Winter Time

[crxin]

How do you guys handle the winter time for your tanks. With the houses locked up tight the ph and temp has to go up, not to mention a lower oxygen amount in the water?

 

[House of Laughter]

My PH never moves based on seasons - only the temp - in the winter my reef runs 79 - in the summer it goes up to 81, sometimes 82 and rarely 83 on the really bad humidity days and days I forget to run the AC.

House

 

[seascape]

i live in the poconos i rarely have a prob and tank never goes above 79 normally stays around 78

 

[crxin]

ok so it seems temp may not be a problem, what about the build up of carbon dioxide? I dont have a protein skimmer, which would basicly solve my problem, of not having enough oxygen in the water. Is that all you guys rely on is the protein skimmers?

 

[artie1209]

A good skimmer not only removes the stuff you don't want in your water, it also maintains higher dissolved oxygen levels, dissipates nitrogen and helps keep Ph more stable by equalizing CO2 levels.

 

[dubs]

i find the winter easier to mantain the tank than the summer one heat is less of a issue and can run my lights longer and i home more often ...less outdoor fun... so if ne thing goes out control i can fix it ..

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I agree, in the winter time there is less of a problem controlling an overheating tank, you can extend your light cycle quite a bit and you spend more time inside so you watch the tank more.

 

[SevTT]

How do you guys handle the winter time for your tanks. With the houses locked up tight the ph and temp has to go up, not to mention a lower oxygen amount in the water?

Houses being locked up tight doesn't much matter as far as pH/temp (in winter, at least, unless you have a huge system with MH lights and really wasteful pumps,) and oxygen content. (In fact, your tank probably produces a net surplus of oxygen overall, unless you have a high fish load.)

My main concern, once I close up my windows, is going to be calcium supplementation. I depend on relatively high rates of evaporation to make enough room for kalkwasser, and once I close the windows and turn off the exhaust fans that's going to be a problem, since the humidity of my room will go up and reduce evaporation rates. At some point I'll probably have to start supplementing with a two-part solution. Or get an industrial-sized bucket of regeneratable air-drying pellets.

...At least I won't have to use a humidifier this winter! %)

 

[crxin]

i dont have a protein skimmer, any other tips and tricks you can suggest for me to keep my parameters in check? Right now i have 3 fish, hopefully soon to be 5, currently in the tank is a coral beauty, purple pseudo, and a dragon goby. I would like to add a pair of clowns. This is all in a 55 gallon tank. Think I will have a problem?

 

[Awibrandy]

You should really get a skimmer...JMO

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Dragon goby? Do you mean a Dragonette? Or a Mandarin?

Get a good skimmer or be prepared to do weekly water changes. This can end up being more expensive in the long run.

Do you have a sump or a refugium? What type of filtration are you using?

How long has the tank been established and running?

A 55 Gallon tank that has been running for a few years is going to need to be supplemented with additional pods for that "Goby" to survive if it is a mandarin. Unless you can get it to eat either flake or frozen food.