How to Keep Your Fish Tank Cool in Hot Weather

Especially if you maintain a cold-water tank, a hot summer can raise aquarium temperatures to dangerous levels. Even if the temperatures stay within an appropriate range for the species, the fluctuations are stressful to fish. Hardy fish, such as goldfish, will get stressed and possibly ill. The temperature changes might be fatal to more delicate species, particularly marine species. Take steps to keep your aquarium from heating up during the hot weather.

Things You'll Need

  • UV film
  • Ice cube trays
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Drop-in aquarium chiller
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Instructions

    • 1

      Move the aquarium out of direct sunlight to avoid the most rapid heating.

    • 2

      Fit UV film over the windows of your home. This blocks much of the sun̵7;s heat, but still allows light through.

    • 3

      Freeze water from the aquarium, or dechlorinated water, in ice cube trays. If you have a marine tank, either use water from the tank or dechlorinated water made up to the appropriate salinity with your salt mix.

    • 4

      Place one ice cube in the tank at a time over a period of a few hours until the tank is at a suitable temperature for your fish. Monitor the temperature carefully. Sudden drops can shock fish as much as sudden rises.

    • 5

      Install an aquarium chiller if overheating is an ongoing problem. A drop-in chiller is simplest for an established aquarium.