40 gallon ram tank problems

[vail94]

I have a 40 gallon ram tank that has been established for 6+ months and i have not had any problems with it until a week ago when i had a heating / AC contractor update my duct work and they installed a trunk line over the top of my tank. i did not think to much about it until a couple of days ago i notice that almost very ram in the tank has Ick. i also have a pair of Apistogramma Trifasciata that don't appear to be affected. i have started to treat them. I think that when the heat comes on that the trunk line duct is heating the tank up hotter than the 78-80 deg that it is at normally, and the temp change is what is causing the out break of Ick. Has any one else had this experience?

 

[electric eel]

i have found that my rams do best at around 85.according to dr.romer in cichlid atlas 2.rams come from fairly open areas and the sun heats the water up quite warm.maybe someone that has been there can tell us!

 

[vail94]

i generally keep them up in the low 80's as well but during the colder months i have a hard time keeping them that high. i don't think the rams are having a hard time with how hot it is getting i think the flux between 80's and 78 is the trigger for ick?

 

[Mike Wise]

I think that you're right, Charles. Fluctuation is probably the problem. In the wild the fish usually don't need to put up with temperature changes. They can move up or down in the water column to match the temperature. Aquaria generally are too shallow and the water is circulated, so the temperature is uniform top to bottom. Maybe some extra insulation in the area where the ductwork and tank are close together will help reduce fluctuation of temperatures.