Heater for a 29g tank

[jeebus]

I currently have a 100 watt Marineland heater in my 29g tank.  I need the tank to be at least around 82-85 degrees for my flowerhorn.  I've noticed sometimes the water is nice and warm and other times it is cold.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Should I put another heater in there?  I don't know why it is not consistent and I think it's starting to affect my flowerhorn!  :(

[mrairportjunke]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

what does an actual thermometer say about the temp???

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

You may need a glass cover to keep the A/C out and the warm humid air in.

[jeebus]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

the themo. I have is a pos in my opinion!  It says around 80 but when I feel the water I know its not.  Sometines the water is nice and warm, sometimes its cold.  I do have a cover on it and we keep our house ac on around 75. The tank is not in a direct draft area.  I went ahead and put another 100 watt heater in there last night and this morning it was warm.  I think just one 100 heater was not sufficent enough.

I think the flowerhorn has ich.  I raised the heaters to 86 degrees and put some aquarium salt in.  Last night he was swimming around alittle bit more, hopefully by today he will be a lot better.  Does anyone have any advice on curing ick?

[phish]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

I have that problem also in the past...

Until I started to upgraded better filteration (eheim), air pump to circulate the water, and to seal the deal is the backing strip for the back. The backing strip does the extra miles by keeping everything air tight. Also verify by using two thermostat on each end of tank and periodic check to insure consistency. I don't believe you need a 2nd heater for the 29gal.
My house AC unit is 4 yrs old and its cool in the daytime and its even cooler at night. Yes it does have some affect. BTW I also have flowerhorns and they are my favorite. Hope your fish gets better. Just go to LFS and ask for medication to cure ick. They know what to give you. I have bottle thats says QUICK CURE, cures ICK in 2 days. It does a good job, just follow the directions and you'll be fine. I do it for about 5 days to fully cure.

[jeebus]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

I ended up purchasing a 200w Marineland heater that seems to be doing the job. I also took my Flowerhorn to a friend who said he should be able to cure him. I have my fingers crossed.

[Zulaab]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

Goto Extreme or City Pets or travel down and see Charles @ Fish Ranch in Rosenberg and pick up some Digital Thermometers -- they will run you like $6-8.  Cheap and in my opinion the only route to go.

Your Flowerhorn unless it has Ich, should be kept like the water condition you would keep a Central American 'Cichlasoma' with a Temp 78 - 82°F.
They can handle higher, but I see no reason to keep it that high.

Personally I have over time gotten to the point that I will only buy Marineland Stealth Visi-Therm Submersible Aquarium Heaters.  No other heater I have has taken the abuse and work that they have and none of them have broken down.
If you want a free heater I will be more than happy to give you one of my "broken" ones.  It has only one problem.   You cannot change the temp.   In a 29g it will keep the temp around 84F.  In a 10g about 87F, and in a 60g about 82-83F...   No matter what you set the temp setting to, it will heat the water to about 83F in a large body tank..

[jeebus]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

Thanks Zulaab, I went and purchased a 200 watt Marineland yesterday.  I think the old heater just wasn't strong enough.  The flowerhorn does have a bad case of ich, but hopefully he will be okay.  Truong at Xtreme is actually taking care of him for me right now.

[Zulaab]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

Sweet --  I am going to forewarn you -- you will need to upgrade the tank at some point.  You will need to get as a minimum a 75g tank for him/her when he/she grows up.  I want you to be aware of this.  He/she will get about 12" in length and should be kept alone with a mate if possible with some large clown loaches or other loaches that can handle being around a large fish like that to take care of what ever he/she does not eat.

They will be listed as "highly aggressive" when they get big, and will consider anything that fits in their mouth as food.

[jeebus]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

Yes, I know an upgrade is needed in the future!  My uncles and cousins all have flowerhorn and they're in 100 gallon tanks and bigger.  Mine is only about 4 inches right now with a nice size hump.  I have a 75 gallon waiting for him, just no place to set it up.  I tried putting some plecos in there at once point and they just both got tore up, had to remove them and one ended up dying, i think due to the stress.  Everyone I know just keeps them in a tank by themselves and I am not even going to attempt breeding!

[Zulaab]

Re: Heater for a 29g tank

I know what you mean :)
To me it sucks when you have a fish that you pretty much cannot keep with anything else.. because they look at it as food and food only