jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry Aguirre) (08/31/84)
I received a 20 gallon tank as a gift. I have had fish in it for about
a year and a half now with no problems.
Wednesday morning I came out and found all the smaller fish dead!
While checking out the tank I found the thermometer read 100 degrees
F.! I have three fish left, two angels, each about 3 inches, and a
placostamus (sp?) about 5 inches long. I don't know whether it was
their size or species that enabled them to withstand the temperature.
All the smaller fish, mostly tetras plus a glass cat and an albino cat
died.
The tank heater is a 250 watt model which seemed high to me but is what
the pet store recommended. It has held the tank temperature constant
within a few degrees (~75F.) for over a year now. I realize thermostat
contacts can stick but this is unacceptable. Does anyone have any
ideas that can prevent this from happening again?
Jerry Aguirre
{hplabs|fortune|idi|ihnp4|ios|tolerant|allegra|tymix}!oliveb!jerrypiety@hplabs.UUCP (Bob Piety) (08/31/84)
I have a 200W heater for a 55 gal tank. Yes, I used to have a heater that got stuck every once in a while. Fortunately, the size of the tank & the heater wattage was such that it couldn't get above about 90F. Still, I lost fish. Now I have a good quality heater--its opaque green in color, but I forget the brand name. No problems. If I recall correctly, it has a "solid state" control, rather than contacts. More expensive, but worth it. Good luck, Bob