Why Is My Aquarium So Hot?

[BlueEyedFox]

Why is my aquarium so hot, My tempature meder has read 80 degrees for a few days now it like 81. Isnt that a big high? Shouldnt it be in high seventies for a tropical tank?

 

[doresy]

Ok, so you are not in the uk so are you somewhere hot?

If not then switch off your heater, if the temp drops over a couple of hours then your heater is either set too high or its thermostat is jammed. If the temp stays high its because the outside temp is high.

 

[LosC519]

80 is fine for some fish but will have effects in the long run on other kinds of fish. Please tell us what kind of fish you have.

 

[ALEXF]

i would just gradually decreas the temp on the heater. If it has gotten warmer in the house then the tank is going to get warmer as well.

 

[CentricOregon]

have you tried turning your heater down, usually heaters can go funny so say you set your heater to 79 it could easily go up to 81 or more, try turning your heater down a couple of degrees, could easily be the heater and the hot weather mixing together.but even at your current temp it isn't to bad for your fish, any higher wouldn't be suitable, my cichlid tank sits at 82 or something so don't worry if you can't lower the temp.

also don't always trust your thermostat, half the time it says its hotter than your tank actually is

 

[bare bottom]

Another train of thought.

What thermometer have you got?

I had a digital which was poo and overread badly so i'm back to a plain old glass reliable one.

 

[Snooks1!]

You could always place a fan towards the tank to help cool it.

 

[BlueEyedFox]

have you tried turning your heater down, usually heaters can go funny so say you set your heater to 79 it could easily go up to 81 or more, try turning your heater down a couple of degrees, could easily be the heater and the hot weather mixing together.but even at your current temp it isn't to bad for your fish, any higher wouldn't be suitable, my cichlid tank sits at 82 or something so don't worry if you can't lower the temp.

also don't always trust your thermostat, half the time it says its hotter than your tank actually is

Aye, I think thats it. A plastic strip one on the outside. What kind of digital did you have? I am getting this one for my tank. Temp

 

[bare bottom]

Thats about the price i paid for mine but in £s. thought it would be fab as i had a low and high temp alarm. Stupid thing kept reading 28/29 deg C even with the heater turned off so i tried a glass one and low and behold 20 deg C.

 

[Corleone]

I'd go with a glass thermometer, myself. You can use something else, like a digital one with a temperature alarm, but use a glass one too. They're pretty much fool proof. I have a liquid crystal external strip on the side of the tank that I can read with the living room lights out, but it never quite matches the glass thermometer.

 

[pastabake]

Yeah, I bought one that went mad and the one I have now (a Hagen) seems to put my temp as 28C when the heater is set at 22C the LCD ones are no better as they give a spread reading so it could be anywhere from 22-28. I'm going to get glass ones too.

Though I do have serious doubts as to the accuracy of my heaters thermostats.

 

[waterdrop]

I use a glass thermometer. I never pay any attention to any temp number on a heater knob, only pay attention to the thermometer and make tiny adjustments to the heater knob, then check hours later and see what it did to the thermometer. I agree, digitals are cool but can go wacky on you.

 

[OscarWilde]

Aye, I think thats it. A plastic strip one on the outside. What kind of digital did you have? I am getting this one for my tank. Temp

Got the same one from eBay. 2 for £5. Got one in my Marine and one in my FW. Seem spot on!

 

[Ace Of Spades]

My tempature meder has read 80 degrees for a few days now it like 81.

Wow that is near boiling point, do you live in the Sahara desert?

Yeah I agree the stick on ones can be a bit inacurate, Get a digital thermometer they are only cheap!!

 

[Mikaila31]

I use a glass thermometer. I never pay any attention to any temp number on a heater knob, only pay attention to the thermometer and make tiny adjustments to the heater knob, then check hours later and see what it did to the thermometer.

I agree, my heater is set at 71 the thermometer says its 81ish. I trust the thermometer over the heater since most of my heaters are really inaccurate.