Hi! I think my aquarium is breaking the laws of nature, and I'm hoping someone can explain it. It's a 12G (eclipse, although I use two filters - 1 HOB and 1 submersible - instead of the biowheel), been up and stable about a year and a half now. I do weekly tests, gravel vacuums and water changes, and all is consistently normal and stable. I have two otos (they've been around for about 4 months), a neon tetra (I keep meaning to fill out the school after an ick attack but haven't yet) and a mystery snail, and a variety of basic low-light, low-maintenance plants which are all holding their own against algae. The lights are on 10 hours a day, on a timer, and I'm using the bulb that comes with the eclipse system. The tank is far from sunlight, drafts, or heaters.
A few weeks ago I noticed that it was running hot, like I couldn't get it below 75 or so. Eventually the temperature registered a constant 80. I unplugged the heater days ago, but the temp hasn't gone down. I actually have two mercury thermometers in there because the temp makes no sense, but they both register 80. The house is about 69, so that's a big difference. There have been no changes to the tank in the last 4 months (since the otos were added).
I have a good bit of algae growth of various kinds (hence three algae eaters), could that somehow be giving off heat? Or perhaps one of my filters is getting old and running hot? Or is there something really normal that I'm just too inexperienced to know? This is my first tank...
I'd love to hear your thoughts, I'm so puzzled by this! And I'd really like advice on how to get the temp down, the snail and otos do not care for 80...
A few weeks ago I noticed that it was running hot, like I couldn't get it below 75 or so. Eventually the temperature registered a constant 80. I unplugged the heater days ago, but the temp hasn't gone down. I actually have two mercury thermometers in there because the temp makes no sense, but they both register 80. The house is about 69, so that's a big difference. There have been no changes to the tank in the last 4 months (since the otos were added).
I have a good bit of algae growth of various kinds (hence three algae eaters), could that somehow be giving off heat? Or perhaps one of my filters is getting old and running hot? Or is there something really normal that I'm just too inexperienced to know? This is my first tank...
I'd love to hear your thoughts, I'm so puzzled by this! And I'd really like advice on how to get the temp down, the snail and otos do not care for 80...