I Think My Tank Is Too Warm

[tlef316]

My tank has been up for about a year now. It's been running at about 80 degrees, despite me setting the heaters for around 75. Its a 75 gallon community, and I've been having problems with my corys and to a lesser extent, my rummy nose tetras. In the last week or so, I've had a few deaths, plus my corys aren't as active as I've seen elsewhere. Is my high temp to blame? The fish don't show any signs of sickness. They just don't zip all over the tank, and now a few have died. I'm thinking of dropping the temp to around 77 degrees as it seems like a more ideal temp. for all the fish in my tank.

Will lowering the temperature have a positive effect on my fish? Thanks.

 

[rival]

yes, lowering temp will have a positive effect, but take some readings and see if there is another underlying problem. During the summer, it can be hard to maintain a steady temperature

 

[JenCliBee]

Will lowering the temperature have a positive effect on my fish? Thanks

more than likely yes
but... my tank has always sat at around 80-82and i havnt had any deaths wot so ever
for a long time my fish seems really healthy and swim round fast with ease.

are your water stats ok amonia,nitrite,nitrate PH this may also be 1 cause but u could try lowering the temp but do it nice and gradual so ur fish dont get 2 stressed

jen

 

[rossyt99]

My Temps are at 80/82 and no trouble.....I have it at that for breeding promotion and it is rumoured to reduce the chance of Whitespot. (As long as there are no sudden changes they should be O.k)

Maybe after the Water tests, it may explain another reason.

 

[tlef316]

water is fine. Ammonia and nitrites are Zero. Nitrates are 15-20. I test it about once a week. The tank is heavily planted, which cuts out a lot of the N buildup. Ph is 6.8. I do a 25-30% water change every week.

The only fish showing any signs of stress are the corys. They look fine most of the time, but they don't zip around the tank like I've seen at the store. They just kinda chill out behind the decor most of the time. Now, i know that increased numbers would help, but i had 6 pandas (before 1 died last night) and they absolutely never school. They are always scattered around the tank. My other fish are all thriving. My cardinal tetras have brilliant color and my clown loaches and red tail shark are well fed and active. Rainbow fish are coloring up well as they get older and are very very active.

I don't want to add a bunch more corys as my tank is close to overstocked. However, if i had to add another 5-8 pandas to get them running around, i guess i could. I just don't want to keep killing them if the tank is too warm.

Edit: Current pic of the tank....

 

[JenCliBee]

IME cory's tend 2 be a lot less active during the day anyways untill u turn the lites off at night then they decide 2 liven up im presuming like most catfish there nocturnal so that mite just be the case (not a cory expert tho lol )

jen

EDIT: nice tank by the way

 

[WILDER]

In warm weather plenty of aeration in the tank.
How many degrees does the tank drop at night.

Corys are more prone to bacterial infections.
Just check they don't look paler or darker in colour.
Check there no sores on there belly region.
Check there barbels over to see what they look like.
Make sure the corys are not laying to onside.

 

[tlef316]

In warm weather plenty of aeration in the tank.
How many degrees does the tank drop at night.

Corys are more prone to bacterial infections.
Just check they don't look paler or darker in colour.
Check there no sores on there belly region.
Check there barbels over to see what they look like.
Make sure the corys are not laying to onside.

I haven't noticed a drop in temp at night.
Color doesn't look any different than when i bought them
haven't seen any sores
barbels are fine, although the one that died last night may have been a little short
they don't lay on their sides. Like i said, they usually look healthy. I didn't notice anything wrong with the one that died until last night.

Aeration should be good. I've got 2 HOB filters that disturb the surface a ton.

 

[WILDER]

When corys barbels look short it can be due to the substrate like gravel if it has sharp edges and not round and flat in shape.
Short and thin barbels can also be signs of a bacterial infection.
Corys need there barbels to find food.

 

[tlef316]

When corys barbels look short it can be due to the substrate like gravel if it has sharp edges and not round and flat in shape.
Short and thin barbels can also be signs of a bacterial infection.
Corys need there barbels to find food.

I'm using play sand that was washed for hours. that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[WILDER]

If you have sand then the barbels shouldn't be short and thin, if they are it can be bacterial.