Water too Hot???

wildthinglmd

wildthinglmd

the unicorn maiden
Feb 21, 2006
23
0
0
Southern Louisianan
I have a 10g tank with 6 small tiger barbs (under 3/4 inch), 1 albino cory cat and 1 ghost shrimp. The temp in my tank ranges from 72 to 80 degrees F. I use room temp water for water changes and find the temp goes up when I leave the hood light on during the day (I have no clue what the bulbs are. They came with the tank from the dreaded Wal-Mart). I have not lost any fish since the cycling. I do keep my house fairly warm because I have my elderly father living with me (he gets cold very easily).

My question is... can/should i lower the temp in my tank and how???

Thanks for your help! :bowing:
 
80 degrees is the perfect temp for tropical fish. 72 is actually too low.
 
I was actually going to ask exactly the same question today! My tank was at 31.9C when I got home today (it's been a hot day here).

I've managed to drop the temp a bit to 30.4C by opening the hood and a couple of big ice blocks but don't want to change it too suddenly.

Normally it sits at 28C to 29.5C.

At what point should I get worried? What behaviour are the fish likely to show if they are uncomfortable?

It's a small tank with inbuilt filter system, so a bit harder to rig up a fan system than a bigger one with lots of surface area on top.

28C = 82.4F
29C = 84.2F
30C = 86F
31.9C = 89.42F
 
If it gets to 85+ start to be worried ;)

I run my tanks at 80 routinely (apparently fish's immune systems function better at higher temps...). They recommend going up to 86 for treatment of Ich.

On your bulbs, they put irridescent lamps in those hoods. Go to Wal-mart and buy screw in flourescent 10W bulbs (they'll say on the package equivelent to 40W!) ... they'll last forever and actually be brighter in the same hood.
 
wildthinglmd said:
I have a 10g tank with 6 small tiger barbs (under 3/4 inch), 1 albino cory cat and 1 ghost shrimp. The temp in my tank ranges from 72 to 80 degrees F. I use room temp water for water changes and find the temp goes up when I leave the hood light on during the day (I have no clue what the bulbs are. They came with the tank from the dreaded Wal-Mart). I have not lost any fish since the cycling. I do keep my house fairly warm because I have my elderly father living with me (he gets cold very easily).

My question is... can/should i lower the temp in my tank and how???

Thanks for your help! :bowing:
Click to expand...
80*F is fine, however you really need to buy a heater for that tank.

Fluctuating temperatures can kill fish. They need their temperatures kept at a steady number, not fluctuating all over the place. Too much of a drop or increase can kill your fish.

Make sure your change water is the same temperature as your tank water or, again, the sudden change in temperature could kill them. Use a heater to heat your change water or use the hot water tap to get the water to the correct temperature. Use a dechlorinator for the change water and if you have chloramines, make sure that the water conditioner can deal with that AND the resulting ammonia.

Roan
 
thanks for all your input! I do not have a heater on this tank but will be going to get new bulbs for the hood. But is sounds like I may be worring for no reason. :duh:
 
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