Too warm for guppies?

[goldenpuon]

All 3 of my guppy fry tanks/containers are equiped with heaters but I am concerned that two of them are heating things up too much for the fsih. One of the heaters is slightly broken and don't heat the tank any lower than a temperature that ranges from 79-82F daily. And the other heater I am concerned about is made for a 15 gallon I think (if I remember correctly, I bought it from Carl and he said it wouldn't overheat the tank too much when I got it) and has been heating my 4 gallon too much by a few degrees so it is around 80-82 F every day. My thermometers are the stick-on the glass kind and are possibly not super reliable due to the kind they are though I have not had any major inaccurancies with them in the past. As for the guppies. I'm pretty sure that as long as the temp doesn't go higher it is ok for the guppies but I just want to be sure.

Thanks for your input!

Renee

[bikeguy33]

renee.....ignore the built in thermostat that comes on many of the heaters. they are seldom acurate. as well....if you have a heater that you know is malfunctioning...TAKE IT OUT IMMEDIATELY. unreliable and malfunctioning heaters will often give you a seafood chowder.

[Carl]

Bill makes a good point Renee!

As well I would add since I think you got a 50 watt Heater, that a heater of this wattage to gallons ration will often be too warm for the tank during the warmer months as even if you have the thermostat regulated as Bill suggested, often even during brief "on" times this can heat water considerably.

Here is a quote from my Aquarium Answers Article:
I recommend 25 watts for every 10 degrees of ambient temperature per 10 gallons you need to raise your aquarium temperature. EX: If your home is 68 degrees and you have a 40 gallon aquarium, to reach a temperature of 78 degrees you would need a 100 watt heater. Often when heater problems occur it is due to the heater being of the improper wattage to meet heating requirements of an aquarium in the location it occupies. Too high a wattage can result in rapid temperature rises that can result in cooked fish if you make adjustment mistakes.

My point is you obviously did not have much choice since your tank is so small, however I have often used 50 watt heaters for tanks 4 times your size, so you really need to be careful in the regulation of the thermostat (again, follow Bills suggestion and turn it down some, despite what the pre-set says)

Aquarium Answers; Heaters

Carl

[goldenpuon]

So, it that too warm a temperature for young guppies, 80-82 F? I need to know so I can make sure I'm not overheating them. I'm going ot turn it down a bit in the container that was a heater too big for its sizesince it has a high chance of overheating teh fish now taht it is warmer. I'm also going to take the heater I know is malfunctioning out right now and put another used one in that works.

[Carl]

I have kept guppies at this temperature (and a bit higher; 84) without a problem, although this temperature can be worse for outbreaks of Saprolegnia and Columnaris.

Carl

[cashay]

I keep mine at that temp also, around 84, at least that is what the thermometer says. they all seem to be doing fine, and thriving actually. and I have 18 baby fry that are very small a few weeks... plus I have 9 from another batch that is about two months old or a little more but they are doing great!

[goldenpuon]

That's good to hear. Thanks for the reply Cashay. The temperature for mine stays from anywhere from 79-82 F so they should be ok. I replaced the heater that was heating the tank to 80-82F and replaced it with another heater of the same type and brand. It's used but it's giving me the same problem. It was almost on the lowest setting and the tank was at 82F. Now I changed it to the lowest.

Perhaps there was nothing wrong with my heater. I forgot if it is 25 or 50 watts but if it is 50, that could be my problem combined with that it is on and it is 76 or 77F in the house now. I will keep an eye on it but I suspect it is just for the wrong size tank. Unfortunately, at the time I got the heater, I think the lower wattage heaters were out of stock, at least if I remember correctly. I will have to be more careful next time when choosing a heater and unless it's absolutely needed at that moment, wait to get one if the lower wattage ones are out of stock.

Thanks for the help guys!

[bikeguy33]

aswell Renee....what is the temp of the room where the tank is. the water will take on the ambiant temp of the air around it eventually. as well...most heaters have an orange light that shuts off when it is to temp. do you see an orange light often???

[goldenpuon]

The temperature of the room has been about 72-77 everyday since the weather turned warm earlier this week. I do see the light often, although I am not sure if it is on as often as when the temp was a steady 68 F a week ago. I should have time tomorrow to check to see how often they go on.

I have adjusted the theromstat on the heaters so they are at lower settings. As of now the temps in both tanks that were overheating is 79F and the temperature in the house is 75F.

I also have 2 guppy tanks that have never had an overheating issue. Both have heaters with presets of 78F that cannot be adjusted. Both never seem to go a +1 or -1 degree above or below 78F. Just letting you know if case this info helps at all sicne I know the more info the better.