Habitat - Indoor :: Lowering water temperature.

[LetsGoPens]

Good morning.

I have a problem. I live on the PA/OH border, and the saying around here is, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes". We'll go from 55 degrees outside last week, to 92 today. I don't yet have central air in my house, and I'm a little worried about my two RES.

I have a 120 gallon set-up right now, and I'm waiting on a 500 gallon aquarium and stand to be delivered (it was that or central air this year... my wife let me get the new tank, science love her).

My problem is that during days like today, my water temperature won't go below 82-83 degrees. I have two heaters right now that are turned off (and I'll turn them on at night when the air temperature drops. Any ideas on how I can get my water temp down through the hot summer days?

[jenaero]

I resorted to freezing bottles of water and throwing them in the tank last year. Keep an eye on the thermometer if you're going to do this. Aside from that, I'm not sure.

[papoopeepoo]

I did the same thing as janaero last year. I probably got the idea from her.

I froze gallon jugs of water and just let them thaw like huge ice cubes in the "mixed drink" aquarium. One 1-gallon jug generally dropped my 110 gallons of water about 1 degree Farenheit.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Keep the heaters off all the time. It wont hurt your turtles if the water drops below 76. It probably wont drop below that anyway. Dont even worry about the water temps unless it starts hitting 90. It wont hurt them if it gets warm. The water temps in creeks and ponds will hit in the 80s during the summer.

I have to move my small turtles habitat outside soon. Needs more shade but the water temps are hitting 86 and you still see them basking.

[Lilsaint]

its that warm there? In South California indoors is about 70s hardly hit 80

[Diamondbacks4Life]

its that warm there? In South California indoors is about 70s hardly hit 80

He is right we are having crazy weather right now been high 80s/90s past couple days. It is susposed to be 88 tomorrow then friday be 64 O.o lol

[tidaboy9]

You can get a nice Electronic thermometer!!

You can get EXTERMILY expensive Aquarium chillers!


Go down to colling water

http://www.redearslider.com/water_temperature.html

Sry if i was not that big of a help!

[marisa]

Yesterday CT was officially the hottest place in the country---it hit 99F, a new record.

I've tried the frozen bottle thing, and while in a smaller tank the small bottles will lower it a degree or two, for bigger tanks partial water changes have been more effective.

[oostern]

I have the same concern:
My 20g tank is hitting 85, approaching 90 on these hot days. Outside it was 95+ several days this week. We are on the top floor of an old, uninsulated house, and the a/c air does not reach the room where the turtle is.

My solution is to turn off the basking light when its this hot, and keep the tank partially open. I also increased the water flow thru the filter, and I will try to position a fan near the top of the tank to increase the cooling effects of evaporation. I assume my tank heater won't go on, but I suppose I can unplug it for the month.

That said, I like the frozen water bottle idea! Maybe I do this once a day when the temperature is above 90 outside. Since its a small tank, it should help.

Any other thoughts?
When is my turtle's health at risk?

[untsmurf]

since your tank is so large you shouldn't need to turn off the basking lights. But definitely leave the heaters off. I use the frozen jug method for my 125 in the summer, it's the only way to keep my tank from overheating that doesn't cost tons of money. We kept 5 jugs on hand and would swap out two at a time throughout the day.

[harleysmom]

I have the same problem. My 75 gallon REFUSES to go below 80 degrees, no matter how cool I make the house with central air, how many ice cubes I drop in. when I do a partial water change [about 15% of the tank water, once every 1-2 weeks] I fill it back up again with the coldest tap water possible...still no luck.

I think I will try the frozen bottle tip. That is all I can suggest!!

[oostern]

since your tank is so large you shouldn't need to turn off the basking lights.

Its only 20 gallons - I don't think of that as large. Perhaps you mis-read the size. When the basking light is on for several hours it raises my water temperature by 5 degrees.
The turtle is less than a year old, so I've kept the temperature closer to 80. But I dont want to cook the poor thing this summer!

It looks like the tank will get at least 1 iced bottle per afternoon.
Maybe the basking light is on for only an hour in the killer heat.

I also have to figure out how to handle a week's vacation...That definitely seems like a time to keep the basking light off.