Temperature Issues

[CrystalClear16]

Last week I noticed that the tank temp had crept up to 81-83F (I keep it at 75). I assumed this was because of the warm weather we have had recently, so I turned to heater down to compensate.

Over the next few days the temp stayed the same, so I turned the heater down even further and kept the lights off since I noticed my fish were hiding in the shade a lot.

This did nothing, the temp remained the same - even though by this point the weather had gotton cooler.

So I switched off the heater for a few days, and the temp did go down a few degrees (but still not quite to 75). So I turned the heater ridiculously low down and switched it back on.

The temp is now at 81F again and I go on holiday in a few days. The trouble is that my appartment does get quite warm - we have big french windows and the sun streams through them during the day. The tank is not in direct sunlight but while we are away we won't be here to open up the windows and let a breeze in so I am worried they are going to be too hot.

As I figure it, here are my options:
1. Pray I have turned the heater down far enough and leave it on. The lights will be off anyway.
2. Switch the heater off and trust the room temp will be ok.

I am leaning towards just switching it off - I feel like it is better for them to be a bit cool than too hot. But what would you do?

 

[JoshuaA]

If you're really worried and I would ask someone to come round to open the windows...

Or you can do what I do with my rabbit hutch in hot weather. I get those windscreen covers to prevent your windscreen icing up/heating the car up and I place that shiny side out over the front of the hutch. This reflects nearly all the heat from the light and only the ambient room temperature will get to it. If you do this or even just place white sheets of paper around the tank to reflect light, as silly as it sounds then you might just lower the temperature enough! Combine this with lowering the heater setting but not too low and I think you might pull it off.

If you're away you may find it more viable to simply cover your windows with a white bed sheet or silver reflective material and only allow a small amount of light in. This will reduce the overall temperature in your room quite a lot.

 

[snowflake311]

Depends on the fish. Some fish like it warm better then others. I use to keep my cichlid tanks at 75 but now I keep them at 80f 81 is not That bad. 86 is a bit high for most tropical fish but for a few days they can stand it. If you know the weather is not going to drop below 75f you could get away with no heater it sounds like. Put the heater low and you should be fine. Could you have a friend check on them for you?

 

[CrystalClear16]

Unfortunatley there isn't anyone nearby who can check up on them. Our only windows are two big doors, so it is a bit tricky to cover them. I was going to close the blinds though.

I have:
6x Clown Loaches
3x Platys
2x Neons
1x Gourami
1x Ballon Molly
1x Molly-Guppy hybrid
3x teenagers - possibly Molly-Platy hybrids

It is the clowns I am worried about - the others are sturdy.

 

[Corleone]

Try replacing the heater - if it's getting over 80 even on very low settings it sounds like it's not turning off when it should. They have a thermostat built in so that in warm weather, a properly functioning heater won't overheat the tank, it just won't turn on.

The other consideration is the room - you can't maintain the tank cooler than the room it's in, since the room will just heat it up past the heater's setting.


Lastly, and mostly irrelevant, but mollies and platys can't cross. The babies are probably either pure platies or the molly and molly/guppy crossed again. They will mate with each other, though, but that's not saying much - livebearer males will try to mate with anything that holds still long enough.

 

[JoshuaA]

livebearer males will try to mate with anything that holds still long enough.

Oh! So that's what he was doing to my hand! To think I let him get away with it!

 

[crazychris]

Unfortunatley there isn't anyone nearby who can check up on them. Our only windows are two big doors, so it is a bit tricky to cover them. I was going to close the blinds though.

I have:
6x Clown Loaches
3x Platys
2x Neons
1x Gourami
1x Ballon Molly
1x Molly-Guppy hybrid
3x teenagers - possibly Molly-Platy hybrids

It is the clowns I am worried about - the others are sturdy.

TBH I wouldn't worry about your Clowns as I read they like warmer temperatures in to the 80's anyway. I see you're in the UK and it's forecast to get a bit cooler these next few days anyway. Strangely both my tanks have stayed at 76deg. and 78 deg. as they usually are and it's been very warm here in London, certainly over 80deg. I remember in 2003 when we had a record hot August, they got up to 90deg and all my fish were fine, just added extra aeration.

Sounds like you have a dodgy heater. My two are set at 75 and 77 and both heat to a degree warmer than that but never any more. Obviously when it's more than that in the room they just don't come on. You shouldn't need to unplug them in warm weather.

 

[PJPJ]

Just lifting the lid is sometimes enough to keep it that little bit cooler otherwise, with the lid lifted or off, point an electric fan on slow speed towards the top of the water. Obviously, do NOT perilously balance the fan on the tank edge or anywhere near where it can fall in. Instant fish death and dangerous for everybody.

There will be a MUCH greater water evaporation but of course, that is how it cools down.

Remember, you have turned down your heater, make sure the water is not going to get too cold.

I have had to build a small 12V fan with auto-temperature speed adjustment into the hood.

The smaller the tank the more temperature swings will occur.

Regards

PJPJ

 

[crazychris]

Just as a matter of interest, any reason why you just have 2 neons? Not having a go but just curious if you bought more and they died. They should really be in a shoal as then they feel more secure. Not suggesting you buy any more fish before going away though.

 

[CrystalClear16]

Just as a matter of interest, any reason why you just have 2 neons? Not having a go but just curious if you bought more and they died. They should really be in a shoal as then they feel more secure. Not suggesting you buy any more fish before going away though.

I know, I had 8 when I first got them. The others have died of old age and I decided I didn't want any more. They are quite old now so I don't want to stress them by giving them away or anything.

Also I know my tank is too small for full grown clown loaches. I am upgrading as they grow

Thanks to all the help. I don't think the heater is dodgey because I replaced my old one just 2 months ago. I think it may well be just because I have a warm apartment, in which case I will close the blinds.

Lastly, and mostly irrelevant, but mollies and platys can't cross. The babies are probably either pure platies or the molly and molly/guppy crossed again. They will mate with each other, though, but that's not saying much - livebearer males will try to mate with anything that holds still long enough.

Thanks - that does narrow it down since I don't have guppies any more. Perhaps they are from the ballon molly and molly-guppy hybrid.