Considered decorative accessories, aquariums are now increasingly present in interiors. They can add a touch of elegance to a room making it luxurious. With the change in temperatures due to the seasons, however, it can be difficult to properly care for fish by providing them with an optimal temperature in their aquarium. As the winter season approaches, for example, it is important to heat a freshwater aquarium.
Why do some fish need warm water?
As we can see in this aquarium shop in Switzerland, you can generally put several species of fish in the same aquarium. If you want to have species displaying a multitude of colors, you will have to turn to warm-water fish. They offer the main advantage of reproducing a typical aquatic landscape, thus making it more exotic. These aquatic species are also called tropical fish. They live in waters with temperatures between 24 and 26°C. Some species of tropical fish are found in fresh water and others in seawater.
The average water temperature in an aquarium is normally 25°C. It can meet the needs of most species, whatever the season. However, certain species of fish, such as the discus, need an aquatic environment with a temperature between 28 and 29°C. It is therefore important, especially in winter when temperatures are dropping, to heat the water in the aquarium.
What equipment is used to heat aquarium water?
To maintain the aquarium at an optimal temperature for fish survival, it is important to heat it. To do this, you will need to invest in a heating system. There are several models.
The immersion heater to heat the aquarium water
The immersion heater is a submersible heating system to be immersed in the aquarium vertically or horizontally. It is equipped with a thermostat that must be adjusted manually to a temperature of your choice. Once immersed in cold water, the immersion heater will turn on and heat the water. It stops working when the water reaches the setting temperature.
External heating
The external heater is placed outside the aquarium, at the level of the pipe located between the outlet of the water filter and the aquarium. This device offers the advantage of not cluttering the aquarium. In addition, the fish contained in the pool are protected against the risks of being in contact with an excessively intense heat source.
Heat the aquarium water with a heating cord
If the aquarium is marine type, this is the ideal device to use to heat it. It is also more efficient than the immersion heater. The diffused heat is radiated from the bottom of the tank. This allows perfectly homogeneous and constant diffusion over the entire volume of water and throughout the aquarium. In addition to these three main models of aquarium heating, there are also heating systems integrated into the filter or even floor heating systems. For this last model, heating cables are installed which will create a water table effect at the level of the aquarium and thus ensure heating that is both homogeneous and regular.
Check the water temperature regularly
For the good health of fish, the water in the aquarium must be maintained at a precise temperature. During cold periods, it must therefore be heated and cooled as necessary during the summer. The ambient temperature in the room, the lighting, or even the season are, however, elements that greatly impact the temperature of the water in the aquarium. This is why you have to be very careful about the temperature in the pool. The survival and health of the fish is at stake. To ensure that fish, as well as aquatic plants, are in an environment that meets the standards essential to their survival, it is possible to equip yourself with an aquarist thermometer.
This device is mainly used to check the temperature of the water in the pool to prevent possible warming. Consider installing it so that you can easily read the marked temperature to take precautions in case of problems related to water temperature. It is also possible to use an aquarium temperature regulator which offers the advantage of being more practical and much more precise. This is a device that automatically maintains the water at the indicated temperature. Thanks to these two pieces of equipment, it is possible to maintain the aquarium at the right temperature.