How to raise temperature and not shock the fish?

when I set my tank up in January, I put a 200w heater in that was set at 78 degrees. Because of the ambient temperature in the house, the tank never gets above 74. I’d like to raise it to at least 78 if not 80 for the tetras and Corys that I have.

I bough an adjustable heater but how do I about raising the temp without shocking the fish

 

It's set at 78 but only gets the water to 74? I keep my living room at 70 degrees and one tank is a constant 79, and the other is set at 82, and it's a 75 gallon tank. What brand is your heater? 200 watts should be plenty to get the tank to 78. Unless you keep that room at like 50 or something lol.

To get to the desired temp, just slowly raise it. It's a 74 now. Raise it a degree, and see how long it takes. Leave it for an hour or two at the new temp, then raise another degree. If you do it slowly over the course of a day you should be fine.

 

Slowly, But Do not change your aquarium's water temperature suddenly or dramatically:Fish immunity reasons.

 

That's really odd. Do you keep your house at 50?

Joking aside, what kind of Tetras and Corys? Most prefer low 70's, and I can't think of any that would like 80.

 

Replying to all of you lol. It’s an aqueon 200w. I thought it was odd too. I wondered if it was defective so I bought a 2nd one and ran them both. Tank stays at 74. I talked to aqueon tech and they said it has to be an ambient thing. They are right, I have a heck of a draft along that wall in the winter.

Everything I can find for my glofish tetras says range of 72-80 and Cory’s 72-78?

 

Wow my house heater is set at 60 and all my tanks stay at 79. But each of my tanks have 2 heaters in each my 55 has a 200 and a 150. And my 30 has 2 100 watts. Btw I live in a 150 yo house in vermont so its always cold my axolotl tank stays around 60 to 65

 

Yeah, odd.

Anyway, mid 70's for both of those guys are where you want to be. When you look up a fish and it says, "72-80", 75/76 is probably the best temp. Keeping them on the extreme ends of their temp range can cause stress, illness, disease & shorten their lifespan. Most Corys prefer low to mid 70's with a few species tolerating upper 70's to 80.

 

Here is the table to help with what size heater you need. Delta T is the difference from lowest ambient room temperature to your desired tank temperature. Always get a heater larger than you think you need.

 

Wow my house heater is set at 60 and all my tanks stay at 79. But each of my tanks have 2 heaters in each my 55 has a 200 and a 150. And my 30 has 2 100 watts. Btw I live in a 150 yo house in vermont so its always cold my axolotl tank stays around 60 to 65

I don’t understand then. My house heat is at 72-74 always and even with 2 heaters the tank stays at 74. The draft IS crazy though.

 

If you have an outside draft blowing right on your tank that's the reason. I keep my house at 62 and the 20 gallon next to me has a 100 watt heater set to 80 and it stays 78-80. I have no drafts though, and my tank is on and inside wall away from windows.

 

Yeah, odd.

Anyway, mid 70's for both of those guys are where you want to be. When you look up a fish and it says, "72-80", 75/76 is probably the best temp. Keeping them on the extreme ends of their temp range can cause stress, illness, disease & shorten their lifespan. Most Corys prefer low to mid 70's with a few species tolerating upper 70's to 80.

The Corys were added last week and haven’t settled down yet. I’m trying to figure out what they need. I put some sand down for them to bring the PH up a bit and thought they’d like that better to eat from, they have some fake plants to hide in, I did a water change to help the ammonia spike—they are still buzzing the surface constantly like they are on crack and glass surfing. There are only 4 but I don’t want to add more until the cycle settles again

 

I don’t understand then. My house heat is at 72-74 always and even with 2 heaters the tank stays at 74. The draft IS crazy though.

Might want to get an and check the temperature around the room and walls. They are cheap around $15.

I use mine and can shoot the tanks temperature from across the room! The fish also like chasing the red dot too.

 

If you have an outside draft blowing right on your tank that's the reason. I keep my house at 62 and the 20 gallon next to me has a 100 watt heater set to 80 and it stays 78-80. I have no drafts though, and my tank is on and inside wall away from windows.

I love talking to people from all over! It’s so mind blowing the differences! I live in PA. We put our AC at 62 in the dead of summer lol. Winter my heat never leaves 72 minimum. Without the draft maybe I could do 68 but that’s be a stretch lol. I put the aquarium on the only wall I could but, this place sucks and the draft is strong enough to feel like wind across bare feet ugh[/QUOTE]

 

Yeah, the draft might be doing it. I'm in northern Maine and I run my AC in November, . We used to rent a house in college that snow came in around the windows. No joke. We put those plastic window things on and it would fill up with snow.

 

I don’t understand then. My house heat is at 72-74 always and even with 2 heaters the tank stays at 74. The draft IS crazy though.

Yea mine drafts like crazy maybe I just have more than enough wattage to maintain

 

Here is the table to help with what size heater you need. Delta T is the difference from lowest ambient room temperature to your desired tank temperature. Always get a heater larger than you think you need.


View attachment 539935

This table should be made a sticky.