Running a reef tank at 72 degrees

[smit1260]

I visited a 550 gallon reef tonight that was built by an aquarium service company. He said that the tank ran at 72 degrees and that is how he runs all his reef tanks.

Does anyone run a reef tank under 78 degrees? or have any information about people advocating it?

 

[fungia]

it would be very expensive to run my tank that cool, my chiller would have to work all day long. did the guy say why he ran at 72? it doesnt make sense since it costs so much to do and it is unnatural.

 

[Anonymous]

It's not unnatural depending on coral source. Fijian corals, and Tongan corals prefer it cooler. Many coral wholesalers and exporters run their systems at 72-74. In fact, I know many hobbyists that run at 74. It keeps Fijian and Tongan corals colors much better.

 

[Anonymous]

The number one thing collectors ask for, is wetsuits

 

[WRASSER]

It also depends on room temp. if the a/c runs at a cooler temp it will assist in keepin the tank cool.

 

[smit1260]

The tank ran at 72 degrees without a chiller!!!!! I saw the neptune readout myself!!! Just a large fan to evacuate the air from the sump aand blow it over the top of the tank.

 

[brandon4291]

I observed Dr. Ross' reef aquarium (about 200 gallons chilled) at Wayland University in Plainview Tx run at exactly that temperature for 4 years (and it is still going). It was a huge industrial chiller and it never moved one degree above that mark the whole time. I think metabolically speaking I prefer the upper ranges for good growth and vigor but his brains and alcyonarians always looked just fine, the fish loved it. I think that a long-term system at that temp just demonstrates the fairly decent ranges we have a choice in maintaining, if your hardware could provide such a cooling. Go for it@

 

[brandon4291]

conversely, if I ran my current system that cold it would shut some of the corals down, because they are conditioned to 80-82. it's all in the conditioning.