Aquarium Temperature - What you should know.

Take just a moment, and take the following quiz. Question (1) What is the current temperature of your aquarium (don't peek!!!)? Question (2) What is the optimal temperature for your aquarium? Question (3) Assuming that one has a typical glass immersion heater, how many watts of power should it have? My guess is that most of you out there only could answer one of the above questions with some amount of certainty. The purpose of this quiz was not to make you feel careless or uninformed, but rather to bring an important component of the aquarium into the spotlight. Before this editorial is through, my goal is for all of you to get an A+ on the quiz above.

Why is temperature important? Unlike humans, fish can't put on a thick jacket when the environment gets cold, and similarly, they can't sport their new swimming trunks when things get warm. In addition, fish are cold blooded, meaning that they are totally dependent on their environment to regulate their body temperature. The point is that fish in the world live in localized regions because they each have their own tolerances of temperature (in addition to food, etc.). In an aquarium, it is important to realize these temperature tolerances. The bottom line is that improper temperature in an aquarium is a large source of stress (both to the fish and eventually the aquarist). From previous articles you may remember that stress leads to a reduction in the guard against bacterial infection. Hopefully already I have encouraged you to pay a little more attention to your aquarium temperature, and thus we should all be able to answer question (1) from above. Before I go on, I should mention that the two most common ways to measure the temperature in your aquarium are by using either a floating thermometer, or a temperature strip which is attached to the side of the aquarium (both of these are common place at most fish stores).

So, this brings us to the second question of the quiz...What is the optimal temperature for your aquarium? First let me note that most fish species in the world live in water temperatures between the mid-60°F and 90°F. However, most species that one may find in aquariums tolerate temperatures between 75°F and 82°F. There are a few exotic species that prefer temperatures outside this range, but for the most part, the above temperature range should apply to you. Where you are in that temperature range depends on what is in your aquarium. As much as I wish I could tell you exactly what temperature to use for each particular setup, the fact is that it is not practical. The best thing to do is to speak with your local fish store salesperson. I am a big advocate of establishing a good relationship with your local salesperson. Their commitment to you does not end when they sell you the fish. They are there to help you understand how to care for the animal, and you should take advantage of this. When purchasing a fish, make sure to ask about the optimal temperature for the species (in addition to the other information you should know). Before I proceed, I should mention that I do not want to make it seem as though there is a 1° F window for each species. Rather, you should know if you should shoot for the upper end or lower end of the suggested 75°F to 82°F.

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