Originally Posted By: JKB
Keep in mind that block ice is rather large and may damage your fish during transport. Small cubed ice would be much better.

Seems like the block ice lasts longer tho, but Ice is Ice and melts at 32F. 10 lbs of block ice has the same BTU's as 10 lbs of crushed ice or 10 lbs of cubed. I don't think I would use those contained ice freezer gizmos because it is a contained mass that could easily bounce around in the tank and damage the fish. Raw Ice, and let it melt on the trip.

Good point from Cecil on the source of the ice too. If it's derived from a municipal system, could be the nail in the coffin on the next haul.

Mind your P's and Q's, and don't get all OCD about it. Take it easy smile


Phil,

It amazing how much ice it takes to drop water temp.

According to the text Recirculating Aquaculture 2nd Ed Timmons and Ebeling page 631, the required mass of ice to drop/change 200 liters (52.8 gallons)of water 10 C. (18 degrees F) is 24 kg (52.9 lbs.).

I found this out the hard way once when I wanted to drop a 300 gallon tank 20 degrees F. to preclude acclimating some fish from a cooler pond. (The plan was to drop the tank water temp to the temperature of the pond they came from and then to just slowly warm it back up after I added the fish). I think I dropped at least eight 20 lb. bags of ice in the tank and still didn't get a 20 degree F. drop.

According to the text to drop/change 100 liters (264.1 gallons) of water 10 C. (18 degrees F.) requires 120 kg. (264.6 lbs.).

Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 10/18/13 07:03 PM.
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