Welcome to my hell! [UPDATED]

So this morning, I wake at 6-ish in the AM to find my house is more sticky and muggy than normal. I realize quickly that my AC is not doing what it is supposed to, cool! It is brutal here in NC right now, 85+ by 8 AM, and without any AC...you're kind of screwed. Oh by the way, it is Sunday, and nobody gets anything done on a Sunday in the "bible belt".

My tank at 6 was at 83.8...generally I keep it at 78.5. So I ventured out to get a window AC unit and set it up temporarily to cool the tank. Bad news...I have no windows in the room where the tank is. I set it up on a small stand and let her rip. 2 hours later, my floor is flooded. I've never owned a window unit AC, and I am a man, so I do not read instructions. Apparently, using this device anywhere but in a window is not recommended.

Round 3 - I go to the store and get ice...lots of ice! I have floated 8 freezer bags of ice in my DT (with all pumps off), and have the temp back down to 80.1. It is above 90 in my house right now. I don't know the actual temp, because my thermostat only shows up to 90...the needle is past it. I will stay on Ice Patrol until I pass out tonight, and hopefully nothing bakes overnight. Just have to make it til tomorrow morning when life starts back up again.

 

Man that seriously sucks, you could put a pan underneath the AC unit to catch the water.

 

Sorry to read that. I'm hoping for the best for you and your tank.

Liter bottles of frozen water will last longer than bags of cubed ice. Just a thought if you want to get some freezing while using the zip-loc bags of ice.

 

A window AC unit has to be half inside, half outside. It pulls air from your house...as the air passes over the condenser coils it cools and dehumidifies it...the hot air and condensation goes out the back/bottom of the unit...the cool dry air is returned to your living space. Without the back side on the outside of your space the condensation will drip onto your floor and the compressor will actually add heat to the space. Can you place the unit in a window in an adjacent room and put a big box fan in the door of the "tank" room to circulate the air?

 

The AC pulls heat out of the air and throws it out the back (presumably outside), while pushing the cooled air out the front (inside). Unless you vent the hot air from the back of the AC unit outside, you will do nothing except create water and use electricity. Putting it in a window in another room will do more good than the way you are using it now.

Good luck. I've been there floating bags full of ice. I've also taken some of the tank water out and frozen it, then put the frozen tank water right back in the tank. Will melt waaaaaay more quickly this way and reduce the temperature faster. Plus, it won't change the SG of the saltwater.

Edit: LOL. Reef-a-holic beat me to it.

 

hard to say i'm sorry...

I notice alot of peolpe have this problem...
I use to have my tank running in the living room noticing the temps spike due to sun seeping in through the blinds create heat...

i'm glad to know though my tank is sitting it's rightful place...In the basment

 

I'd multiquote everyone...but I'm lazy. Thanks for the concern. I understand how the AC works...I didn't know it would leak that badly. I had a small box fan behind it shooting the hot air elsewhere. I installed the AC in my bedroom for the time being. I understand that frozen bottles work better than bags of ice, but my freezer can only do so much. I have already gone through my "emergency" stash of 6 1L bottles. A small water volume helps and hurts during this. It is easy for me to cool it down, but it heats back up so fast! Thanks again for the tips!

 

My tank has been at 85-87 for the past week I just removed a glass top from the tank and it dropped to 81. If its only temporary I don't worry about the rise to much and it does not seem to bother the fish.

 

AC is back on. House temp is still wicked...tank is holding at 82. No losses, and only 2 colonies of Acan Lord's look upset.

 

That is great news. Were you able to get any sleep last night?