can be read on the sealant packaging.
- After the sealant dries, take an old charger, cut off the plug that was inserted into the phone and strip the wires.
- Twist the wires with the charger wires. Usually they are divided by color into black and red. It is important to connect black to black and red to red, otherwise the cooler will spin in the opposite direction. If the wires are of other colors, then be guided by this feature: blue or brown can be connected to black, the rest of the colors are suitable for red. If both wires are black, then first try twisting them in the same position. If the propeller spins in the opposite direction, then swap them.
- It is very easy to check in which direction the cooler is blowing. It is enough to take a small thread, 5 centimeters long, and bring it to the cooler from the back. If it wriggles, then the cooler is connected incorrectly, it is worth swapping the wires. If it sways, but remains relatively straight, then the connection is correct.
For the best effect, it is advised to put 2 coolers, one for the input and one for the output. Also, for better aeration, they should be at a slight angle relative to the water. In summer, it is recommended not to turn off the coolers at night, otherwise you will have to get up before the sun, because after sunrise the water warms up very quickly.
The downside is the complexity of the method, since not everyone has sufficient knowledge and means to build such a structure.
Lowering the water temperature
With a filter
If you have an internal filter, then in addition to aeration, there is another way that will help you cool the water in the aquarium. Remove the filter pad from the device and replace it with ice. This method will allow you to cool the water, even in the heat, in a matter of minutes. However, you need to constantly monitor the temperature, as you can accidentally supercool the water, which will also adversely affect the fish.
ice bottle
The most popular way. Usually, ice is frozen in 2 ice bottles, then these bottles are immersed in the aquarium. The method is similar to the previous one, however, the cooling is more extended and smoother. But still, do not forget to monitor the temperature inside the aquarium.
These methods will help your pets get through the summer heat without any problems. Remember that fish are at their most active at the right temperature, which not only looks good, but will allow them to live long and healthy lives.
