holy crap A/C just quit

sfilipowski · 06/14/2010, 12:04 PM

A/C quit this mornin in S.Alabama, and my tank has just hit 80.6 I just put in a small zip lock baggie with ice to float, I got fans on it but my house is up to 83 A/C repair is suppose to be here soon but I'm afraid in a few more hours it will be hotter it is forcast for 110 today with the heat index. is there anything else I can do, I thought about a wc with cooler water but don't have water mixed and that takes 24hrs right? plus that is scary to me because I would probably bring it down too much and thats probably worse? It's a 34gal redsea been up for 2yrs with no probs, anything else i might can do? or just keep floatin ice and keep checking temps.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/14/2010, 12:08 PM

Keep the ice floating and monitor the temp. The fans will help. I had my AC go out last year and my tank temp went up to about 84 or so. No real harm done.

travis32 · 06/14/2010, 12:11 PM

I would have a couple fans blowing across the surface of the tank. If you have a sump, have fans blowing across the surface of the sump... Evaporation is the key to cooling. Make sure the top of the tank is as open as it possibly can. Take any lids / covers off. Turn off the lights. (pull the light fixture off because the lights will heat up before the cool off since the fans are turned off on the lights when the lights are turned off).

Everything will be fine for up to 2 - 3 days with no lights so don't worry about that. make sure to get as much evaporation as you possibly can. The fans should help that process.

Keep things circulating with ice and I would think you'll be o.k. Remember that 83 - 84 is the high limit, so, Once you hit 86 - 90 the tank may start suffering deaths. (corals / fish).

It's reccomended you have sw mixed for 24 hours. I've mixed it for a couple hours then did a WC with no adverse effects on corals or fish. The salinity can fluctuate so, monitor SG closely if you do an emergency water change with fresh SW.

boehm742 · 06/14/2010, 12:21 PM

Tear the labels off of some water bottles fill em with RODI water freeze them and use them to keep it cool.

dcombs44 · 06/14/2010, 12:32 PM

It sounds like you have power. If this is the case:

1) Go to Wal-Mart
2) Purchase window A/C unit
3) Fix home A/C
4) Go to Wal-Mart
5) Return window A/C unit

If you don't have power, follow directions prior to my post

sfilipowski · 06/14/2010, 12:47 PM

wow thats so funny you mentioned the window unit ac because i already thought about that as I have one not in use in my basement, but I also am home alone with a broken clavicle!!! when it rains it poors. The lights have not been on today, lid is wide open, and I seeem to be havin some luck with floatin small bags one at a time. I have done this twice and have went from 80.6 to about 79. just waitin on the ac man, my house is up to 85 Sweet Home Alabama. thanks reefers

gweston · 06/14/2010, 01:19 PM

Ouch, when bad stuff happens.. it happens in bunches.

If you can keep things below ~83'ish (even better ~80), then you are good. Lots of ice in baggies plus fans will hopefully tide you over. A few weeks back my tank nudged up around 83. No harm done. Another degree or two and I'd have been initiating panic mode

travis32 · 06/14/2010, 01:29 PM

Do not press the panic button: ------------->

You'll be left feeling

SirToppemHat · 06/14/2010, 01:32 PM

My ac unit failed recently, the primary drain was clogged and casued the evap to go down the secondary, filling up the pan, causing the float switch to kill the unit.
You may want to check the pan to be sure it's not filled up with evap water.

sfilipowski · 06/14/2010, 02:38 PM

keeps gettin worse it's the compressor and they have to order one but they did help me get the window unit in since i'm one armed. I'll just keep floatin and sweatin. man what a hobby, I would sit here and bake as long as my tank stays good, the things we do. thanks again folks

06/14/2010, 12:04 PM	#1
sfilipowski Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 174	holy crap A/C just quit A/C quit this mornin in S.Alabama, and my tank has just hit 80.6 I just put in a small zip lock baggie with ice to float, I got fans on it but my house is up to 83 A/C repair is suppose to be here soon but I'm afraid in a few more hours it will be hotter it is forcast for 110 today with the heat index. is there anything else I can do, I thought about a wc with cooler water but don't have water mixed and that takes 24hrs right? plus that is scary to me because I would probably bring it down too much and thats probably worse? It's a 34gal redsea been up for 2yrs with no probs, anything else i might can do? or just keep floatin ice and keep checking temps.

06/14/2010, 12:08 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Keep the ice floating and monitor the temp. The fans will help. I had my AC go out last year and my tank temp went up to about 84 or so. No real harm done. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/14/2010, 12:21 PM	#4
boehm742 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central ILL Posts: 156	Tear the labels off of some water bottles fill em with RODI water freeze them and use them to keep it cool. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 2x20 sump/fuge, Mag18 return, Reefbrite LED's with a custom cree 3w led system, NAC7, BRS reactors and some fat fish. Biocube 14: cree powered seahorse/macro tank

06/14/2010, 12:32 PM	#5
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	It sounds like you have power. If this is the case: 1) Go to Wal-Mart 2) Purchase window A/C unit 3) Fix home A/C 4) Go to Wal-Mart 5) Return window A/C unit If you don't have power, follow directions prior to my post __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

06/14/2010, 12:11 PM	#3
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	I would have a couple fans blowing across the surface of the tank. If you have a sump, have fans blowing across the surface of the sump... Evaporation is the key to cooling. Make sure the top of the tank is as open as it possibly can. Take any lids / covers off. Turn off the lights. (pull the light fixture off because the lights will heat up before the cool off since the fans are turned off on the lights when the lights are turned off). Everything will be fine for up to 2 - 3 days with no lights so don't worry about that. make sure to get as much evaporation as you possibly can. The fans should help that process. Keep things circulating with ice and I would think you'll be o.k. Remember that 83 - 84 is the high limit, so, Once you hit 86 - 90 the tank may start suffering deaths. (corals / fish). It's reccomended you have sw mixed for 24 hours. I've mixed it for a couple hours then did a WC with no adverse effects on corals or fish. The salinity can fluctuate so, monitor SG closely if you do an emergency water change with fresh SW.

06/14/2010, 12:47 PM	#6
sfilipowski Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 174	wow thats so funny you mentioned the window unit ac because i already thought about that as I have one not in use in my basement, but I also am home alone with a broken clavicle!!! when it rains it poors. The lights have not been on today, lid is wide open, and I seeem to be havin some luck with floatin small bags one at a time. I have done this twice and have went from 80.6 to about 79. just waitin on the ac man, my house is up to 85 Sweet Home Alabama. thanks reefers

06/14/2010, 01:19 PM	#7
gweston Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gardner, MA Posts: 961	Ouch, when bad stuff happens.. it happens in bunches. If you can keep things below ~83'ish (even better ~80), then you are good. Lots of ice in baggies plus fans will hopefully tide you over. A few weeks back my tank nudged up around 83. No harm done. Another degree or two and I'd have been initiating panic mode

06/14/2010, 01:29 PM	#8
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	Do not press the panic button: -------------> You'll be left feeling

06/14/2010, 01:32 PM	#9
SirToppemHat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 472	My ac unit failed recently, the primary drain was clogged and casued the evap to go down the secondary, filling up the pan, causing the float switch to kill the unit. You may want to check the pan to be sure it's not filled up with evap water.

06/14/2010, 02:38 PM	#10
sfilipowski Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 174	keeps gettin worse it's the compressor and they have to order one but they did help me get the window unit in since i'm one armed. I'll just keep floatin and sweatin. man what a hobby, I would sit here and bake as long as my tank stays good, the things we do. thanks again folks