Very warm water aquarium - 80-85 degrees

[skyehaven]

I'm new to the boards, but have been keeping fish for a few years now in an office environment. I live caught a few mosquito fish here in hot, sunny FL and they're loving their deluxe accomodations.

I decided to try keeping fish at home and have a 6.6 gal tank that I've started cycling. I've noticed that during the day my water temps can rise to 80-85 degrees. I don't have a/c, so this is basically what the water temps are going to have to be during the day, at least in the summer time.

I've been trying to research what kinds of fish I'll be able to keep at these temps and I'm really not having a whole lot of luck. As you can imagine, searching aquarium information for words like "warm" and "water" doesn't yield the most helpful results. I know warm water tanks are a subset of the hobby and I hope someone can help me with advice on fish that will be happy at these temps.

From my research it looks like I might be able to keep a betta, but I was really hoping to be able to keep something slightly more active. I know the tank is small, but it's actually got a pretty good footprint. It's the old Petco 6.6 gal "bookshelf" aquarium; the dimensions are 23.75" long, 7.5" deep, and 9" high. However, the 7.5" depth includes a one-half inch bow in front. I'm wondering if I could get away with a small school of tropical fish, like danios.

Does this sound to you all like it would work?

 

[petluvr]

I'm new to the boards, but have been keeping fish for a few years now in an office environment. I live caught a few mosquito fish here in hot, sunny FL and they're loving their deluxe accomodations.

I decided to try keeping fish at home and have a 6.6 gal tank that I've started cycling. I've noticed that during the day my water temps can rise to 80-85 degrees. I don't have a/c, so this is basically what the water temps are going to have to be during the day, at least in the summer time.

I've been trying to research what kinds of fish I'll be able to keep at these temps and I'm really not having a whole lot of luck. As you can imagine, searching aquarium information for words like "warm" and "water" doesn't yield the most helpful results. I know warm water tanks are a subset of the hobby and I hope someone can help me with advice on fish that will be happy at these temps.

From my research it looks like I might be able to keep a betta, but I was really hoping to be able to keep something slightly more active. I know the tank is small, but it's actually got a pretty good footprint. It's the old Petco 6.6 gal "bookshelf" aquarium; the dimensions are 23.75" long, 7.5" deep, and 9" high. However, the 7.5" depth includes a one-half inch bow in front. I'm wondering if I could get away with a small school of tropical fish, like danios.

Does this sound to you all like it would work?

I wouldn't suggest keeping Danios at that temp.

 

[skyehaven]

I wouldn't suggest keeping Danios at that temp.

Thanks for the advice! Do you know of any fish that would be happy at that temp?

 

[fishycat]

Bettas are totally active! :

Anyway, I live with similar temps, I have neon tetras, corydoras, endlers, and celestial pearl danios. No problems - when it gets really hot I make sure mt lights stay off during the day, I also leave the front feeding door open (with mesh over it to prevent jumpers).

IMO you'd be fine with most tropical fish. As for your tank size, it's too small for zebra danios... You could do the smaller d. Erythromicron (dwarf emerald rasboras) or d. Margaratus (celestial pearl danios), but they both like a well planted tank.

Bettas are full of personality that really shines when they're given space to swim (I have 3 )! You could look into dario dario, but they can be difficult to feed. Maybe colisa chuna aka honey dwarf gourami (not to be confused with colisa lalia/dwarf gourami).

You could also do an invert tank with shrimp & snails. May not sound interesting, but those guys are active!!

 

[fishycat]

I got a little carried away with stocking suggestions, and some may disagree with me. Re-evaluating what I said, I'd 100% recommend betta, colisa chuna, and celestial pearl danios. The cpd are shoalers more than schoolers but very entertaining to watch darting among the plants.

 

[fishycat]

I'm not familiar with the 6.6 hood, but in a pinch (when it gets crazy hot) you can remove the top and lay egg crate over the top to promote maximum cooling via evaporation.

 

[msjinkzd]

boraras brigittae (chilli rasboras) are easily comfortable up to 82. What are your overnight tank temps? I would think they would do fine as long as it was not 85 24/7 for the entire summer. They are vibrant and beautiful and would do great in that size tank.

 

[skyehaven]

Bettas are totally active! :

Anyway, I live with similar temps, I have neon tetras, corydoras, endlers, and celestial pearl danios. No problems - when it gets really hot I make sure mt lights stay off during the day, I also leave the front feeding door open (with mesh over it to prevent jumpers).

That's great news. Everything I was seeing about "tropical fish" was suggesting water temps 72-76 F and that's just not going to happen in this house in the summer time!

IMO you'd be fine with most tropical fish. As for your tank size, it's too small for zebra danios... You could do the smaller d. Erythromicron (dwarf emerald rasboras) or d. Margaratus (celestial pearl danios), but they both like a well planted tank.

I'm not opposed to doing a planted tank. My research on this tank indicates that even the stock light is suitable for planting low/medium light plants. I did get a moss ball to start with, both for the improved water quality and to help jump start my bacteria colony. I also added some gravel from my existing tank.

When you say the tank is too small for danios, are you referring to volume of water or swimming area? It's the same length as most 20 gal tanks so there's lots of swimming room (for a small tank, anyway). If it's volume of water (1 inch per gal) I'd think that 3-4 danios in 6.6 gal should be OK, right?

Bettas are full of personality that really shines when they're given space to swim (I have 3 )! You could look into dario dario, but they can be difficult to feed. Maybe colisa chuna aka honey dwarf gourami (not to be confused with colisa lalia/dwarf gourami).[/qote]

Actually, I love bettas and seriously toyed with the idea of moving my mosquito fish to this tank and setting up the office tank for a betta instead. If I can talk the 8yo boy into that, I may yet.

You could also do an invert tank with shrimp & snails. May not sound interesting, but those guys are active!!

I floated the shrimp idea earlier, but the boy is convinced that shrimp are only good for eating.

 

[skyehaven]

boraras brigittae (chilli rasboras) are easily comfortable up to 82. What are your overnight tank temps? I would think they would do fine as long as it was not 85 24/7 for the entire summer. They are vibrant and beautiful and would do great in that size tank.

Overnight the tank cools into the mid to high 70's. Room temperature, basically, for those of us in FL with no a/c.
Maybe the chilli rasboras would be an option for me. They're a schooling fish too, aren't they?

 

[skyehaven]

I'm not familiar with the 6.6 hood, but in a pinch (when it gets crazy hot) you can remove the top and lay egg crate over the top to promote maximum cooling via evaporation.

The hood on this tank basically just sits on a plastic tank cover. The top ring isn't sealed, it just sort of slides over the top edges of the tank. I'd thought I might just get some moquito netting, cut out a spot under the feeding lid, and just leave it stretched over the tank for easy cooling on hot days.