Tank Temperature

[ellebelle]

I know most people keep their tanks between 78 and 82 degrees (my own target zone). I remember there was a poll about this a while back and that was the most popular selection.

However - has anyone experimented with their tank temperatures at all? For the last month and a half or so, my tank has been running between 75 and 77 degrees because my roommate left the temperature probe out of the sump and my chiller was running non-stop. My tank has suffered no ill effects from the lower temperature and it got me to thinking - a lot of times the recommended temperatures to keep organisms are are between 72 and 78 degrees. AND a lot of times reefs (especially those that are a little deeper) are in water significantly cooler than 80 degrees, especially in winter.

I was just wondering if anyone has any thoughts in general on this matter.

 

[seamonkey]

we were having a problem with our chiller a few months ago. the stupid temperature probe malfunctioned (we got a new one for free from the manufacturer). anyway at one point the water got to about 72, and i freaked. i thought for sure everything would die. nothing was killed, except the cyano that was creeping the tank. and i actually saw a bloom in pods a short while after. can't explain it. maybe just luck.

 

[LeslieS]

I used to keep my tank at 74, but the chiller ran constantly. Now I keep it at 80 and the chiller only runs almost constantly.

 

[ellebelle]

Leslie, did you see any difference in your coral growth/polyp extension/color since upping the temperature?

 

[LeslieS]

the first 6 months that I had my tank, I was too afraid to put much in it, and too inexperienced to know what was good or bad

My gorgonians did much better in the early days of my tank, but that could have been because there was no build of up nutrients like phosphates or nitrates.

I did have an insane amount of pods, but I only had 2 little fish!