FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Today the temperature dropped and I didnt think much about my tank temp. I did check my south american take since its kept warmer than my other but then I looked at my other and I relized the temp was only 68F in a panick I emidiatly turned up my heater and checked every 15 minutes to see the temp it gradually got up to 75F but then shot up to 79F. My fish are obviously stressed is there anything I can do to calm them until I fiqure out this god awful heater???

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

Hi,
Yes, quit messing with the heater! The temperature shift
stresses the fish and many will come down with ich.

The correct way to adjust a heater is to take it out of the
box, and if the dial is calibrated, set it to the desired
temperature. If it is not calibrated take a thermometer
and put it in the tank, then mount the heater and let it
sit for at least a half hour so that it adjusts to the
tank's temperature. Look at the thermometer and if the
water is low in temp, then adjust the heater so that it
just comes on. Adjust the knob to just a "hair" past where
it comes on then leave it alone.
Correctly adjusting a heater requires around 24 hours.
If, when set, the heater fails to maintain the temperature
within a couple of degrees of your setting, it is faulty
and should be replaced.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

By the time you read this your problem should have settled down.

First why did the temp drop in the tank? Was it a faulty heater?

All you could have done was turn the heater off and open the tank as much as possible and add an extra airstone.

If I have to adjust a new heater I do it extremly gradually. The old motto slow but sure.

I have not explained how to set up a heater Frank has done an excellent job of that.

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop &amp; Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

[link=Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.]http://www.fishprofiles.com" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Most heater thermostats go a little bit off sooner or later,- give them ten minutes turned off to stabilise their internal temperature and to level out at the same temperature as the water, set it to the correct temperature while its still turned off and in position, and then switch it back on again. If it still goes loopy the bimetallic strip has worn out in the thermometers thermostat or the digital sensor (depending on model) has gone unreliable, and youll be needing a new heater.

And theres not much you can do about thermic shock, so just take it nice and steady.Most fish can take 79 degress (assuming their tropical freshwater fish) for a few days so dont worry too much, what you need to avoid are those RAPID temperature changes.

Last edited by longhairedgit at 09-Oct-2005 06:46

Ok,it has finnaly settled at 74F and I am going to leave it for awhile. All the fish seem to be ok but at least one of the snails may have been damaged by all this I am hoping for the best. I really dont know why the heater is so messed up when it worked fine last winter my only guess is it got bumped during a water change. It has no thermostat on it unlike my other tank so its making this whole process twice as hard. Thank you all for your help!

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

Youre really supposed to turn them off during water changes, as the thermostat can go ballistic when subjected to differing temperatures water around it. In future turn the heater off before the change, then wait ten minutes for the filter to disperse the water equally, thusly levelling the temperature, and then turn it back on. You can actually shatter aquarium heaters by doing water changes with them switched on, unless you have a stainless steel one , or one integrated in a filter. I would watch your heaters performance though, as you may have caused it some wear and tear already.

I think we found the problem .Hopefully no more probs for you

Last edited by longhairedgit at 10-Oct-2005 09:28