Silly Axolotls
Keeping your tank cool over Summer
Most places get pretty hot, especially over Summer, so here are some tips for keeping the tank cool.
I strongly suggest buying a chiller, they are expensive but such a necessity, especially if you live somewhere that gets quite hot.
If you live places like New Zealand, where your distance from every other inhabitable part of the world makes trade of heavy expensive items difficult, here are some helpful methods!
Cooling Fans
Fans are useful for dropping the temperature a few degrees, but probably not more than that. It depends on the type of fan and how powerful it is. You can buy aquarium fans, buy usb computer fans and attach them yourself, or just buy typical household fans. You want to aim the airflow at the surface of the water, having it reach as much as possible. This needs to be on all day and night to be effective, it isn't a quick temperature changer.
Frozen Water Bottles
Frozen bottles of tank water are a great idea, but you have to be careful about causing too much tank temperature fluctuations. The water defrosts, cooling the tank water, and returning the cold bottle water to the tank. Several bottles and lots of freezer space is needed to keep up a nice rotation that avoids temperature fluctuations. It is best use in a random heatwave, and not an ideal method to use all hot summer long. I use this method because it never really gets that hot where I live, so I just need to drop the temp a few degrees to keep it safely below 19 degrees.