What is the temperature in the aquarium? What water temperature should a fish have in an aquarium and how to maintain it constant and optimal Temperature for fish in an aquarium

Water is not just a source of life. Its properties determine which fish and how long they will live in the aquarium. Although simple in composition, water is actually a very complex chemical element.

Aquarium owners don't need to know everything Chemical properties, it is enough to understand some of them. For example, aquarists need such characteristics of water as hardness, the presence of gases dissolved in it, temperature, salinity and the degree of concentration of waste products.

Water temperature value for aquarium animals

The temperature of the water in the aquarium is a vital condition for the existence of the inhabitants. The course of all development processes of fish and plants depends on the temperature environment. To determine the temperature regime, there are special aquarium thermometers. They measure not only how warm the water is, but also how many degrees it can differ in the lower and top layer. There shouldn't be any difference in temperature difference.

If there is such a difference, it is necessary to take measures to restore the balance, since changes can be detrimental to the fish.

Dependence of aquarium fish on water temperature

Body temperature in fish is not constant. It depends very much on environment. The higher the heat indicators, the faster speed metabolism and the faster the fish grows.

Each type of fish has its own temperature at which they feel most comfortable. Even exceeding optimal temperature conditions significantly affects aquarium fish.

In an aquarium, especially if it is small in volume and there are a lot of living organisms themselves, the temperature increases leads to a decrease in oxygen in water. Increased life processes in fish lead to an increase in oxygen consumption. All this affects the condition of the water: it becomes cloudy, the smell of ammonia appears, and oxygen starvation occurs in living organisms. In this case, even an air aerator does not help.

In natural conditions aquarium fish They live in tropical waters, where it is always warm. Temperature differences are not as great as in our latitudes and amount to 2-3 degrees. Therefore, for fish there is a lower and upper temperature limit. To make the fish comfortable, they undergo acclimatization in quarantine. In a couple of days at high water temperatures, if it does not differ from their usual environment or is one or two degrees higher, the fish gets used to its new place of residence. If temperature regime lower, then acclimatization may take longer, sometimes up to several weeks.

There is no specific temperature value for everyone, because fish are divided into warm-water and cold-water.

Warm water fish live at temperature range from 18 to 20 degrees. But they can also exist in seventeen degree water in an aquarium. These fish require a large aquarium, if you have a couple, then they need at least 40 liters, for two couples there should be 80 liters, respectively. With all this, plantings and oxygen supply to the aquarium are needed.

Cold-water fish also need a good supply of oxygen. But they can live both at low temperatures (14 degrees) and at elevated water temperatures (25 degrees).

In fact, none of this is an unbreakable rule. For each type there is a specific water temperature, which should be used as a starting point in order to know what temperature should be in the aquarium.

Optimal temperature level for keeping fish in an aquarium

If the fish kept in the aquarium are of the same species, then there will be no problems in their maintenance - it is enough to maintain one constant temperature water. Some aquarists want to diversify animal world your aquarium. In this case, you need to select fish with the same temperature regime. Knowledge of the following rules may help, especially for beginners:

• it is necessary to populate the aquarium with fish from one general temperature habitats;
• for pregnant fish and newly hatched fry, it is worth keeping a separate aquarium with a higher water temperature;
• per day, temperature changes in the water in the aquarium cannot deviate from the established norm by more than 2-3 degrees;
• know what the optimal water temperature in the aquarium should be: in cold water it is easier to get sick and in water at a higher temperature the presence of oxygen decreases;
• for temperature control the aquarium must be equipped with a thermometer and a heating system (best with an alert sensor).

Ways to maintain temperature in an aquarium

As already mentioned, special means are used for a constant temperature value. These products are primarily intended for heating the aquarium. Experienced aquarists know how much room temperature affects an aquarium. The rest should remember ways to change the temperature balance of water in different time of the year:

• not everyone knows that an aquarium refrigerator is used to lower the temperature;
• if the apartment has an air conditioner, it will maintain the desired mode;
• some fans blow a fan on the water surface;
• if there is neither one nor the other, then ice can be used for cooling;
• heating is carried out by a special heater;
• when you don’t want to spend money on purchasing equipment, you can use a regular heating pad.

Anyway a person decides for himself what method he will use to heat or cool the water in the aquarium. Using professional devices, there is a guarantee of proper temperature control.

Breeding ornamental fish is a very exciting business. However, if you decide to devote yourself to this interesting hobby, you should know many details and subtleties (primarily, such as the required temperature in the aquarium). Beginners often make a number of mistakes when keeping fish. To avoid them, we advise you to carefully read this article.

The most important factor when breeding fish

In order for your pets to be comfortable in the water, you need to know exactly what temperature should be in the aquarium. First of all, you should remember that each type of fish has its own water temperature. Some people like cool water, while others are more heat-loving. This should definitely be taken into account when you start equipping your aquarium. Especially if you want to put it there different fish. First make sure that all of them are able to exist at the same temperature.

Optimal temperature

So, you have decided to buy several types of fish. In this case, it won’t hurt you to know which species prefers which temperature in the aquarium. It's quite simple. For most decorative fish existing today, temperatures from 22 to 26 degrees are quite suitable.

There are some types of fish (there are not many of them), for which the optimal temperature will be slightly higher - from 28 to 31 degrees. These include, first of all, discus and labyrinth fish.

But goldfish, on the contrary, prefer cooler water - only from 18 to 23 degrees. Although they, of course, can live for quite a long time in water, say, about twenty-five degrees. But after this, goldfish invariably develop various diseases and ailments. Therefore, it is better to maintain an optimal cool temperature.

Other types of fish are perhaps not so demanding and are able to exist quite comfortably at standard temperatures in an aquarium of 22-26 degrees.

How to change the water temperature in an aquarium

Quite often, aquarists have to change the temperature to ensure a safe existence for their fish. For this there are special devices. Many aquariums are already initially equipped with special heating pads, thermometers and thermostats that allow you to both lower the temperature in the aquarium and, conversely, heat the water.
If your aquarium is equipped with a full arsenal of such devices, maintaining the desired temperature will be easy for you. How to lower or increase the temperature in an aquarium? It is enough just to monitor the thermometer readings and, if necessary, adjust the temperature.

The main thing is to avoid sudden changes. Sudden fluctuations in temperature levels (more than 2-3 degrees) can adversely affect the health of your fish. Stress, colds and other troubles will bring nothing but harm. Therefore, when buying an aquarium, choose a model with a thermometer so that you can constantly maintain the desired temperature.

Water temperature in a fish aquarium

You have decided to start an aquarium. Get ready for the fact that without heating systems the temperature of the aquarium will be equal to or a couple of degrees lower than room temperature. If in the summer it’s great, then in winter time problems may arise, because most aquarium fish are warm water and prefer a temperature of 24–26 degrees.

There are a number of fish that will have to create special conditions. So, optimal water temperature in the aquarium for discus it is 28-31°C. For adult fish to reproduce, the temperature must rise to 30-33 degrees. Discus fry also prefer to grow in temperatures above +30°C.

It is enough for angelfish to provide 22-26 degrees in the aquarium. Fish will be able to withstand a temperature drop of up to 18 degrees, but you should not subject them to such tests too often. For spawning, angelfish require elevated temperatures in the region of 28-30°, and this temperature must be stable.

Goldfish prefer to live in cooler conditions. The ideal aquarium water temperature for goldfish ranges from 18 to 23°C. At higher temperatures, fish may experience swim bladder dysfunction.

Swordtails naturally live in the waters of the Northern and Central America, and therefore are ready to tolerate a temperature range from 20 to 26°C. Cases have been recorded when the water temperature in an aquarium for swordtails dropped to 10 degrees, and the fish tolerated it without loss. In order for the female swordtail to spawn fry, the aquarium, in addition to other factors (fatty food), must constantly remain at 26-27° degrees.

Guppies can be called the most unpretentious. They are believed to be able to survive in temperatures ranging from 4 to 36 degrees. At the same time, for normal growth and development, it is best to maintain the temperature within 23-27 degrees. At lower temperatures, fish begin to develop diseases, growth slows down, and puberty begins later. At temperatures close to 30 degrees, growth accelerates, but aging also comes earlier.

Optimal water temperature in the aquarium

From all of the above, several conclusions can be drawn. Firstly, the aquarium should be populated with fish with similar temperature preferences. In addition, given that adult fish during the spawning period and fry in the first days after birth require elevated temperatures, you should start a special spawning aquarium, where you can provide the fish with greenhouse conditions.

Another important detail is the daily fluctuations of water. If deviations of 3-5 degrees within a day are acceptable for guppies, then this is rather an exception to the rule. For most fish aquarium water temperature should not deviate more than two degrees. This is difficult to achieve if the room where the aquarium is located is frequently ventilated.

Knowing what the optimal aquarium temperature should be is extremely important. If in cold water fish run the risk of contracting an infection, then in water that is warmer than necessary, all the inhabitants of the aquarium will suffer from a lack of oxygen. If left uncontrolled, the water temperature in an aquarium in summer can rise to 36°C, which is lethal for most species.

Thus, it is very important to purchase a thermometer and heating system along with the aquarium. It is better if the heating pad is equipped with an automatic thermostat or at least a warning system for exceeding the maximum permissible temperature. Thus, it can be guaranteed that fish aquarium water temperature will not go beyond the danger marks.

Surely you know that everything underwater inhabitants your aquarium have different duration life. Moreover, than bigger fish, the longer she lives. This is certainly not a statement, but often this is exactly the case. The main factor that greatly influences the lifespan of aquarium inhabitants is water temperature. At higher water temperatures, its inhabitants live shorter lives.

As you know, fish and plants are not able to maintain their temperature at a constant level and are forced to be content with the conditions that we impose on them. The life expectancy of fish, depending on the water temperature, is almost linear dependence. So, for example, if one species of fish lives at a temperature of 20°C for about six months, then at a temperature of 30°C it will live for 3 months. This statement is true for all cold-water fish; for warm-water fish this dependence is less pronounced, but still exists. In addition, warm-water fish are able to live in a rather narrow temperature range, which imposes additional requirements for temperature stability. For the most common aquarium fish, the temperature range is between 20-27°C.

All the above data suggests that if average duration The lifespan of a fish is about 3 years at a water temperature of 25°C, then if the temperature drops to 16°C, the fish may die, and if it rises to 34°C, it will also not live for 3 days. If the water temperature lies near the boundary values, then the fish can live longer, but still significantly less than at the recommended temperature.

Thus, all inhabitants of the aquarium must be selected according to the temperature range to which they are accustomed while living in natural habitats. All this will help ensure that your pets are healthy and live a long time.

What pertains to aquarium plants, then the same rules apply here as for fish, only they are even more stringent. It would seem that many plant species are able to tolerate fluctuations in water temperature within a fairly wide range of 5-30°C, but at higher temperatures the plants’ metabolism significantly accelerates, which is reflected in excessively rapid consumption nutrients. All this leads to the fact that plants accelerate their decay processes, which is manifested in the rapid disintegration of its leaves.

At the first stage, at elevated water temperatures, the plants do not show this in any way by their appearance. In this regard, many aquarists make a big mistake by not controlling the water parameters and begin to take necessary actions only when it’s already too late - the plant died, and the aquarium was significantly damaged.

It should be said that among aquarium fish there are several species for which water temperatures above 30°C are the norm, while at the same time there are no plants that could grow normally at such temperatures. On the contrary, there are also relatively few plant varieties that require water temperatures above 20°C. The rule also works for them - the cooler, the more acceptable, but everything should be within the recommended temperatures for this species. For example, ruby ​​Echinodorus acquires its beautiful reddish color at lower temperatures, while at higher temperatures only young shoots have a reddish color.

Many people prefer to keep aquarium animals as pets - they are unpretentious in keeping, do not cause allergies in adults and children, do not make noise and do not require constant attention. In this article we will look at what temperature the water should be in an aquarium: what are the dangers of sudden changes in water and what rules exist for observing the temperature regime.

Effect of water temperature

Many factors depend on the condition of the water in the aquarium: the growth of the fish, their development, health and tendency to breed offspring. If a pet in an aquarium gets sick and even dies, it is entirely the fault of the owner, who did not adhere to correct mode and fish care.

It is noteworthy that both very high and low temperatures are harmful to fish - they have an equally bad effect on the well-being of the fish, reduce their activity and provoke a weakening of the immune system.

Did you know? Strong heating of air and water negatively affects not only the fish, but also the plants living in the aquarium - they can quickly deplete and become lethargic.

Beginning aquarists quite often make mistakes in keeping fish. To avoid this, you need to know what exactly the correct water temperature should be for aquarium fish.

Why deviations are dangerous

If you do not adhere to established standards and allow severe overheating or hypothermia of the liquid, or sudden changes in temperature, you can cause serious illnesses fish, and even their death.

Overheat

Almost all aquarium inhabitants are tropical creatures that live in fairly warm water. However, exceeding the required temperature condition leads to serious consequences: the fish begins to suffocate and may die.

A sign of overheating is restless behavior of the fish, unnatural color (strong redness of the scales). In this case, you need to add a small amount of cool (but not cold) water to the aquarium until the values ​​​​approach normal.

It is also necessary to ensure increased air exchange - start a compressor pumping air.

If the water temperature in a fish aquarium has risen no higher than 35 °C, then gradually reducing it to the normal level of 25 °C may not have a detrimental effect on the health of the fish.
But overheating above 35 °C can lead to the death of your aquarium pets.

Important! Well-fed fish tolerate overheating worse than hungry ones - warm aquatic environment reduces the amount of oxygen in it, and well-fed aquarium inhabitants need air more than hungry ones.

It is necessary to monitor the water using a special thermometer or an aquarium thermostat.

Hypothermia

A significant decrease in indicators below 22 ° C also provokes illness and changes in the behavior of the fish - either severe lethargy, apathy, or, conversely, hyperactivity appears.

In order to bring the indicators back to normal, you need to add warm (but not hot) water to the aquarium.
It is necessary to monitor the temperature of the liquid: if you pour it too hot, you can cause a burn to the delicate scales and the death of this small tropical animal.

Often, hypothermia of water occurs as a result of a general cooling, especially in autumn and winter months. For tropical fish a cold environment is a real disaster (only some fish can normally withstand a slight cold snap:,).

Signs of hypothermia in fish include pale scales, lethargy, and refusal to eat. In a cold environment, the risk of infection by infectious diseases increases, so fish for a long time Those who are in cool water very quickly catch a cold and get sick.

Fish fry also die - in a cold environment they can die within 20 minutes from the moment the liquid cools.

Sudden changes

Rapid changes in temperature also have a detrimental effect on the health of this household inhabitant. Changes are possible in the following cases:

• a decrease in temperature directly in the room where the aquarium is located - as a result, the liquid in the aquarium and the air also cool down;
• transferring fish from one container to another (for example, while cleaning an aquarium) - the liquid in a shallow container can cool quickly.

Important! The temperature difference for fish is insignificant, at first sight, fluctuation of 2–3 degrees. However, this may be enough for the fish to catch a cold or overheat.

To avoid a decrease in water degrees due to daily fluctuations in the room, it is necessary to install a good thermostat in the aquarium - it must maintain an optimal environment all the time.
Remember: room temperature is not always favorable for aquarium pets. Our climate is not the tropics, and the heating of the air may not reach as many degrees as is necessary for the normal functioning of the fish.

What should be the optimal temperature

It is important to remember that the temperature in the aquarium should be the same at all times. weather conditions and any time of day - 25 °C. If you keep discus, pearl gourami and other heat-loving animals, the temperature can reach 27 ° C.

Did you know? The most unpretentious aquarium fish are guppies, gambusia, and macropods - they also do not need increased aeration of the water with oxygen.

To maintain the optimal temperature in the aquarium, as mentioned above, a thermostat is used. Take care of the correct aquarium lid: it should contain cover glasses - they reduce the evaporation of liquid and maintain the air temperature in the aquarium the same as the water.
If you artificially raise the thermometer by 3–4 degrees, this will stimulate fish to reproduce and spawn.

Features of maintaining temperature conditions during transportation

As a rule, most fish die due to improper transportation. Most people, when purchasing fish, transport it in a bag of water - in this case it is almost impossible to control the temperature.

In addition, such transportation is unacceptable in cold or too hot seasons - the water can cool down or overheat very quickly.

The most comfortable way of transporting the fish will be a thermos - it can maintain the desired temperature for a long time, and in case of an accidental fall the fish will not be injured. The permissible change in the state of the liquid in the thermos during transportation and in the aquarium as the final habitat of the fish is 1–2 degrees.

Ways to control temperature

As already mentioned, the most convenient and effective way temperature control is a thermostat - it has the ability to maintain a constant warm atmosphere in the aquarium.

One way to prevent overheating in hot weather is to install an air conditioner in the room, but this is a radical method, and it also reduces air humidity.

If there is no traditional thermostat, you can use certain heating pads with a thermostat that turn off on their own when they reach desired temperature. Using a powerful heating pad will allow you to ventilate the room without fear - the temperature in the room will not decrease.
Remember: maintaining the correct water condition in the aquarium is the key to the longevity and health of your fish.