Water cooler?

[The Darnell's]

Hello,

I am new to the hobby...we set up a 55 tall with decent filters, heaters, etc. We did a lot of reading (especially this forum!) before putting fish in the tank. We currently have one each, Kissing Gourami, Gold Severum, Earth Eater, and Salvian (sp?). We decided to stay with the American Cichlids, with the exception of the Kissing Gourami which my toddler just had to have

My question...we had the water temperature holding steady for a few days at 78 deg. before introducing the fish. Now that they are in there, the temperature has risen to 82 deg. I know this is on the high side, or even too high. How can I gently lower the tank temperature? By the way, I have left the heater alone since it seems to be set right for 78 deg. and I don't want it going lower if it cools off.

Thanks for your help! By the way, we are really enjoying the fish, the tank and the hobby in general! Also, this forum has been a great source of information.

Cliff

 

[The Darnell's]

I think I figured it out. I believe I just have my heater set too high. I had been watching it closely to see if it was coming on, and it hadn't been. But, I think it has been heating during the night, when it is cooler in the house. During the day, it held it's internal heat since it was warmer inside. I will try slowly adjusting it down.

 

[colesea]

Where do you live? Room temperature also has as much to do with tank temps as the heater does. Tank temp and room temp are not mutually exclusive.

If it is to be a warm, hot summer, your best bet is to remove the heater altogether and just leave the tank at room temp. As long as you don't have central air or an air conditioner keeping your house at a wind-chill of sub-freezing, your tank temps should be fine, with perhaps only a 2 degree fluctuation beteen night and day time temps, which is perfectly natrual for fish to feel and should not stress them out at all.

Although I don't have much experience with cichlids, I do know most tropical fish can survive temps as low as 68oF without difficulty. My own fish do all the time over the winter, since I have no heaters in any of my tanks. I would think that because of their larger body mass, that SA cichlids could also be able to keep pretty well at this temp. I've also have had my tanks spike as high as 84oF during summer heat waves, in which case I just take the hood off to allow for maximum evaporation, but don't bother trying to "cool" the tank down with ice or stuff. Again, tropical fish come from a region where surface water temps can get pretty heated, so they have adaptations for it.

It doesn't matter so much what the temperature is since tropicals can survive a wide range, usually from 68oF to 82oF without detramental effects. The key is temperature stability, no more than a 2oF-3oF fluctation either way over a 24hr period, which can be achieved with most tanks in temperate regions. Fiddlingly excessively with the tank temp is a sure way to invite the dreaded ich to break-out on your fish. Ich is a stress related disease most closely associated with drastic temp changes in short spans of time.

Unless you are trying to recreate specific breeding conditions, I don't find heaters in tanks necessary in most temperate or tropical regions.

The best coolers for fish tanks are commercial refigerator units. These are expensive and eat electricity like crazy. The only people I know who own them are reef fanatics.

But removing the heater from a tank may not work for everyone. Good luck.
~~Colesea

 

[The Darnell's]

Thanks colesea,

Your reply takes a little of the edge off of my nervousness. I am in Omaha, Ne. It's been in the 50's to 70's the last week or so. Inside ambient is in the lower 70's.

Since we are new to keeping fish, we are not going to try breeding them yet. It would be fun to do someday, but for now, I am only interested in keeping them alive and healthy!

Your comments made sense and I appreciate your time

Thanks...

Cliff