its 78 F and i use gravelCory cats are fine at 78 C. What are you using at the bottom? Rocks, sand, etc.They are albino. I don't know how to get the heater colder... I just kinda let it do it's own thing and I check the temp everyday and it's 77-78 degrees. Should I forget the corys (because I haven't gotten them yet) and just get platies? But I bought a whole pack of bottom feeder wafers and they only ate maybe 3. I don't want to waste them!