Temp changes????

[LordBarron7692]

I have noticed that my 56g bowfront has about a 3 degree temp slide during the day when the lights are on the temp is at 85 in the morning when I get up at 7:00 A.M. the temp is 82 is this a normal flux? I have two heaters on the tank a 300 watt and a 150 watt.

[CRUSHER]

what temp do u have the heaters set at? i have two in my tank and keep them both at 78... stays pretty much in that range at all times unless it gets warmer than that in the house

[LordBarron7692]

I have them both set at around 82 but I'm starting to think that extra 3 degrees are coming from the lights I have a coralife setup without a lid

[Totenkampf]

heat transfer will be depending on what kind / how many lights you have, the type of top on the tank, and how close they are mounted to the water. i can see 3 degrees over the course of the day, especially if its not in a temperature controlled environment

[LordBarron7692]

ok but I guess my real question is how will this affect the fish that are in the tank right now I have 9 black neons 9 red minor tetras and 7 black skirt tetras and planning to add a few rams and 5 or 6 discus

[CRUSHER]

I'd lower the heater temps... 82 seems a bit too warm to me

[Totenkampf]

i have never measured the temp in a natural body of water, but i would think that a 3 degree shift would be relatively minor and something that they would be used to in a natural environment. if you have issues with the tetras, it would more likely be because of the upper temp than the shift. just keep in mind that warmer liquids are unable to keep entrained gases as well as cooler ones. you will need to keep the tank oxygenated and would probably not want to do something like inject co2 for plants.

[Totenkampf]

I'd lower the heater temps... 82 seems a bit too warm to me

he's planning on adding microgeophagus rams and discus so 82 is fine

[LordBarron7692]

ok well as of now the fish seem to be doing just fine all have colored up nicely and the tank looks pretty good IMO

[CRUSHER]

i was just concerned about the 85 temp, didn't know if that might be from the two heaters at running at 82.

he's planning on adding microgeophagus rams and discus so 82 is fine

[cu0ngsayz]

Temp flux is normal. On my old set up my temp would shoot up to like 85(morning time with tank near window) from 81-82 without lighting at night.

[cu0ngsayz]

i was just concerned about the 85 temp, didn't know if that might be from the two heaters at running at 82.

Well he says before the lights comes on the water is cooler(which sounds right). When the lights is on the water temp gets a bit higher( which is also normal) so I wouldn't think the heater has to do with the extra 3 of that's what your thinking.

[cu0ngsayz]

I have them both set at around 82 but I'm starting to think that extra 3 degrees are coming from the lights I have a coralife setup without a lid

Do you have any water surface agitation? If not that would help on a open top

[LordBarron7692]

ok so I guess I'm good then? But is 85 a good temp for the discus and the rams or should I try to get the daytime temp down to around 82 which I'm guessing would drop the night time temp to 79-80

[Totenkampf]

if it were me, i might start the new fish out in something a little bit cooler only if that is what they are used to where they were before you bought them. you can acclimate slowly from there.

one thing that i do see here that i want to mention is the heaters. you currently have 8 wpg of heaters in there. if that 300w fails open you could be looking at fish soup. i rarely use heaters except for the winter months now but when i do i tend to stick to around 3 wpg (all we need here in texas IMO). the safest thing to do is to divide that amount among two heaters so that if one fails the other can cut off and the failed heater will likely not have the power to overheat the tank too rapidly (hopefully you will catch it in time). i know 75W heaters arent the easiest to find, so you could round up. just my thoughts if you plan on having expensive fish in there.