Keeping track of the numbers is crucial to maintaining the water quality in a fish tank, but it’s only the first step. In addition to knowing the ideal temperatures for aquariums, understanding how to control the temperature of a fish tank may help keep your livestock safer.
It’s not always easy, especially here in the desert. The following fish tank heating and cooling tips may help you create an ideal habitat.
Fish Tank Heating and Cooling Tips
Appropriately heating and cooling fish tanks depends on the season. Controlling the temperature of a fish tank in Arizona is especially important, as the high heat can lead to overheating of the aquarium and livestock.
Following are several cooling tips for fish tanks:
1. If the temperature of the water rises, float a bag of ice or cool water in the fish tank to gradually and slowly bring down the temperature.
Do not allow the temperature to fall more than a few degrees within a four-hour period. Extreme changes in water temperatures can shock the fish or make them uncomfortable.
Do not drop ice cubes directly into the water. The cubes might not be sanitary and could pose a choking hazard to the fish.
2. As an Arizona resident, you might find it helpful to invest in a chiller in order to control the temperature of a fish tank, as you may find yourself using it often. Available in a variety of sizes, chillers can be connected to the line or placed in the sump. You can use them to drop the temperature of the tank by a particular number of degrees.
Contact our aquarium maintenance specialist for more information about how chillers work and if they are ideal for your fish tank.
3. Maintain ideal water flow and circulation in the fish tank. An ideal aquarium water flow is four times the size of your tank. You may also wish to include various tools and equipment for water circulation, such as aerators, powerheads, and air stones.
Adding aerators, powerheads, and air stones can improve the circulation in your fish tank.
4. Place a fan near the tank. Using a low setting, allow the air to blow across the surface of the water.
5. Perform a water change with slightly cooler water, taking care not to lower the temperature too much. (Reminder: Only change about 15 to 20 percent of the water.)
6. Turn down the heater and limit the use of lighting.
7. Do not display the tank near an open window, or shut the blinds and close the curtains to keep the sun from directly hitting the tank.
And then there’s the flipside.
You may need to increase the water temperature during the cooler seasons in Arizona, or if you unintentionally went overboard in your attempt to cool your fish tank down.
If the temperature of the water drops too much, wrap a blanket around the outside of the tank, leaving the top uncovered. If you happen to live in a cooler climate and must keep the fish tank warmer on a regular basis, you may wish to insulate your tank.
Another option is to float hot (but not boiling) water bottles to increase the temperature. Do not leave plastic in the tank.
Finally, avoid removing the cover, as doing so releases heat.
Learn More About How to Control the Temperature of a Fish Tank
In addition to the above fish tank heating and cooling tips, controlling the temperature of a fish tank requires setting up the aquarium with proper equipment, thermometers, heaters, and lighting. We can provide you with additional details about ideal water temperature maintenance.
For aquarium installation or maintenance, contact us at Seatech Aquariums in Phoenix by calling (602) 628-7270 or sending our aquarium technician a message online.