Thoughts on Acceptable Temp Range for FOWLR

[mgr111]

<span style="font-family: Arial;">So we are finally running our FOWLR set-up in the living room, the tank temperature seems to want to average around 80 - 81 in the early morning and around 83 - 84 in the afternoon. So what is an acceptable range? I have read a lot of different websites that have widely varying opinions on this topic. I am trying to figure out if we need a chiller or not. The tank is ~300 gal so the chiller is not going to come cheap.</span>

 

[ripped tide]

As long as you dont have any ick in the tank, 84 is high, but not detrimental.

If there is ick in the tank, it will metabolize faster and it will be harder to control.

Any way you can add a fan to blow over the top of the tank or the sump? do you have glass tops?

 

[snowmansnow]

i agree 84 is pretty warm.... If possible get that thing down to 80ish

 

[mufret]

The key is keeping the temp consistant. Limiting your temps swings to one degree will go a long way in keeping your fish happy and healthy. Is it getting direct sunlight or is the increase in temperture coming from the lights being on? Also, if you have glass tops on the tank, removing them can make a big difference.

 

[mgr111]

Thanks all... One little fan on top did the trick. We are stable at ~77 to 78 during the day and can get it down to 76 in the evening if needed.

The tank is near a "window" but it has been insulated and block off. So at this point it might not be a window any more.