Set the best temperature for your freshwater aquarium
You're going to learn the following topics in this article.
- Control of the temperature of the fish tank
- What to do if the temperature of your fish tank is too high?
- What is the Too Cold Tank Temperature for a freshwater fish?
- The temperature of the tropical fish tank for these common aquarium Fish
- Can fish die if the temperature of the water is too high?
- Is the tropical aquarium hot at 82°F?
- What should be the temperature of a tropical freshwater fish tank?
What is the perfect temperature for a freshwater fish tank?
A pretty difficult question to answer, without knowing the fish, if you ask me.
However, most species maintained in domestic aquariums are either tropical or temperate in the globe. However, fish tanks make up the bulk of them.
The optimum temperature range for an ordinary freshwater fish tank is between 72 °F to 80 °F in this backdrop. But certain species, including goldfish and danios, may survive at temperatures as little as 62°F, while some tropical species, such as discus and cichlids, may live at temperatures as high as 82°F and 84°F.
That said, most freshwater aquarium fish that you meet are very tough and can live with little impact at several degrees beyond your comfort.
The main worry is for those of us in bipolar regions with extremely harsh winters and very mild summers. It is also a reason for worry if your aquarium heater or fish tank malfunction. But other than that, it is a straightforward procedure to maintain the optimum temperature in a freshwater aquarium. Please continue to read about the measures to take if your fish tank becomes too chilly or hot for your fish.
Here is a guide on Setting up a Freshwater Aquarium.
Controlling the Temperature of your Freshwater fish Tank
To return home to a lot of floating fish because your tank is boiling or freezing is not an unusual situation for aquarium owners, especially those with limited tropical fish expertise.
All it takes is a heater to be on or off for too long a minute. I cannot thus stress enough how critical temperature management in your aquarium is.
But how are you doing that?
This is where the placement of your fish tank heater and keeping a consistent water level is the most important thing for a thermometer and management.
Heater Controller Aquarium
An aquarium heater controller is a gadget that enables you to adjust your fish tank's temperature. The device is particularly helpful since heaters may be very unexpected, they can function well sometimes and at best inconsistent on the following day.
An aquarium heater controller prevents the heater from boiling or freezing your tank and also comes in various forms, with some more competent.
To operate, the control will read the temperature inside your fish tank and compare it with the pre-set temperature. If the tank is cooler than the specified temperature, the gadget transfers electricity to the heater plug.
If the tank gets too heated, the controller switches off the heater.
Thermometer for your Aquarium
Another tiny but important component for your fish tank is the aquarium thermometer.
With a reliable thermometer, you can keep track of your water temperature at different times and address issues caused by variations in temperature.
Moreover, a thermometer will help to monitor the heat distribution in an aquarium so that no warm or cold patches are present inside the tank.
Setting a Heater for your Aquarium in the correct position
Taking into account the correct positioning of your heater in the aquarium, ensure that your tank has a suitable distribution of heat without areas that are too hot or cold for the fish.
It's OK to put the heater horizontally or vertically, but the optimum position is by far to position the heater at 45°, however, it depends on the kind of heater that you have.
Most people put it in the middle of the back wall, but I suggest placing one on each side of your tank with more than one heater. In addition, the heater is placed in an area
Use a thermometer to access the distribution of the heat.
Keep water level constant in your aquarium to maintain the Temperature
If you do not keep water levels at a consistent level in your fish tank, your fish tank will have significant temperature swings. In addition, making significant water changes in one go will cause you to lose control over the temperature of your fish tank.
That is why you only replace a little water at once and ensure that you refill your tank with water of the same temperature as your tank at the same level as before.
You also want to keep ahead of evaporation since it will reduce your water level fairly progressively, if you are not interested you may even miss the change.
Place your tank correctly to balance the Temperature
The temperature of your tank may vary greatly depending on where you are, yet it does not seem that most fishkeepers know that.
A tank is heated significantly by a sunny window or by a heater. Although an aquarium next to a fan or air-con system may be cool even if you operate your fish tank heater throughout the day.
Make sure you put your tank in a location where the external world influences the environment of your aquarium least. Ideally, put the tank in an area of the room that stays for most of the day within the normal room temperature.
What can I do if the temperature of your fish tank is too high?
It is not unusual for certain areas to have a summer heatwave with temperatures of up to 100°F affecting the fish like any other pets, even if they live in water.
So how can you decrease your fish tank's water temperature?
Well, before you start cooling your fish tank, one thing that is important to remember is that sometimes it is not the high temperature that would kill your fish, but the swings. So be cautious if you want to chill your aquarium.
That stated, fill your zip locking bags or water bottles with ice and let them float in your fish tank in order to bring the temperature down. Make sure you boost bubbler surface agitation to assist dissolve more oxygen in the fish tank since warm water contains less oxygen than cold water.
The trick is also done by a fan that blows air through the top of the tank surface, but your water evaporates considerably faster. Therefore, be ready to fill the water when the level becomes too low.
If you opt to chill your tank with cold waters, I would advise you to do it gradually to prevent startling your fish and to make things worse.
The only long-term answer, of course, would be to buy your aquarium chiller. It's like a heater, but not for heating rather for air cooling.
Also, please note that certain tropical fish like guppies, angelfish, clown loach, and mollies like as warm water as 86°F, and a bit more than you should be concerned about.
Below are some techniques which go a long way to decrease the temperature of your fish tank:
- Particularly if nothing prevents you from heating your aquarium lights.
- Increase your frequency of water change, but instead of cold water let the water approach room temperature, thereby reducing your fish's stress at a much slower pace.
- Feed your fish 1 or 2 times more a day, since the elevated temperature results in quicker metabolism. While this technique does not decrease your tank's temperature, it helps your fish to adapt better to shifting conditions.
What if the Tank's temperature is too cold?
Cooler water fish, like goldfish, will live in water as low as 62°F, but the fish tank must be at least 72°F for other types, such as betta and tetra.
This means if your aquarium temperature drops as it does in the winter lack electricity or if you forget to turn on the heater, even though your fish may not necessarily die.
Nevertheless, always choose chilly if you need to choose between hot and cold. Too hot does not provide the fish adequate oxygen and it does not do well.
Coldwater is usually just a little inconvenient as long as you get it correct very quickly. The shock difficulties usually occur with parasites like me, digestive problems, and balancing concerns.
A tropical fish is sluggish and inactive in cold water, but it recovers when the heater returns. Healthy bacteria are also inactive, so your fish tank may be dirty as normal.
How much Temperature is considered too cold for your Freshwater Tank?
As we said before, most tank fish like temperature to 72°F. As such, any position below may be a little chilly for your fish.
However, the cold for the discus may not necessarily be chilly for goldfish or white clouds, depending on the particular species you preserve.
When you think about tank fish that like warmer fish, 70°F is likely to be too cold, but 58°F is as low as you can care for species that can live in chilly tanks. Although I strongly suggest that you maintain your fish tank above 62°F to assist the metabolism of your fish remains effective, you retain beneficial bacteria active in your tank.
The temperature of the fish tank for some common freshwater fish (Temperature Parameters)
One topic we frequently hear is the temperature preference for specific tropical fish species, which are usually maintained in home tanks.
This is why the tank settings below are preferred by a few popular freshwater tropical fish.
1- Guppies
- Temperature: 72°F to 82°F (ideal), 70°F to 86°F (best range) (survival range)
- Ph: 6.8 through 7.8
- The hardness of water: dH 8 to 12
- Nitrites: 0ppm, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrates: 10ppm to 20ppm
2- Goldfish
- Temperature: 68°F to 74°F, 60°F, and 70°F (Fancy goldfish) (Common goldfish)
- Ph: 6.5 & 8.4
- The Hardness of water: dH 5 to 12
- Nitrite: 0ppm. Ammonia: 0ppm. Nitrates: 10ppm.
3- Betta
- Temperature: 76°F to 80°F (Optimum range), 60°F to 70°F (Optimum range) (Survival range)
- Ph: Around 7 neutral
- The hardness of water: dH 5 to 20
- Nitrites: 0ppm, ammonia: 0ppm, nitrates: 10ppm to 20
4- Cichlids
- Temperature: 76°F to 82°F Temperature (Optimal range)
- Ph: 8.0 to 9.0
- The hardness of water: dH 10 to 25
- Nitrite: 0ppm. Ammonia: 0ppm. Nitrates: 10ppm.
5- Tetras
- Temperature: between 72°F and 78°F (Optimal range)
- Ph: from 5.5 to 6.8
- The hardness of water: dH 2 to 10
- Nitrite: 0ppm. Ammonia: 0ppm. Nitrates: 10ppm.
6- Mollies
- Temperature: between 75°F and 80°F (Optimal range)
- Ph: 8.0 Ph:
- The hardness of the water: dH 15 to 30
- Nitrites: 0ppm, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrates: 10ppm to 20ppm
7- Danius Zebra
- Temperature: 65°F to 77 degrees F (Optimal range)
- Ph: 6.5 through 7.2
- The hardness of water: dH 5 to 19
- Nitrites: 0ppm, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrates: 10ppm to 20ppm
8- Tiger Barbs
- Temperature: between 68°F and 80°F (Optimal range)
- Ph: 6.5 through 8.0
- The hardness of the water: 10 to 30
- Nitrites: 0ppm, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrates: 10ppm to 20ppm
9- Platys
- Temperature: 68°F to 82°F (Optimal range)
- Ph: 7.0 through 8.3
- The hardness of water: 10 to 28
- Nitrites: 0ppm, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrates: 10ppm to 20ppm
10- The catfish of Cory
- Temperature: between 74°F and 80°F (Optimal range)
- Ph: 7.0 until 8.0
- The hardness of water: 3 to 10
- Nitrite: 0ppm. Ammonia: 0ppm. Nitrates: 10ppm.
11- Gourami
- Temperature: 75°F to 80°F Temperature:
- Ph: 6.8 through 7.8
- The hardness of water: 3 to 8
- Nitrite: 0ppm. Ammonia: 0ppm. Nitrates: 10ppm.
12- Angelfish
- Temperature: between 76°F and 84°F (Optimal range)
- Ph: 6.8 through 7.8
- The hardness of the water: 3 to 8
- Nitrite: 0ppm. Ammonia: 0ppm. Nitrates: 10ppm.
13- Discus
- Temperature: between 80°F and 86°F
- Ph: 6.0 to 6.5
- The hardness of water: 1 to 4
- Nitrite: 0ppm, ammonia: 0ppm, nitrates: 5ppm.