aquarium cooling advice

mp2952

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barker, ny
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mary
i have a 10 gallon aquarium which i've been trying to keep cool. right now i've got a fan set up for evaporation and i rotate frozen 16 oz. water bottles. i'm able to lower the tank about 10 degrees from the room temperature, but when it gets to 80*f or more outside, 10 degrees doesn't help enough. can anyone give me some suggestions on mini chillers that would be ok for chinese fire bellied newts and wouldn't require tank modifications or some advice for keeping my tank cooler?
 
Is there a cooler room in the house? A basement or downstairs area? A place right next to the AC outlet? It sounds like you are doing all the right things. If the newts are well-adjusted (in good care for more than a few months) then I wouldn't worry about their water temp going up to 76F or thereabouts. They should have no problem with that.
 
i've had them for 4 years, but i just moved and my new house doesn't have enough amps to support any sort of ac unit. until the house can be rewired, i've decided to put them in the basement since i couldn't find any good chillers for small tanks. when the temp hits about 74*f my female gets really stressed out, but the male seems fine. either way, i felt really bad for them so i went out and bought a 20 gallon tank and i'm going to start setting everything up in the basement tomorrow. thanks for the advice
 
I got a really big styrafoam cooler (72 qt. I think) at Grocery store here for around $17. I put a 15 gal. tank it. Then I just switch out two ice packs twice a day. It keeps the water temp. pretty cool.

The tank is taller than the cooler is deep, so I put the lid on and prop it open about 1/2 to 3/4. This helps retain come of the cool air. Unfortunately, I don't get to enjoy my newts nearly as much.

I have been thinking about cutting the front or atleast a window in the front out, and making a double pane (for insulation) plexiglass window and inserting it in. But I can't seem to find my duct tape or swiss army knife.

I live in an older apartment and it can be costly to run the air most of the time, or atleast to run it cool enough for my newts. Of course in the winter, I am the one bundled up in sweaters. Someday, I will live in a perminant residence. I am also not allowed to keep any pets. (well I asked the landlord about keeping fish, and she said that was okay. Of course i didn't tell her that by fish I meant newts. She doesn't need to know that.)
 
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