Temp drop help

[Cpt J]

Help. Came home after a day away and my heat had gone out. They house was 36 f deg and the tank dropped down to 58 ish. How fast can I bring the tank up to temp. There are still some fish moving. They are on the bottom and moving slow. And is there anything to watch for

 

[DeniseAndy]

Ouch! Man, I hate it when this happens. I had a temp increase that killed almost everything. I am hoping the temp drop will not be as bad. I would try to increase it about 3degrees a day. I know that will be hard when you house warms up, but let that help too. Hope your animals make it.

 

[MnFish1]

My tank recently due to equipment malfunction dropped to 61 (from 80 normally). I merely plugged the heater in. Lost 1 coral and 2 fish. Then due to my own stupidity (shutting off the return pump accidentally) - it dropped again (this time my apex which was part of the original problem) was not there - and I didnt have a thermometer - but im guessing 60's again - I plugged in a new heater and same thing - 1 coral partially died - fish were all fine.

Part of the answer probably depends on 1) how big your tank is and 2) how many watts your heater is. For example (and I dont think you have this - but its just to illustrate) - if you have a 20 gallon tank - and a 300 watt heater - it will heat up much faster than if you had a larger tank or a smaller heater.

I think gradually bringing the temp up over 24 hours is a good idea. It took that long for my tank to even get that high (note 140 gallons of water, 500 watt heater). Good luck. Good thing is that cooler temps seem better tolerated than too high. (anecdotal)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Head to walmart for a temporary heater or pet store for a good one. May be costly up frot but cheaper in the long run. Bottom of tank has warmer zone why they are on the bottom

 

[Cpt J]

Thanks for your help. I went to work on the furnace and my wife added more heaters and pointed an electric heater at before I told her that it needed to come up slow but the 3 of 4 fish look to be doing alright. Lost a purple fireally fish, anemone and think pistol ship.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Thanks for your help. I went to work on the furnace and my wife added more heaters and pointed an electric heater at before I told her that it needed to come up slow but the 3 of 4 fish look to be doing alright. Lost a purple fireally fish, anemone and think pistol ship.

Hopefully everyone else pulls through!