How to Maintain an Ideal Fish Tank Temperature?

How does water temperature affect your fish? You might not be able to see it, but your fish can certainly feel it. I’m talking about water temperature, and as you will soon learn, it’s pretty a pretty big deal.

It’s important to keep our aquariums within a certain temperature range to ensure the fish and other aquatic creatures we keep happy and healthy. Too high or too low, and our aquatic pets will suffer. Keeping the right temperature for specific species of aquatic life is also important when breeding fish and, in the prevention/treatment of disease in fish.

You must be wondering what temperature your aquarium must be. This is a popular question for first-time fish owners. I will answer this question for you and others which will be in the back of your mind. Today, I am going to teach you everything you need to know about water temperature, including why it’s so important and how you can maintain the perfect aquarium temperature.

Best Temperature

The best temperature for your fish mainly depends on the type of fish you own. However, tropical fish are most healthy in the range of 75-80°F (24-27°C). Cool water fish do better in temperatures below that, usually between 60° and 75°F (15-24°C), but some of them enjoy water well below 70°F, which is not suitable for any tropical fish.

In the end, the best temperature you can put will solely depend on the fish in your tank. You will have to research the fish you want to keep and buy a tank accordingly and only choose those that have similar temperature and water quality requirements.

I check the water temperature regularly to avoid large spikes in the water temperature. I also always keep a thermometer and water cooler at hand. I advise you to do the same as it will help you keep your fish in the recommended water temperature.

In the Wild

Water temperature is rarely constant as nature is very unpredictable. It fluctuates a lot in several regions. There may be seasonal changes as you get further away from the equator. Sometimes it rains, which can cool things down considerably. The water near the surface is usually quite a bit warmer than just a few feet below. when the sun goes down at night that affects the water temperature quite a bit as well.

The two major differences in the water temperature in nature and your aquarium are that, in the wild water temperature changes gradually. Hence, allowing the fish to adapt to this temperature change easily. The massive volumes of water also negate the water from changing water temperature a lot.

The second reason is that fish have the freedom to just move to a different location if the water temperature is no longer of their liking. They do not have this option in your aquarium.

In the Aquarium

Unlike nature, where water temperature changes a lot, your aquarium’s temperature tends to be the same throughout the aquarium. Aquarium fish can’t move from a less favorable spot to one that’s more comfortable if the temperature is outside their preferred range. In addition, temperature changes are often more extreme and happen much more rapidly in an aquarium, giving our fish less time to adapt.

This can affect the growth of your fish. It might not allow them to grow properly or it might fade their colors. A sudden drop in temperature also allows parasites to generate which can put your fish’s lives at risk.

Can fish die if the water is too warm or too cold?

Fish in fact can die if the water is too warm or too cold. your fish have fragile bodies so they can not adapt to the temperature changes nor can they go to a more desirable location since they are in an enclosed tank. In addition, the ideal setting of an aquarium’s water temperature for freshwater fish will differ from the ideal water temperature for saltwater marine life. For best results, you must always research your selected fish species before going

Maintaining Proper Temperature

Now that you understand how important maintaining proper water temperature is for our fish, let’s look at how to achieve it.

Experts disagree about the need for a constant temperature that never wavers at all. Some feel that fish that do not experience the typical day/night temperature changes that occur in nature may develop a less robust immune system. therefore, they are more prone to disease. Others feel that all temperature changes are stressors that can lead to poor fish health. However, all experts agree that rapid or frequent changes in water temperature are proven to be stressful for all kinds of fish.

Let’s see the ways you can maintain proper water temperature

1. Tank Location

Tank location can have a significant effect on the frequency and type of water temperature changes that can occur. If you have placed your aquarium close to a window or a balcony, the water temperature in the said aquarium can be affected as the window is frequently opened and closed. this directly affects the temperature of your aquarium. Even windows that aren’t opened pose a problem, as they allow sunlight in, which can quickly increase the temperature of your tank which puts the fish at risk of either disease or even death.

You should never place your aquarium next to someplace with direct sunlight. It can be your window, a door, a balcony, and so on. Placing the aquarium next to heater vents can also affect the aquarium water.

2. Faulty Equipment

It’s common for a heater to simply not function effectively, resulting in uneven or low water temperatures. Many aquarium owners have reported this problem so to avoid this you need to use a thermometer regularly to check the temperature is at the desired level and the heater is working properly. If you don’t do this, there is a chance of your heater breaking down which could result in your fish becoming sick which will put their lives at risk.

Sometimes most people don’t realize that the underlying problem was a faulty heater. To avoid unnoticed heater issues, thermometers should always be used for every aquarium, regardless of size. You need to check on the water temperature when you feed the fish, or turn the lights on in the morning and off at night.

3. Lighting

Aquarium lights can also impact the temperature of the water. This is mainly true for smaller tanks as most of them use incandescent bulbs. The heat emitting from these can change the water temperature drastically.

 The best thing you can do is monitor and record the temperature in your tank throughout the day after turning it on in the morning so you measure how much the lighting impacts the water temperature. If it’s a few degrees higher u will want to reconsider the lights you use and consider switching over to LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures are the coolest to run, in most cases.

4. Adding New Fish

Another time when the water temperature is affected is n you bring in a new fish from the store and keep it in the same tank. Water temperature can change in transit, and again when the fish is added to the new tank. This is an unavoidable issue but can be minimized by making sure the fish is insulated during transport.

Paper is a good insulator, so you can place the fish into a couple of paper bags to avoid any problems. This is particularly important during cold weather, as well as during periods of extreme heat. Once the fish have reached their destination, they should be given some time to adapt to the water temperature before being released into their new aquarium.

5. Cold Water vs Tropical

This factor is extremely overlooked as not all fish like the same temperature of the r.  Not all fish like warm water. Aquarium fish fall into two general categories: cool water and tropical. Cool water fish prefer unheated aquariums and don’t fare as well when housed in a heated tank. The most common cool water fish is the goldfish. Other species include koi, white cloud mountain minnow, and some of the loaches.

Tropical fish are those that require heated water, generally in the range of 75-80°F (24-27°C). Because many homes are not kept in that temperature range day and night, these fish require a heated aquarium. Bettas are an example of a very popular fish that requires tropical temperatures towards the upper end of the scale. Tropical fish should not be kept with cool water fish.​

What happens if your Aquarium Temperature is Too High?

Warm water causes the biggest issues, typically once temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C). Your fish breathe by drawing oxygen out of the water. And under normal conditions, your aquarium will have more than enough oxygen to go around. Warm water causes your fish to become more active hence they require oxygen.  Just one problem – warm water holds less oxygen than cooler water. In severe cases, there won’t be enough oxygen to go around, and your fish can suffocate. along with that the ammonia in your tank will start to build up displacing oxygen and burning the gills of your fish.

There are several ways you can cool down your aquarium. Honestly, it mainly depends on what type of fish you have. The following will help you cool down your tank:

1. Air Conditioning

One of the major factors of having a warm tank is that the environment around the tank is not cool enough. To ensure this you need to keep the room the tank is in should be air-conditioned. Maintaining a cool temperature around the aquarium, will, in most cases, ensure that the temperature within the tank doesn’t rise beyond the safe range.

2. Run a Fan Directly on the Surface

This is a quick solution to the problem of stagnant water at the tank’s surface as the stagnant water causes the overall tank temperature to drop. The downside is that more water will need to be added to replace what has evaporated since it increases evaporation rates.

3. Reduce Natural and Artificial Lights

Make sure you have not kept the tank in direct sunlight or next to a window as it will make the overall temperature higher. You can install blinds over the windows to block any natural light.  Too much artificial lighting can harm your site as well. As artificial lighting has been known to introduce algae blooms that can quickly spread, we suggest turning off lights in the aquarium if not needed while working in the room.

4. Frozen Water Bottles

They can act as temporary ice cubes for your aquarium. This will quickly reduce the temperature of your aquarium. The frozen water bottle method works differently from regular ice cubes, which tend to melt fast and cause havoc in your fish tank.

What happens if your Aquarium Temperature is Too Low?

For tropical fish, low temperatures can cause a problem. At lower temperatures, these fish can become slow and sluggish, and many will soon die.

As fish are cold-blooded, they have a high sensitivity to changes in temperature. You must maintain the aquarium temperature with dependable equipment for your aquarium heaters. The following things will allow you to get the temperature low if ever needed:

1. Thermometer

You should also invest in a thermometer that will help you monitor the tank’s temperature to keep track of it and take necessary steps as required. If you get a digital thermometer the temperature will be on display at all times which will make your job easier.

2. Invest in good Water Heating Equipment

This is an absolute must and you need to buy a good heater for your aquarium as it will prove very helpful and keep the temperature at bay.

The Bottom Line on Fish Tank Temperature

A stable water temperature, within a few degrees of the recommended range, is important for keeping everything in your aquarium happy and healthy. You need to allow your fish to adapt to your tank as it is a massive change of pace from the wild.  To maintain tank temperature rank location, lighting, faulty equipment, adding new fish and the difference of needs in tropical and cold water fish must be kept in mind.

There are several ways to counter the problem of your tank getting too warm and too cold as mentioned above. If you follow everything above you will not face any problems regarding your aquarium temperature.