Saltwater & Freshwater Fish Tanks - Aquariums

Tropical Fish Tank Temperature and Aquarium Requirements

March 27th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

There is far more to owning tropical fish than simply filling a tank with water, adding some fish and hoping that they will swim around happily and healthily from then on.

Whilst a variation of this will work quite well with cold water fish, tropical fish require more care, especially in the area of tropical fish tank temperature and water condition. (For information on setting up a fish tank go to the link at the bottom of this post.)

Water Balance For Tropical Fish

Tropical fish will tolerate a fairly wide pH level, however many varieties will prefer a more narrow range. A pH level of 7 is neutral. A higher number indicates alkaline water; a lower number indicates acidity. The partial water changes required to maintain you aquarium in healthy condition will also alter the pH level. The hardness of the water will also have an effect on the pH level, the harder the water, the more alkaline it generally is. A simple pH test kit can be purchased from a pet store so that you can test the water. Maintaining good fish housekeeping together with filtration and aeration will all assist in maintaining a healthy balance in your tropical fish aquarium.

Tropical Fish Tank Temperature

The temperature of the water affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Cool water will hold more oxygen but that is not practical with tropical fish which will require a water temperature around 72 - 80 degrees Farenheit (22 -27 degrees Celcius). Many tropical fish will tolerate a wider range of temperatures, however, to thrive and to breed they will require a more narrow range. Aquarium heaters can be purchased quite inexpensively. More expensive models with added features won’t heat the water any better! A heater must be matched to the size of the fish tank and some large tanks may require more than one heater. Some heaters come with a thermostat, however this should never be relied upon. Always use an accurate thermometer to maintain your tropical fish tank temperature.

Filtration

Efficient filtration is required to trap the bulk of the waste and bacteria produced in the tank. The size of the filter will depend on the size of the tank, the number of fish in the aquarium and whether or not there are live plants in the tank. A planted tank will require less filtration. The amount of filtration should be stated on the packaging when you purchase it.

Read more about “how to set up your fish tank” here.