2 heaters, 2 different temperatures??? mixed Goodeid tank…

[Magnum Man]

so looking a few fish with similar water conditions , but a couple degrees preferred temp differences… thoughts on setting a heater on each end of the tank, set at 1-2 degrees different settings… I know there will be cross over… or maybe only using 1 heater, knowing the opposite side of the tank may varry to 1-2 degrees cooler… I know a big temperature difference would be a problem, but these fish only carry about 2 degrees between one’s high range, and the others low range… thoughts???

 

[Archerfish]

What you describe is sort of like in a car with dual temperature controls for the front passengers. Tough to do in an aquarium with as you say, circulation will eventually mix. If the warmer species is a top dweller and the cooler species is a mid or bottom dweller, you might be able to make it work. When diving, I often encounter thermoclines where cool and warm water meet. You can really feel the difference. You might be able to replicate this if your colder species enjoys the mid or bottom area of the water column. Of course, your filtration will need to draw and return near the surface.

 

[Magnum Man]

most of my tanks have 2 hang on back heaters, in the back corner of each side… a large ornament, to help reduce cross over in the center of the tank, would help reduce the cross over… unfortunately these 2 tanks, just have one hob in the center… being hard water tanks, and the fact that I have a lot of limestone flagstone slabs , maybe I should add another hob in this tank, and find just the right piece of limestone as a divider???

I also dive, so I’m aware of the wide range of temps in bodies of water… but those differences of temperature may be invisible dividers between 2 species with different preferred temperatures???

 

[Magnum Man]

perhaps even remove the 2nd heater completely from the cooler desired side, and just rely on reduced mixing caused by the large center stone, if it was effective enough, there could even be enough difference between sides, to put both in the middle of their preferred range???

 

[Magnum Man]

to be transparent here, I’m thinking about doing 2 kinds of “goodies” in the same larger tank…

Zoogoneticus tequila, that likes cooler water ( range of 68- 75 degrees F. ) sounds like it hangs in cooler water around springs,
and
Ameca splendens, that likes a range of 70-78 degrees F.

I’m kind of hoping by having a cooler side to the tank, they segregate into their half of the tank… although it looks like 73-74 degrees would work for both…

I assume they would not naturally interbreed, being of completely different families… however if I can naturally segregate them by temperature it may reduce squabbles and fin nipping, and fry preditation…