We have heard in various places that goldfish are very hardy fish, and they can live well at very low temperatures, so goldfish do not need any kind of heater. But this information is not entirely accurate.
Yes, it is true that goldfish can survive at very low temperatures, but they have specific requirements for a certain temperature of water in their tank.
Just as excessive temperatures are not good for our goldfish tank, similarly, too low temperatures are not good for our goldfish tank. Because temperatures that are too low or too high disrupt the environment of our goldfish tank, which in turn increases the chances of our goldfish getting sick.
Do Goldfish need a heater?
Whether or not we need a heater in our goldfish tank depends entirely on our weather conditions. If we live in a temperate region, we don’t need a heater for our goldfish tank.
Also, if we can control the temperature in our room, that is, the room where our goldfish tank is kept, then there will be no special problem without a heater in our goldfish tank.
However, if we live in a place where there is a significant difference in temperature between day and night and also the temperature drops excessively in winter, then we need a proper heater for our goldfish.
It is best if we use a thermometer in our goldfish tank, so we can easily determine the water temperature in our goldfish tank by looking at the thermometer.
If the temperature of the goldfish’s water suddenly drops too much, our goldfish will go into shock. Not only that, the nitrifying bacteria in the aquarium will not be able to function properly, resulting in the nitrogen cycle not taking place.
As a result, the amount of toxic substances such as ammonia and nitrite in our aquarium will increase and the aquarium environment will deteriorate. Therefore, there is a high chance that our goldfish will get sick at extremely low temperatures. However, it is essential to use a proper filter in our goldfish tank to control ammonia.
Not only that, extremely low temperatures can reduce our goldfish’s food intake, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. So at very low temperatures, our goldfish’s immunity decreases and growth is impaired.
Water temperature for Goldfish:
There are different species of goldfish such as Oranda, Ranchu, Black Moor, Ryukin, Panda, Bubble Eye etc. The ideal water temperature for most of these species of fancy goldfish is 72° to 78° Fahrenheit ( 22° to 25° C ).
If we cannot control that specific temperature, then we need a heater for our goldfish tank. Not only that, but the nitrogen cycle in our aquarium works best at a certain temperature (25° to 28° C).
If the nitrification process is working properly in our tank, the amount of ammonia and nitrite in our goldfish tank is under control. As a result, the environment in our aquarium is much improved and our goldfish are much healthier.
Not only that, but many times we keep other fish in our aquarium along with goldfish, which we call goldfish tank mates. Also, some aquatic plants are kept with it which greatly improves the environment of our tank.
Different fish and aquatic plants kept with goldfish require a specific water temperature. So by using a heater, we can easily control the temperature of our goldfish tank.
How do I determine the right heater for a goldfish tank?
There are a few things we must keep in mind before getting a heater for our tank. Most heaters these days are submersible heaters. However, which heater we use for our goldfish tank depends entirely on the water holding capacity of our goldfish tank. For example,
- We can say that a tank that can hold 5 gallons of water requires a 25 to 50 watt heater.
- A tank that can hold 10 gallons of water requires a 50 watt heater.
- A tank that can hold 20 gallons of water requires a 50 to 75 watt heater.
- A tank that can hold 25 to 40 gallons of water requires a 100 to 150 watt heater.
- A tank holding 50 to 65 gallons of water requires a 200 to 250 watt heater.
Although these days, it is clearly written on the box of every heater how many watts of heater are needed for any size tank.
Type of aquarium heater:
There are many different types of heaters available for use in aquariums, but most people use three types of heaters.
Submersible glass cover heater : Typically, most people use submersible glass cover heaters in their aquariums or fish tanks. This heater is easily available and inexpensive, and the heater lasts a long time.
Submersible titanium cover heater : Most of these types of submersible titanium cover heaters are used for very large aquariums. These heaters can easily control the water temperature of very large tanks. Although the price of this heater is much higher than other heaters. Not only that, these heaters last much longer.
Submersible plastic cover heater : The biggest advantage of using these heaters is that we can easily control the temperature of the aquarium water using the adjustable bottom. If necessary, we can also use a larger tank instead of a smaller tank using the same heater. The prices of these heaters range from very low to very high.
However, we should always buy or use heaters from a very good company. That’s because before using a very cheap heater, we should know that if the heater breaks down for any reason, our fish and even ourselves can be harmed.
Can I keep Goldfish without a heater?
Just as excessive cold is not good for our goldfish tank, excessive heat is also not good.
If we live in a temperate region, our weather is neither too cold nor too hot, meaning our temperature is controlled. In such an environment, we can keep our goldfish without a heater. But in this case, we need to pay special attention to some things.
It is especially important to control the temperature of the room where we have our goldfish tank.
Even if it gets extremely cold, the water temperature in the goldfish tank should not drop below 68° Fahrenheit (20° C).
If necessary, we need to change a small amount of warm water with the aquarium water to keep the aquarium water temperature under control.
However, if we cannot control the temperature of the aquarium water, or if our weather gets too cold, then the chances of our goldfish getting sick will increase and in that case the heater will be needed.
Welcome to our website Aquarium Fish Zone. My name is Sagar Ghosh and I live in Kolkata. I am a science graduate.
I have kept fish in aquariums since I was very young. I loved seeing the colorful fish in the aquarium.
I have always tried to maintain and care for the fish properly. So me and my team members have created this website. As a result, we can provide you with accurate information about how aquarium fish are kept.