Air Conditioner Out!

[thedude]

Ok,

So after a lovely weekend I come back to an apartment skyrocketing into the 90's. Luckily, the ac unit went out on the day I was coming back or I'd have a dead tank. Now, I don't run a chiller and with the AC on, run the tank at 79-80 degrees. The tank currently is sitting with the lights unplugged, and a fan blowing on top of the water and is sitting right at 84-85. Nothing seems to be worse for the wear (I was deathly afraid of acro meltdowns) but my question is, how long can the tank sit at this elevated temperature?

[Polkster13]

Another thing you can try is placing Ziplock bags containing ice in the tank until you can get the AC fixed. Good luck.

[thedude]

Yeah thanks for the suggestion Polkster, I actually did that. It dropped the temperature a very very tiny bit, which I thought was suprising.

[::pete::]

Or just freeze up some empty 2 liter or similar containers as the large chunk will melt slower. Then just toss it back in the freezer if needed.

[thedude]

Nope that's the good thing. I have plenty of power, just a horrible apartment manager and an AC unit that would work much better as a doorstop.

[thedude]

So, get home at 9 and immediately notice that it's even hotter and that the apartment has begun to smell of the ocean. Walk over to the tank immediately and can find no deaths but temp has climbed to 88 even with ice. I've got liter bottles in the freezer and I'm waiting to drop them in. I'm starting to get desperate, as in a tub of once frozen margaritas is currently residing in the sump. With the margarita surprise added to the tank (don't worry it's in a bucket, I'm not desperate enough to let the fish go out with a bang...yet) I can't help but wonder if this is the end of a 2 year journey...85 degrees and slowly coming down... I have a feeling that I won't be sleeping much tonight, I mean I could go to a friends, but then who would watch the tank.

[NaCl_H2O]

Does anyone out there have a spare chiller for this "dude"? I have a spare pump that would run a in-line chiller if anyone has one!

The fans and ice bags are your best bet ... hope you get some sleep!

[thedude]

Thanks guys I really appreciate ya'll pulling for me. I've got the "Vornado" on the tank currently and putting frozen stuff in the sump as fast as my freezer will freeze. I've now officially emptied every viable water container I could think of. I have a pump as well Steve and many thanks for your kind offer. All I know is, I'm going to be buying a chiller real soon. So like Steve asked, anyone have a smaller inline cooler they don't want anymore? I'd gladly buy it to try to save these critters. Back to staring at the tank, I'm almost tempted to blow across the water myself.

[NaCl_H2O]

I'm almost tempted to blow across the water myself.

LOL ... that will add CO2 :o

Here is a thought, how fast can you make RO/DI and do a water change? The water out of your RO/DI is bound to be in the 78 deg range ... just a thought, and probably not a very good one.

[thedude]

Yeah I'm afraid I can't make RO/DI yet. I'm one of the foolish that has put up with jugs for 2 years. That was going to be taken care of today but... I've got bigger fish (not) to fry.

[thedude]

8 am and everything is still alive and no worse for the wear (wondering when the lack of sleep will begin to affect me though... :innocent ) Frozen 2 liter in place, I'm off to work leaving her at about 83 degrees and will be able to check on it again at noon. Let's hope the animals think they're experiencing El Nino~ or something.

[thedude]

Update for ya'll. At lunch I went home to check on everyone and feed them. All is alive but it looks like they're beginning to suffer from lack of light if nothing else. It was 93 in my apt, 100+ outside and 84 in the tank. I added a huge bucket of ice into the sump and let it melt then left it with two fresh frozen 2 liters. 83 when I left but no sign of any A/C repairman. This is getting ridiculous :angry

Oh and one more thing, do any of ya'll run your reefs that high?? I'm wondering if I'm going to experience any longterm side affects from this temperature spike.

[::pete::]

Wow!!! ... is this a window AC unit or is everyone (central) having the same problem at the apartment?

[thedude]

Not a window unit, if it was one of those trust me I would have gone out and gotten one already. The way the complex is setup, each apartment is actually a condo with it's own air conditioner unit. The really crappy part about it is I've been telling them it was breaking for 3 weeks and the AC guy came out and said it was ok. Temp is at 84, I've got sitters there right now suprisingly. My starfish (the little red kind) seems to be dying quickly. It could be the heat getting to him, or it could be the potter's angel, chalk bass, or yellow assesor eating him. I also haven't seen my coris wrasse in a long long time and he def isn't under the sand (I have no sand :D )

[::pete::]

Why not rent or borrow a window unit?

[thedude]

Hmmm you make an interesting point... I'll look into that. After 6, yes count them, 6 calls to the condo owner (he should really be kicking himself for giving me his cell number) he swears to me that a repairman is coming out today. If he says we need a new unit and it's going to take awhile, I'll go about renting one. Anyone know of a place that does that? Home Depot perhaps?

[::pete::]

Aarons and places like that.

[jaded]

good idea pete... a window unit should really do the trick. Deduct the cost form next months rent?

[thedude]

They're here finally looking at the unit. It seems to be a problem with the condensor and they're about to try to ice it down and see what they find. Let's all pray I don't need a new condensor because I don't think my fish can wait for the crane to lift it on the roof :(

[thedude]

Drum Roll Please ....... a crane is lifting my new 2 ton AC unit into place as we speak! Nothing is dead for all I can tell but then again, the lights have been off for 4 days lol. Thank you all for all the advice and encouragement because without it, I might be posting this message in the Seller Forums with the title "Getting out of Hobby" instead of here. Thanks to all those who responded! :D

[GaryP]

My tank tops off at about 83 everyday with no problem. If it gets hotter then that I plug in my emergency standby cooling fans.

[Ross]

My tank would get to 86 sometimes, everything was always fine!

[thedude]

Heh, everything lived but no way would i run it at 86! Now with my beast of a chiller, I run a cool 78 degrees

[NaCl_H2O]

Now with my beast of a chiller, I run a cool 78 degrees
8) What did you get?

[thedude]

1/10th HP Pacific Coast Chiller but for a 30 gallon cube, I could cool this thing down REAL low if I wanted lol. I got a great deal on it from a guy in DFW, 250 bucks used for 9 months and works perfect. FYI if anyone is looking for a chiller aquatek had a 1/4hp customsealife one for only 400 bucks!