How hot is too hot?

[jmack]

For a reef tank? How high can the temp safely rise before I need a chiller?

[tkeracer619]

85 is the point it all starts to go down hill im pretty sure.

If you cant hold your tank to 80-82 I would add a fan or fans in the sump for some evap cooling. If that wont work then a chiller is going to be the option.

[snapper1]

If you smell boiled Fish then you known its to Hot 85 max

[LeslieP]

I think a lot depends upon the sensitivity of your inhabitants and the absolute change in the temp. from what they are acclimatized to. Inhabitants that are used to 85 degrees will tolerate 90 degrees much better than those kept at 80. In the summer during heat waves my tank will spike to 90 degrees with no loss of life or other visible effects. I don't have a chiller, but do have a fan and refrigerate and freeze my top-off water to bring the temp. back down. In general, my tank runs at ~84 during the summer and 80 in the winter. I don't recommend these temps, but you asked how high it can go with survival. And yes, I do have SPS and LPS and softies in this tank

[Tang Salad]

I live in a hot climate and am always battling heat issues.
Corals kept in higher temps are reported to be able to handle the occasional spike better. So I keep mine at about 84 year round, and an absolute max of 86 in the summer.

Although, I do this out of necessity, not out of choice.
I keep SPS and LPS.

[davidryder]

With corals I think it's a combination of high temp AND intense lighting. They are dependent on one another and I don't think there is a quick answer to that. Fish on the other hand are more tolerable of high temperatures. I would say 85 is a good GENERAL rule...

[michaeldaly]

My tank runs between 84 and 86 in summer, occasionally peaking above that.

I have noticed no negative effects from running my tank at quite a high temp, and the higher temp will allow faster growth in corals.

[tkeracer619]

Originally posted by michaeldaly
the higher temp will allow faster growth in corals.

Does it, do you have an article or something showing this?

[smackwater]

Got m/h set to go off when temp ever reaches 82.1

[michaeldaly]

Originally posted by tkeracer619
Does it, do you have an article or something showing this?

I'll try to find the link.

[michaeldaly]

I could not find the link I was looking for, but these to articles make reference to it.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6763

last paragraph
http://www.grisda.org/origins/06088.htm

[tls]

what do you mean by evap cooling the sump?

[jmack]

smackwater how do you have your mh to turn off when temp spikes? Is there a special device you can buy?

[sidjam]

a controller

[tkeracer619]

Originally posted by tls
what do you mean by evap cooling the sump?

If you draw fresh air over the surface of the sump and suck it out via a fan as the water evaporates it cools the tank. You can drop easily a tank by a few degrees this way at the expense of top off water and higher humidity.

Originally posted by michaeldaly
I could not find the link I was looking for, but these to articles make reference to it.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6763

last paragraph
http://www.grisda.org/origins/06088.htm

Thanks for posting those.

[LeslieP]

You can get some very inexpensive clip-on fans from Walmart or Target, ~$8. I have my fan plugged into the timer that controls my lights so that when the lights are on, the fan is on. This does a great deal for cooling the tank a few degrees. When it is not hot out, I just flip the "off" switch on the fan and it doesn't turn on. I also put freezer packs in ziploc bags and toss them in the tank on hot days. Just call me too cheap to buy a chiller or air conditioner.

[smackwater]

smackwater how do you have your mh to turn off when temp spikes? Is there a special device you can buy?

I use Aqua controller. It does it all. Not cheap but makes things so much easier.

[mattc183]

gradually temperature changes even to extreme levels I've gotten it up to 107 and as low as 65 with no ill effects. Sudden shocks from adding cold water or heat from high powered lighting are more stressful. I wonder if metal halides create hot spots in the tank?

[RobbyG]

If your running a reef tank you should be looking at temps of around 79 deg. not 85

[andydavis141]

i'm not tring to sound rude but all those people sound crazy. i'd never run my tank above 82. everything i've read says to keep your temp between 76 and 82 degrees.the cooler the water the more oxygen it can carry so i don't know how it makes them grow faster i think the article michael submitted was misinterpeted, but who am i sto say. it just my opion. i do know most people are right its the veriation not the temp that is affective in damaging the coral and fish. the best advise i can give is keep it consistant. consistant-c is probally the single most successful tool that we have. good luck

[supervdl]

I would not go higher than 85 on occasion and 83 on a regular basis. However, consistency is important too. If your temp stays below those levels but flactuates widely during the day, it will stress your tank.

[RobbyG]

Your tank should be between 76 and 79 deg. Any Temp in that range will work, but you must keep it consistently at one of those temps. MY tank varies between 78 - 79 deg and does not deviate more than that.

BTW A consistent high Temp of 83 or 85 deg will make your corals bleach at a consistent rate.