I have had my tank up for about a year. I mainly have some soft corals with one lps and one sps. I live in NY and we have had some really hot weather recently. Since I haven't been able to invest in a chiller I have been running my AC for the past few days on high to keep my temp. at around 75/76.F with success. I have recently been informed about most people keeping there tanks from 79-85, with 82 being the average. I will share that my temp setting is out of J. T. book The Reef Aquarium I read about a year ago. I know that nothing is written in stone but before I break out with the heater I would like to know where some folks are with this.
Temperature
- Thread starter 4angel
- Start date
your temp's fine. most people may run at 82 average but i bet they'd like to have it in the 78 range. i struggle to keep mine in the 78-82 range in the summer. i have a fan going 24/7.
you have more oxygen retained and plankton grown at the cooler temps. be happy with it :wink:
you have more oxygen retained and plankton grown at the cooler temps. be happy with it :wink:
No A/C, no chiller. IMO 82 is near ideal. There is a huge, ugly debate about this. Few corals are collected from water that is constantly in the mid 70's F. Most come from water that regularly gets into the upper 80's and some even in the 90's F. Personally, I believe that my corals are happier at 82F than at 76F. There is some evidence to support the belief that higher temps (Shmiek has an article about this) are healthier. The 76F seems to be an old-school mentality that in my mind at least has not been shown to be backed by empirical data.
One reason the Old School ran lower temps was because it slowed the metabolic rate of all organisms in the tank. When you were constantly fighting off parasites, nuisance algae, cyanobactre, and other problems, then slower is better. Since then, the hobby has gained a better understanding of how to keep the systems healthy. 82 degrees seems to be about the average temp of a tropical reef. I run 80 degrees myself.
I try to keep my daily swings within 4 degrees (80 - 84) and usually the temperature swings around 3 degrees during a 24 hour cycle.
I tend to start worrying about the temperature when it gets over 86 and when it dips below 78. If you have a fully functional reeftank with good water turnover, etc. you shouldn't have any problems reaching oxegen saturation at any of these temperatures.
I think below 78 or above 86 and you are starting to reach the lower limits of what some reef animals can tolerate for extended periods of time.
FWIW, Nathan
I tend to start worrying about the temperature when it gets over 86 and when it dips below 78. If you have a fully functional reeftank with good water turnover, etc. you shouldn't have any problems reaching oxegen saturation at any of these temperatures.
I think below 78 or above 86 and you are starting to reach the lower limits of what some reef animals can tolerate for extended periods of time.
FWIW, Nathan
Screw the chiller. Run the AC and keep yourself cool as well. I run my tank at 82-83 F in the winter/spring/fall. In the summer I run it at 83-84 and it sometimes peaks at 85-86(only if I'm out and can't get home to turn the AC on). I have anemones, acros, softies, and the like and they are all growing nicely. If the local temp goes over 85* I am running the AC for myself anyway. Up to 85* the fan keeps the tank at 83-84* with no ill affects noticed.
If you normally run a tank at 82-84, 86(and sometimes higher) will not be such a shock to your specimens. And like said above these corals are usually found and collected from waters in the range of 80-84*F. So why not replicate these temps?
I go to PR every year and if you click on my link you can see the photos of the corals that I took in water that regularly exceeds 90*F for part of the day. Baby fishes grow in the safety of pools which surpass 95*F for most of the day. IMO most of the specimens we keep can adapt to higher temps if the temp is raised over a long period of time.
I too would suggest getting that temp up to at least 80*.
Good luck.
If you normally run a tank at 82-84, 86(and sometimes higher) will not be such a shock to your specimens. And like said above these corals are usually found and collected from waters in the range of 80-84*F. So why not replicate these temps?
I go to PR every year and if you click on my link you can see the photos of the corals that I took in water that regularly exceeds 90*F for part of the day. Baby fishes grow in the safety of pools which surpass 95*F for most of the day. IMO most of the specimens we keep can adapt to higher temps if the temp is raised over a long period of time.
I too would suggest getting that temp up to at least 80*.
Good luck.
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