Do I need a heater in freshwater tanks?

[mrhouston]

I have three freshwater tanks. One with Convicts. One with Platys. One with Gouramis. Can I take away the heater from any of the tanks and the fish will survive? Thank you!!!!

[Sea-agg09]

Depends on how low you keep your AC, whether they are by a window, lighting, and other things. What temp are your tanks at? I have heaters for all my tanks, but I don't use them during the summer months. I keep my apartment pretty warm, so the water temp is in the 80's all the time. Heaters are good because they keep the water temp constant. If your house temp fluctuates, the heater keeps the water temp constant.

[mrhouston]

Well my aquariums are near a window but I do keep my apartment about 70-75 degrees. What temperature do you recommend? Mine are at high 70’s to the mid 80’s.

[mark razmandi]

you dont need a heater in any tanks in houston INMHO. but in the winter i would use them anyways...i have heaters in my tanks but they never turn on.

[Sea-agg09]

Based on live aquaria:
Convicts: 68-73
Gouramis: 72-82
Platties: 64-77

As long as your tanks stay in those ranges, then you don't need a heater. In the winter they might drop below that, so you may want to re-evaluate when the temp starts dropping.

[mrhouston]

Ok Thank you Sea and Mark. (Is unplugging the heaters now) That will save me a fortune on my air-condition bill. I have a total of 6 tanks and it heats up the apartment a lot and the air-conditioner has to keep up.
Had to look up “INMHO” Mark :)

[mark razmandi]

Ok Thank you Sea and Mark. (Is unplugging the heaters now) That will save me a fortune on my air-condition bill. I have a total of 6 tanks and it heats up the apartment a lot and the air-conditioner has to keep up.
Had to look up “INMHO” Mark :)

hahahah i think i might even have made that up on the spot lol...i meant "in my honest opinion" by that.