Can cichlids tolerate air conditioning?

djsaltynuts

Piranha
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Sep 11, 2020
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I live in a country where summers are extremely hot and humid. Temperature often hits 40 degree Celsius. If I turn on AC, how would that impact my cichlids? I usually do not keep the temperature below 20 degrees but is it okay for the fish? The tank and the AC are placed on opposite walls, but not face to face so the cool air from the AC do not directly hit the tank. They have fair amount of vertical distance as the tank is located just couple of inches above the floor and the AC, of course, is close to the ceiling. Please advise.
you want your heater in the tank not to be constantly turning on and off so keep it adjusted according to the room temperature so that is either on or off for long periods of time.
 
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alyciagordan

Feeder Fish
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Jun 19, 2023
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When it comes to cichlids and air conditioning, it's important to maintain a stable temperature in their tank. Extreme temperature fluctuations can stress them out. Since you live in a hot and humid country, it's crucial to find a balance.
 

FerdosSintol

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Aug 11, 2021
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If you're keeping the water temperature around 20 degrees Celsius, and the AC is not directly blowing cool air onto the tank, it is unlikely to cause immediate harm to your cichlids. The vertical distance between the tank and the AC can help dissipate the direct cooling effect on the water.
 

Joshuakahan

Potamotrygon
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Jul 9, 2019
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I live in a country where summers are extremely hot and humid. Temperature often hits 40 degree Celsius. If I turn on AC, how would that impact my cichlids? I usually do not keep the temperature below 20 degrees but is it okay for the fish? The tank and the AC are placed on opposite walls, but not face to face so the cool air from the AC do not directly hit the tank. They have fair amount of vertical distance as the tank is located just couple of inches above the floor and the AC, of course, is close to the ceiling. Please advise.
Why not put heaters in your tanks and set them at the desired temp and then run your AC all you want?
 

duanes

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Isla Taboga Panama via Milwaukee
There are cichlids from places in South American that get quite cold in the winter.
images.jpeg
The shot above was taken in Argentina during winter.
The cichlids that live there are able to take will seasonal swings in temp.
A couple of those cichlids below.
1687865031510.png1687865082102.png1687865121302.png
In fact to be healthy these cichlids do best with a winter cool down.
I kept many of the above species in my house in Wisconsin without heaters, at room temp, and in winter, my house temp dropped quite low.
1687865352467.png1687865384360.png
 
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