Temperature

T-6 Driver · 04/03/2006, 08:23 PM

What temperature do you keep your tank at (and why)? I've got my heater set to maintain roughly 77-78Ã‚Â°F right now, and I'm wondering if there's a more optimum temperature for coral growth.

EricBrian · 04/03/2006, 08:27 PM

I want to keep mine around 80-82.

When I checked my water values today, the temp was at 86! Yikes! Maybe because today was so hot here. Well, I ordered a titanium heater now with thermostat. I think I will also buy a chiller now for the summer.

reefgeneral · 04/03/2006, 08:27 PM

80

EricBrian · 04/03/2006, 08:29 PM

Hmmm... could it also be since the hood on mine pretty much closes off the top of the tank? No cooler air to circulate above it? But there are fans in the hood. Well, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

mg426 · 04/03/2006, 09:06 PM

80 F.

Amphiprion · 04/03/2006, 09:11 PM

Optimum coral growth on healthy reefs has been recorded at 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

omni2226 · 04/03/2006, 09:17 PM

Depends on what reef ya talking about. Ranges on reefs run from low 70,s to upper 80,s with spikes into the 90,s.

Stabilty is the key. 76-84 is what most consider ok. Just try not to let it flucuate more than 2 or 3 degrees too fast.

If you can (for the guy who mentioned the fans in the hood) place a small household fan to blow across the top. I have a 10 inch fan that sits on a dresser blowing across the top of my tank. Made a huge change in how hot the light fixture was staying.

Amphiprion · 04/03/2006, 09:18 PM

Actually, this temperature is the average taken from over 1,000 HEALTHY reefs around the world.

PelagicMagic · 04/03/2006, 09:32 PM

78Ã‚Âº

omni2226 · 04/03/2006, 09:36 PM

Well I see it this way.

80% of what is posted on the web is made by people full of bull.
10% is by people who are always right even when they are wrong.
5% is by people who are raving lunatics.
4% is by people who may be right but arent really sure.
1% is by people who do know what they are talking about but seldom do.

So whos right and whos wrong? Who cares? The consensus is 76-84 for home aquariums. I keep mine around 82-84 because thats the easiest for me. Much cheaper to run a heater than a chiller.

But to each his own. Viva La Diff... ahh forget it.

twon8 · 04/03/2006, 09:42 PM

i would just try and stay below 85, especially with lps

PelagicMagic · 04/03/2006, 09:44 PM

anything hotter and you end up with soup

omni2226 · 04/03/2006, 09:47 PM

Ya now I do agree that it depends on what ya want to keep. Some corals are very very picky about temp and salinity before you even get to worry about the earth elements.

Amphiprion · 04/03/2006, 09:49 PM

Much above 85 is stressful for any coral, "lps" and "sps" alike. Corals actually withstand greater fluctuations on the reef than they do in our aquaria.

04/03/2006, 08:23 PM	#1
T-6 Driver Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 81	Temperature What temperature do you keep your tank at (and why)? I've got my heater set to maintain roughly 77-78Ã‚Â°F right now, and I'm wondering if there's a more optimum temperature for coral growth.

04/03/2006, 09:06 PM	#5
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	80 F. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

04/03/2006, 09:11 PM	#6
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Optimum coral growth on healthy reefs has been recorded at 82 degrees Fahrenheit. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

04/03/2006, 09:17 PM	#7
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Depends on what reef ya talking about. Ranges on reefs run from low 70,s to upper 80,s with spikes into the 90,s. Stabilty is the key. 76-84 is what most consider ok. Just try not to let it flucuate more than 2 or 3 degrees too fast. If you can (for the guy who mentioned the fans in the hood) place a small household fan to blow across the top. I have a 10 inch fan that sits on a dresser blowing across the top of my tank. Made a huge change in how hot the light fixture was staying. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

04/03/2006, 09:18 PM	#8
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Actually, this temperature is the average taken from over 1,000 HEALTHY reefs around the world. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

04/03/2006, 08:27 PM	#2
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	I want to keep mine around 80-82. When I checked my water values today, the temp was at 86! Yikes! Maybe because today was so hot here. Well, I ordered a titanium heater now with thermostat. I think I will also buy a chiller now for the summer.

04/03/2006, 08:27 PM	#3
reefgeneral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 18	80

04/03/2006, 08:29 PM	#4
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	Hmmm... could it also be since the hood on mine pretty much closes off the top of the tank? No cooler air to circulate above it? But there are fans in the hood. Well, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

04/03/2006, 09:32 PM	#9
PelagicMagic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,671	78Ã‚Âº

04/03/2006, 09:36 PM	#10
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Well I see it this way. 80% of what is posted on the web is made by people full of bull. 10% is by people who are always right even when they are wrong. 5% is by people who are raving lunatics. 4% is by people who may be right but arent really sure. 1% is by people who do know what they are talking about but seldom do. So whos right and whos wrong? Who cares? The consensus is 76-84 for home aquariums. I keep mine around 82-84 because thats the easiest for me. Much cheaper to run a heater than a chiller. But to each his own. Viva La Diff... ahh forget it. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

04/03/2006, 09:42 PM	#11
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i would just try and stay below 85, especially with lps __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

04/03/2006, 09:44 PM	#12
PelagicMagic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,671	anything hotter and you end up with soup

04/03/2006, 09:47 PM	#13
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Ya now I do agree that it depends on what ya want to keep. Some corals are very very picky about temp and salinity before you even get to worry about the earth elements. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

04/03/2006, 09:49 PM	#14
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Much above 85 is stressful for any coral, "lps" and "sps" alike. Corals actually withstand greater fluctuations on the reef than they do in our aquaria. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO