Heaters went out...cold water...now what? - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T01:53:58Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/heaters-went-out-cold-water-now-what?feed=yes&xn_auth=noI got some advice: don't stre…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-06:4778851:Comment:4459332013-03-06T20:09:43.202ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>I got some advice: don't stress about it :) Blue tilapia are a little more cold resistant. They'll definitely be slower at colder temps but they will survive just fine. Take your time and invest in a higher quality heater, no need to rush. How many gallons is your system? I recommend the Eheim Jager Thermostat heater as an affordable/quality option. I use two 300 watt heaters for my system. You can get them for about $25 at Doctors Foster and Smith, but it looks like they're on backorder…</p>
<p>I got some advice: don't stress about it :) Blue tilapia are a little more cold resistant. They'll definitely be slower at colder temps but they will survive just fine. Take your time and invest in a higher quality heater, no need to rush. How many gallons is your system? I recommend the Eheim Jager Thermostat heater as an affordable/quality option. I use two 300 watt heaters for my system. You can get them for about $25 at Doctors Foster and Smith, but it looks like they're on backorder right now.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/EHEIM-Jager-Aquarium-Thermostat-Heater/dp/B003I5UC0W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362600473&sr=8-1&keywords=eheim+jager+heater+300w" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/EHEIM-Jager-Aquarium-Thermostat-Heater/dp/B003I5UC0W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362600473&sr=8-1&keywords=eheim+jager+heater+300w</a></p> Thanks for the feedback.
Bein…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-06:4778851:Comment:4456592013-03-06T02:47:08.487ZArwen Vaughanhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ArwenVaughan
<p>Thanks for the feedback.</p>
<p>Being new at this, I think anything out of the norm will end is dead fish or yellow plants, but these guys seem pretty tough. The fish look ok, just a bit lethargic...moving really slow. The water is up to 65 now, so I am thinking they will be good since they were in a tank a couple of months ago at about that temp. I'll just bring it up 2 or 3 degrees a day and get them back to 75 F eventually.</p>
<p>I have never heard of a fish sweater but looked it…</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback.</p>
<p>Being new at this, I think anything out of the norm will end is dead fish or yellow plants, but these guys seem pretty tough. The fish look ok, just a bit lethargic...moving really slow. The water is up to 65 now, so I am thinking they will be good since they were in a tank a couple of months ago at about that temp. I'll just bring it up 2 or 3 degrees a day and get them back to 75 F eventually.</p>
<p>I have never heard of a fish sweater but looked it up...interesting. My tank is just 150 gallons, so I am using those cheap aquarium heater. Perhaps I should get one of those nicer titanium ones or something. I just want something that will last forever...is that so much to ask for :)</p> not sure how big your system…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-06:4778851:Comment:4456462013-03-06T01:24:45.417ZKenji Snowhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KenjiSnow
<p>not sure how big your system is but we have had a decent success with the fish sweater to heat our water. We have been able to bring our temps up from the high 40's to the high 60's-low 70's with the unit. Our total system size per sweater is 20,000 gallons and is just past the upper limit regarding gallons for these units. A smaller system would do well with them. They can run on gas, propane, wood fire or solar so you have options. </p>
<p>not sure how big your system is but we have had a decent success with the fish sweater to heat our water. We have been able to bring our temps up from the high 40's to the high 60's-low 70's with the unit. Our total system size per sweater is 20,000 gallons and is just past the upper limit regarding gallons for these units. A smaller system would do well with them. They can run on gas, propane, wood fire or solar so you have options. </p> Hey Arwen,
I don't think you…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-05:4778851:Comment:4455492013-03-05T22:45:46.132ZPaul Letbyhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulLetby
<p>Hey Arwen,</p>
<p>I don't think you are bringing the temperature up too fast. I've had much bigger temperature swings with tropical fish during the winter with no obvious ill effects. ( water changes with water from a barrel filled with recently melted snow. I don't use rain/snow water anymore)</p>
<p>Hey Arwen,</p>
<p>I don't think you are bringing the temperature up too fast. I've had much bigger temperature swings with tropical fish during the winter with no obvious ill effects. ( water changes with water from a barrel filled with recently melted snow. I don't use rain/snow water anymore)</p> I forgot to mention that the…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-05:4778851:Comment:4452332013-03-05T13:54:31.454ZArwen Vaughanhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ArwenVaughan
<p>I forgot to mention that the water must have dropped from its normal temp of 78 F down to ~62 during this heater burn out. I didn't check the water for about a week so I'm not sure how long it took to drop. Also, I got it up 2 degrees over the night. Is that too fast? Should I slow it down or keep bringing it up a couple of degrees a day?</p>
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<p>The fish look pretty normal...just a little slow. Tilapia are some tough fish.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that the water must have dropped from its normal temp of 78 F down to ~62 during this heater burn out. I didn't check the water for about a week so I'm not sure how long it took to drop. Also, I got it up 2 degrees over the night. Is that too fast? Should I slow it down or keep bringing it up a couple of degrees a day?</p>
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<p>The fish look pretty normal...just a little slow. Tilapia are some tough fish.</p>