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I have a 5 gallon acrylic hex that houses my molly and guppy fry along with my favorite male betta. There has not been a heater in the tank but it does have a lighted hood. I bought one of the small junior heaters for 1 -2 gallon tanks this afternoon. It is just a plain heater. NO temp dial...nothing. After about 2 hours, I put a thermometer in it and it was reading almost 90 degrees. At first I had it on the top and then moved it to the bottom when I noticed this. I also took the heater out. Its been about 3-4 hours ago and the thermometer is still reading almost 90.

What can I do? I know this is too hot. I am more concerned about the betta than the fry. The fry have been in this tank for about 1 1/2 week at least and I am assuming the temp has been this high all along. I think the light bulb is keeping the tank so hot. If I turn the light off and on then the temp will be going up then down esach time the light is turned off. I know bettas can be in water up to about 86 degrees. But Id like to regulate the temp and not leave the light on all the time because I know fish need some dark time. I havent been able to find a heater small enough for this tank anywhere here or online. BTW, thre fish all seem fine. The betta constantly swins and the fry do also. The y all eat well and eagerly.

I just got up, its 1:30 pm and the tank is at 80. I turneds the light off during the night. So, if it gets back up to 90 again, Ill know its the tank light. I dont know what to do then except try to find a smaller wattage bulb. The 15 is a 15 watt that is in it now. Thats 3 watts per gallon!! I thought ideal lighting was 2 watts pewr gal. Why would they put a bulb in this tank that was too much for it??

ANYONE??? Hello???

If it gets too hot u can throw a couple ice cubes in. The only thing it could be is the tank light from what you said. I would recomend getting a weaker bulb or don't leave the light on for too long.

Do you have an incandescent bulb in the hood? Incandescent bulbs produce more heat than light but are cheaper so usually 5 and 10g hoods come with incandescents. Replace it with a screw in flourescent and the tank won't get as hot. My 10g was getting up to that temp until I switched the bulbs. Then I had to get a heater because it stayed so cold.

Other than possible bulb replacement can you add an air pump this will keep the water moving and "can" reduce the temp.

I would not recommend removing the top/cover as the Betta could jump out.

Keith

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Can you turn the heater on at night when the light is off, and turn the light on during the day when the heater is off??

Both are heating the water and neither has a thermostat. using both together is a bit dangerous.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

i agree with calla.

Also, those junior heaters aren't exactly made to exacting specifications, so it could be possible that your 7 dollar heater is cooking your fish.

Incadescent lights, as mentioned before, give off a tremendous amount of heat and in a small, enclosed system it can cause temps to rise considerably. As suggested before you can get more efficient, cooler screw-in type fluorescent bulbs to give better light, and not melt your hood.

Large swings in temperatures like the ones your fish are going through are not good... do not add ice cubes, rather open the hood and place a fan near it to blow across the surface. This promotes evaporation, thus removing energy from the system and lowering temperature.

Thanks a bunch everyone. I will get a flourescent bulb. I think this will be the best thing. I sleep odd hours so I dont know if going back and forth between the heater will work. For example, last night I turned the light off around 3am, and back on again at 130 pm. When I turned them on at 1:30 pm, the temp was 80. Right now, at 3:35 am with the light on, the temp is 86.

Huhhh....I dont know what to do. I have shoped all the main places on line...Drs Foster, Petco, PetSmart and ect and cant find a 25 watt heater.

I may be getting a 7 gallon, so I am sure I will have the same problem with it.

You can have a 50w in a 7gal

Can you put your heater and light on timers? I know what its like, wanting to see your fish and all, but maybe for now having the light and heater on automatic settings would be simpler/safer?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

[link=Hagen]http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=110&PROD_ID=01007300020101" style="COLOR: #FFFF00[/link] makes 25 watt heaters.
[link=Another one by hagen]http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=110&PROD_ID=01007210020101" style="COLOR: #FFFF00[/link]

I use these for my 5g tanks [link=http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=31734;category_id=1733;pcid1=3231;pcid2=]http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=31734;category_id=1733;pcid1=3231;pcid2=" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]