23
Where?s all the Heat?
by Tim Maynes
The obvious preference is to have an aquarium within a temperature controlled room with
no drafts and thoroughfare traffic, but this is not always the case, sometimes aquariums
are placed in less than ideal locations and as we are heading into winter and the outside
temperatures keep dropping, It?s now time to check up on the heaters and temperature
range of the aquarium. The easiest way to do this is to use an electronic thermometer with
memory such as the Jumbo Display In / Out Memory Thermometer (CAT. NO.
QM7205) for $24.95 from Jaycar.
It can be handy to have a pen and paper handy to record the daily min and max temperatures of your aquarium over a week or so, especially if you are also recording the room
and outside temperatures at the same time. This will obviously not be as good as a data
logger but it can give you a basic idea of what is going on daily.
By having the minimum and maximum temperature for the aquarium, room and outside
you can easily asses which option might be best for you, i.e. if the room and outside temps
are similar you should look at extra room insulation and/or some room heating, and if the
aquarium and room temperature are similar you could look at moving the placement of the
heater, more aquarium heaters, insulation for the aquarium or consider room heating as an
option.
Besides buying additional heaters for the aquarium, below is some ways you can help t he
aquarium maintain its temperature over this cold period.
Place lighting directly on the lid of the aquarium to allow heat from the light.
Place foam on the sides and rear of you aquarium
Wrap towels, blankets, space blankets, foil around the aquarium
Enclose the aquarium within a wooden structure and insulate the sides and rear
For emergency heating in the event of a power outage you can fill up containers with hot
water from the tap and float in the tank (make sure you remove some water first or the
aquarium may overflow). It is advisable to wrap the aquarium in as many layers of
insulation as possible during this time.
CAUTION: ELECTRICITY AND WATER DON’T MIX. ALWAYS INSPECT YOUR
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT TO MAKE SURE WATER CAN NOT DRIP OR FLOW
INTO IT.
NEVER COVER LIGHTING OR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITH
FLAMMABLE AND/OR CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS SUCH AS BLANKETS, FOIL
ETC.
WHEN WRAPPING AN AQUARIUM, BEWARE OF CAPILLARY ACTION THAT MAY
BE CAUSED FROM SPAWNING MOPS ETC. IN THE AQUARIUM.