General Care Discussion :: too hot?

[gemoska]

The temperature in NY has reached well over 90 these past few days, and I don't have air conditioning. So even with no water heater, the temperature in the tank of my 2 young res is much higher than the optimum - it's at around 87 during the day. Is this harmful? Any suggestions for reducing it, other than geting air conditiong? I've been adding cold water from time to time, but this of course only helps temporarily.
I haven't even been using the heat lamp recently because it heats the water further. Advice would be appreciated.

[sonyj]

A lot of people that have this problem freeze water in bottles and drop them in the tank to cool it down. This is probably a little better than adding cold water.

[gemoska]

Thanks - I'll try that. What about the heat lamp? Will it hurt to leave it off, or should I put it on despite the temperature?

[sonyj]

He still needs to bask. If the air temp around the basking dock is around 90 then don't turn it on, but try lowering the water temp to encourage him to bask. If the basking temp isn't around 88-90, then it will need to be on.

[missibsu]

Try to focus the basking light on the dock only, that way less of it is heating the water at the same time. It make mean getting a bulb with less wattage so that you can move it a bit closer.

[gemoska]

thanks for your helpful suggestions - I'll see how that works out.

[marisa]

If it's that hot, I'd just use the UVB light and lower the water temp.