Ideal SA cichlid temp.

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jandb

jandb

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 18, 2009
947
174
76
Lewis Center, OH
I just added and 640 gallon system in my basement to set up as a large SA community. I'm currently using 2 Jäger 300 watts with another not plugged in and am holding 75 degrees with no problem. My concern is I don't want a huge jump in my electric bill. I would generally keep the temp closer to 80. What do you think is the ideal temp for SAs?image.jpg
Just started floating some driftwood and have some boulders bleaching now. Here's the tank.

image.jpg
 
Nice tank my largest tank is a 150 gal tiny compared to yours lol but i dont think there is a way to NOT have the electric bill increase when running the heated tanks.

Have you thought about keeping CA cichlids some of them tolerate lower temps. I keep my argentea at 78 and according to other members i could probably lower it some more

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Depending on the species temps vary, from the warm waters of northern SA to the cooler waters of southern SA. If we had and idea of the species your interested in we could make a better temp selection.

As side note you could do a NA tank if you don't want to up the electric bill too much.
 
First off, is your basement heated? If so, what do you usually keep it at the the winter months? If not, what is the winter ambient temp down there?

Either way, If you want to cut down electrical cost, the only way feasible way is insulating the tank. My 180 is in an unheated basement, and I cover all sides with rigid foam insulation and just remove the front panel during feeding/viewing.

Click on the link at the bottom of my post and you can see what I did
 
Agree with Aquanero, because S America has is so large, it has many climate zones, and fish from different zones are stressed when kept at un-natural temps.
If you are keeping Gymnogeophagus, or Uruguayan Crenicichla, varying temps from as low as 50'sF are needed part of the year.
If you are keeping fish from the western slopes such as xC ornatum, or southern Brazil (Geophagus iporanguesis, or braziliensus) are best kept in low to mid 70'sF. Or if keeping discus, or Acarichthys, low 80s'F may be best.
below is my Australoheros grow out tank

my Geo iporaguensus and braziliensus have spawned at temps in the high 60s
 
The basement is heated but I had closed the vents in the unfinished side. I'll have to open them. In the winter it holds around 60 or a bit higher. It's been getting warmer I haven't checked in the heat of the summer but it does feel cool down there.

I'm not a big geography guy so I'm not sure on this one but I plan on keeping a few different severums, I have red spot gold severums, geophagus winemilleri, abalios, red head tapajos and jurapari, just ordered some wide bar silver dollars. I'm also growing out a couple kinds of cichla. I'd appreciate any insight anyone has. Thanks.
 
Those fish should be kept ~78 to 82 as an ideal temp range.
 
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