How Much Temperature Swing Is Acceptable?

[PaulQ]

Hi all!

I just got my new 30 gallon freshwater tank going. I am in Phoenix, AZ and it is going to be a blazing summer. Normally, I keep the house around 77 degrees when I'm home and 82 degrees when I'm out. So far, while I've been home, my tank has settled at 79.7 degrees. I do have a heater and it is set to around 79 degrees. I think the water is a little warmer because of the light (?).

My concern is that the water temperature will head up toward 82 degrees during the day and then drop to about 79 degrees in the later afternoon/evening when the AC is running. The tank is in a place where there is plenty of natural light but nothing direct.

Anyway - is this temperature fluctuation (79 <> 82) acceptable??

(That's roughly 26 to 28 degrees Celsius)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tolak]

A 3F temperature swing shouldn't pose a problem for any freshwater species I can think of. There are daily fluctuations in the wild, as well as temperature fluctuations within a body of water.