Water Changes - a little warmer or a little colder?

[Deaths Sting]

trying to match the tanks water temp during a water change is the best choice, but, what if u had to choose a little warmer or a littler colder?

what would u pick and why?

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

colder

When in the wild and there are rain storms, the rain is never hotter than lake,river,streams temperature.

At night the temperature allways drops no matter where you are.

I have read about in amazonia that during the rainy season the water temps would drop 10-12 degree's. And that is what sets off the breeding in most species.

And in the wild there is nothing that would cause a fast or instant temp increase.

 

[Naldo]

I have two tanks running. I have a 75 gallon in my basement where the ambient temp is always cooler. The tank runs at about 76-78, so I try to err slightly to the warm side.

I have a 30 gallon tank upstairs where the ambient temp is much warmer. In the summer the tank temp runs at about 80-82 so I try to err on the cooler side. In the winter I adjust as needed.

Naldo

 

[essy]

Hot water has no oxygen. Always colder.

 

[coeus]

colder

When in the wild and there are rain storms, the rain is never hotter than lake,river,streams temperature.

At night the temperature allways drops no matter where you are.

I have read about in amazonia that during the rainy season the water temps would drop 10-12 degree's. And that is what sets off the breeding in most species.

And in the wild there is nothing that would cause a fast or instant temp increase.

ever swam in a lake or river? some spots are just warmer... it the amount of sunlight and depth of the water, i think we dont give our fish anywhere near enough credit on how much temperature change they can handle

so i voted bacon

 

[sostoudt]

i always choose colder but i have temperate and coldwater fish. if they were tropical i would choose warmer. as its more comfortable to get into a warmer then body temperature shower then a colder one. this is excluding very hot water

 

[Eleven Bravo]

i use colder water, its more efficient to heat the water up. Using warmer water can shock fish, and plants.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

ever swam in a lake or river? some spots are just warmer... it the amount of sunlight and depth of the water, i think we dont give our fish anywhere near enough credit on how much temperature change they can handle

so i voted bacon

I agree 100%

I do not use any hot water when doing my weekly 500+ gallons of water changes. Except in the dead of winter and thats because I have shocked a tank before and killed off a few fish.

 

[Cecropia]

Colder to mimic rain mostly.

 

[12 Volt Man]

hmmm..most older fish books I have seen always recommend that warmer is better than colder.

cold water slows down metabolism and can shock fish more than warm water varying by the same degree.

ie 4 degrees colder is worse on the fish than 4 degrees warmer..

in other words, if you cant match exactly you are better to add water a little warmer rather than colder.

I have always done this. a bit warmer works fine.