I have a 29-gallon tank, we just got new fish. A few months ago my sister (who was supposed to feed them) stopped feeding the fish, we had a major die-off (three big sturdy algae eaters left). The petshop people say that we have a slight chemical inbalance. Anyways, the heater is not working although it is plugged in. We just put new fish in the water because we figured that they can only stay in the bag for so long.
Will putting warm water in the aquarium help?
2007-02-18 16:15:57 · 2 answers · asked by Ariel 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Assuming your house isn't all that cold they should be fine for a day or two. A little warm water added to the tank can work for a very short period of time, but you would probably be better off not doing that. The constant up and down of temperature is actually worse on the fish than just staying cold. Please do unplug the heater though, it would be even worse if it came on and was stuck on and well over heated the tank. No need for a tank full of cooked fish over something like a heater.
MM
2007-02-18 17:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Putting additional warm water in the tank is only a temporary fix. Anyway, algae eaters, like Plecos, can tolerate cold water but prefer temperatures in the mid seventies. As for the heater, they are temperamental. Did you follow the package directions? They say that you have to allow the thermostat 15 minutes to adjust to the water temperature before you plug the heater in. To begin with, however, always place the heater in the water filled aquarium before you plug it in, and always keep the water level at the "Minimum Water Level" line. You will probably have to out the defective heater (or see if you can get a refund from the store) and buy a new one. Go with a different brand this time, like Tetra Whisper (unless that's what you already have). They offer a full 2-year limited warranty and I like their well-known brand.
2007-02-18 16:23:09 · answer #2 · answered by HoneyBunny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋