[dingus]

I want to set up a tank for my nephew in a Philadelphia home but the temp. will reach 85 F + in the summer and I can maintain 68 - 75 in the winter. The room will proably get down to 75 at nite in the summer via window unit. Are there any Malawi cichlids reccomended? I love peacock cichlids (4 in a 55 now in my home) but you guys will probably know more than me.

 

[Laurel]

Why not use a heater to keep the temperature constant? if the room gets up to 85 during the summer, keep the heater temp at around 80º so it doesn't dip below that. You could lower it a few degrees during the winter to save on electricity costs if that's an issue.

 

[TheeMon]

you dont own an air conditioner?

 

[dingus]

Can a few malawi(preferebly peacocks) handle 85 daytime and say 79 nightime temps. PLEASE comment.

 

[ridley25]

I'm relying on grade 11 physics here so hang on tight:
Just because your room temperature swings from 79 to 85 doesn't mean your water temperature will.
Given time a tank would match the room temp. (or close), but the more water you have, the longer it takes to reach equilibrium. Even if you had a 30 gallon tank you probably wouldn't see it move much between 83 and 81 if 85 and 79 are your highs and lows.
But I've got to go with Laurel here and suggest a heater. Then at least your bottom end temp. will be constant.

I hope that helped more than it confused.

 

[dingus]

You have reasured my theroy. Either way I will test the room temps. from day to nite, and have a heater. But can Malai Chichlids and a Pleco handle say 85 F and a sweep down to 80? In the winter I would have a constant 76 or 78. HMMM

 

[DJRansome]

I think what you are hearing (lots of suggestions to keep the temperature lower) is that most of us would not set up a tank at 85 degrees for Malawi for fear of stress leading to illness and death. But I have not tried it, so cannot confirm.

We do raise the temp above 80 for several weeks at a time to treat ich for example. But high temps present other challenges. Metabolism is increased, shortening life span. Aggression is increased. Warm water is more difficult to oxygenate, so you need to go overboard with surface movement and watch the fish very closely so you can react if they have breathing problems.

 

[justin323]

My pond will hit 85 and slightly higher in summer, but with being said I don't think a pond has the same rules as an indoor tank. I don't think it would kill them but you'd probably be inviting problems.

 

[cichlidaholic]

Temperature swings could stress the fish...I think that a constant 85 for a few months in the summer will be overly stressful.

Kim

 

[why_spyder]

I'd do more waterchanges. :lol:

That's what I'd have to do when my water would swing into the mid-80's during last summer. :-? I was in very worried about the fish but they all made it fine.