my temperature goes up and down every day and now its at 74 i want it over 78 to 84 i have 22 adults african cichlids
2007-05-11 06:25:18 · 6 answers · asked by joker36732 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
its a 55gal has 22 adult afican cichlids it does have a 55gal heater but the water just goes up and down daily like 2 degrees it at 74 now i want it to be at 78 to 82
2007-05-11 06:34:01 · update #1
A better heater would be the first thing I would look at. I would also look at your house temp. If you keep your house very low or you have your tank placed directly under a vent or fan, you are making the heater you have work over time. If this is the case, many heaters that are made for a certain tank size will stabilize the water only under ideal conditions. So if you have one or many of the fore mentioned factors, you should invest in a larger heater if you do not want to change your living habits.
Some cost effective solutions would also include, keeping your house at around 80 degrees when not home and only dropping it to 78 degrees when you are home. Turning off fans when you leave for work and if you have a vent directed over your tank, try adjusting it to another direction. This will also help to keep your evaporation rate down. Good Luck!
2007-05-11 06:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by lilith 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
In addition to the quality and wattage of the heater itself, you might want to consider getting two lower-wattage heaters (that add up to the total wattage needed for your tank) for more even heating. This is especially true if the temperature of your room fluctuates overnight. Put one heater in each end of the tank for the best result.
Although 5 watts per gallon is usually enough, if the room with the tank gets particularly cool (more than 10 degrees lower than the water temperature you want), you might need heaters with more output, so you could use the next higher wattage for better heating.
Some of the two-degree fluctuation you're getting is probably from your tank lights - this is normal.
2007-05-11 07:34:52 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Make sure you have a heater adequate to the size of your tank. I would suggest at least 5 watts per gallon.
MM
2007-05-11 06:27:23 · answer #3 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Get a aquarium heater, as magicman rightly says..
For the right size heater for your tank, follow this link:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsandtables/l/blheatersize.htm
2007-05-11 06:43:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I love Visa-Therm heaters! They are a great brand and have a thermostat right on them so all you do is set it n forget it! also for african cichlids make sure the pH of your water is at least 7.6 - 8.2. and they like brackish water so make sure you keep aquarium salt in the tank. and do not feed a lot of protien in their diet... feed lots of algae type foods rather then worms and shrimp!!! one last thing... make sure you have TONS of rocks and hiding places for them... they will fight less and be much happier!!
2007-05-11 08:25:09 · answer #5 · answered by kell kell 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
get a better heater
2007-05-11 06:33:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋