Recent death
By steven1990
@steven1990 (57)
February 13, 2007 9:23am CST
some sad news we had a tropical fish tank with about 9 fish in it all was well when i went to bed and when i woke up in the morning i found all the fish had died i felt the fish tank and it was boiling the heater wasnt working properly and the tank over heated causing the fish to die has anyone else experienced this?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Feb 07
I am sorry you lost all of your fish. This same thing happened in my mother-in-laws fish tank about three years ago. The heater malfunctioned and boiled her whole tank and turned the water a milky white color. Two catfish did survive the event.
Honestly, I have never ever owned a tank with a heater in it until we got our 55 gallon. To tell you the truth the tanks really don't need it unless you allow your house to get really, really cold. Don't replace your heater until you know if you truly need one. I have had tanks from 1 gallon up to 40 gallons with out heaters and the temperature maintained itself.
@steven1990 (57)
•
13 Feb 07
Surely certain tropical fish like certain tempetures though so tis good to have a heater?
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Feb 07
Depends on what kind of fish you keep. Each type of tropical fish has a preferred temperature. If you keep goldfish, they prefer a cooler tank. Most fish experts suggest keepying your tank around the 80 degreemark. In our 55 gallon we keep our heaters set very very low - 70 - and it is there just in case the house cools off that much. The heater barely runs. I just checked the temp in our home it is 76 dgrees and our large 55 gallon tank is showing 80 degrees.
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Oh, that's too bad. I had something somewhat similar happen, had a small tank in my daughter's room. She left the light on-way to long, and cooked the poor little guys.
Yes, I'd recommend using a heater. I keep my house a tad on the cool side, to save on the heating bills. I wear a sweatshirt, and keep the thermostat about 68-70 F. I set it lower during the day, when the sun's out. The temperature in the tank really should be at a stable level so the fish don't get stressed. Tropicals generally need 76-80 F. They can go a tad lower, but anything lower then 72 is really pushing it. I brought my goldfish in from the pond, they're in a tank in the house. I don't have a heater in that tank, and it is fairly cool. Too cool for a tropical. So, unless your house is constanlty heated at 76-78 F, I'd use a heater.
