Reef temperature

Reverend Reefer · 11/13/2010, 11:39 AM

can someone explain how temp affects your reef tank?

i used to always keep my tank around 77-80, only because that's what seemed to be what everyone else would say it should be at.

after taking out a lot of my old powerheads (koralias and maxi-jets) and replacing with vortech, my temp has significantly dropped without me noticing (plus my thermometer broke). so for about 3 months now, i've been running my tank around 73-75 or so.

everything seems fine and quite happy?

i plan to add a heater in my sump when i get a chance but i'm just wondering now, where did this 77-80 benchmark come from and what happens as temp drops? i remember reading once that there's less oxygen at warmer temps somewhere but i just don't know if this is true? is there some function that dictates what happens as a function of temperature or is this just based on what temp the ocean reefs are?

i also remember from keeping seahorses that they are less prone to disease if you can keep the temp around 73 or at least below 75. not sure exactly why other than they generally inhabit cooler temp water.... are there maybe diseases that prefer hotter water? i know in lakes they say if the water gets warm there tends to be more bacterial blooms....? or is that a myth too?

swjim · 11/13/2010, 02:56 PM

From Randy's article here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

"Temperature

Temperature impacts reef aquarium inhabitants in a variety of ways. First and foremost, the animals' metabolic rates rise as temperature rises. They may consequently use more oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, calcium and alkalinity at higher temperatures. This higher metabolic rate can also increase both their growth rate and waste production at higher temperatures.

Another important impact of temperature is on the chemical aspects of the aquarium. The solubility of dissolved gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, for example, changes with temperature. Oxygen, in particular, can be a concern because it is less soluble at higher temperature.

So what does this imply for aquarists?

In most instances, trying to match the natural environment in a reef aquarium is a worthy goal. Temperature may, however, be a parameter that requires accounting for the practical considerations of a small closed system. Looking to the ocean as a guide for setting temperatures in reef aquaria may present complications, because corals grow in such a wide range of temperatures. Nevertheless, Ron Shimek has shown in a previous article that the greatest variety of corals are found in water whose average temperature is about 83-86° F.

Reef aquaria do, however, have limitations that may make their optimal temperature somewhat lower. During normal functioning of a reef aquarium, the oxygen level and the metabolic rate of the aquarium inhabitants are not often important issues. During a crisis such as a power failure, however, the dissolved oxygen can be rapidly used up. Lower temperatures not only allow a higher oxygen level before an emergency, but will also slow the consumption of that oxygen by slowing the metabolism of the aquarium's inhabitants. The production of ammonia as organisms begin to die may also be slower at lower temperatures. For reasons such as this, one may choose to strike a practical balance between temperatures that are too high (even if corals normally thrive in the ocean at those temperatures), and those that are too low. Although average reef temperatures in maximal diversity areas (i.e. coral triangle centered Indonesia,) these areas are also often subject to significant mixing. In fact, the cooler reefs, ( i..e. open Pacific reefs) are often more stable at lower temperatures due to oceanic exchange but are less tolerant to bleaching and other temperature related perturbations.

All things considered, those natural guidelines leave a fairly wide range of acceptable temperatures. I keep my aquarium at about 80-81° F year-round. I am actually more inclined to keep the aquarium cooler in the summer, when a power failure would most likely warm the aquarium, and higher in winter, when a power failure would most likely cool it.

All things considered, I recommend temperatures in the range of 76-83° F unless there is a very clear reason to keep it outside that range."

allsps40 · 11/13/2010, 02:58 PM

That is fine. In the summer my tank runs 76-80 from night to day. Now that it is getting cooler my tank runs at 74-79. Most reefs average temp is about 75. If you start to get below 72 then get a heater. I dont use one now cause I dont trust mine, does not ever seem to turn off even set at 75.

11/13/2010, 11:39 AM	#1
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	Reef temperature can someone explain how temp affects your reef tank? i used to always keep my tank around 77-80, only because that's what seemed to be what everyone else would say it should be at. after taking out a lot of my old powerheads (koralias and maxi-jets) and replacing with vortech, my temp has significantly dropped without me noticing (plus my thermometer broke). so for about 3 months now, i've been running my tank around 73-75 or so. everything seems fine and quite happy? i plan to add a heater in my sump when i get a chance but i'm just wondering now, where did this 77-80 benchmark come from and what happens as temp drops? i remember reading once that there's less oxygen at warmer temps somewhere but i just don't know if this is true? is there some function that dictates what happens as a function of temperature or is this just based on what temp the ocean reefs are? i also remember from keeping seahorses that they are less prone to disease if you can keep the temp around 73 or at least below 75. not sure exactly why other than they generally inhabit cooler temp water.... are there maybe diseases that prefer hotter water? i know in lakes they say if the water gets warm there tends to be more bacterial blooms....? or is that a myth too? __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

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11/13/2010, 02:56 PM	#2
swjim Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boerne, TX Posts: 884	From Randy's article here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php "Temperature Temperature impacts reef aquarium inhabitants in a variety of ways. First and foremost, the animals' metabolic rates rise as temperature rises. They may consequently use more oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, calcium and alkalinity at higher temperatures. This higher metabolic rate can also increase both their growth rate and waste production at higher temperatures. Another important impact of temperature is on the chemical aspects of the aquarium. The solubility of dissolved gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, for example, changes with temperature. Oxygen, in particular, can be a concern because it is less soluble at higher temperature. So what does this imply for aquarists? In most instances, trying to match the natural environment in a reef aquarium is a worthy goal. Temperature may, however, be a parameter that requires accounting for the practical considerations of a small closed system. Looking to the ocean as a guide for setting temperatures in reef aquaria may present complications, because corals grow in such a wide range of temperatures. Nevertheless, Ron Shimek has shown in a previous article that the greatest variety of corals are found in water whose average temperature is about 83-86° F. Reef aquaria do, however, have limitations that may make their optimal temperature somewhat lower. During normal functioning of a reef aquarium, the oxygen level and the metabolic rate of the aquarium inhabitants are not often important issues. During a crisis such as a power failure, however, the dissolved oxygen can be rapidly used up. Lower temperatures not only allow a higher oxygen level before an emergency, but will also slow the consumption of that oxygen by slowing the metabolism of the aquarium's inhabitants. The production of ammonia as organisms begin to die may also be slower at lower temperatures. For reasons such as this, one may choose to strike a practical balance between temperatures that are too high (even if corals normally thrive in the ocean at those temperatures), and those that are too low. Although average reef temperatures in maximal diversity areas (i.e. coral triangle centered Indonesia,) these areas are also often subject to significant mixing. In fact, the cooler reefs, ( i..e. open Pacific reefs) are often more stable at lower temperatures due to oceanic exchange but are less tolerant to bleaching and other temperature related perturbations. All things considered, those natural guidelines leave a fairly wide range of acceptable temperatures. I keep my aquarium at about 80-81° F year-round. I am actually more inclined to keep the aquarium cooler in the summer, when a power failure would most likely warm the aquarium, and higher in winter, when a power failure would most likely cool it. All things considered, I recommend temperatures in the range of 76-83° F unless there is a very clear reason to keep it outside that range."

11/13/2010, 02:58 PM	#3
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	That is fine. In the summer my tank runs 76-80 from night to day. Now that it is getting cooler my tank runs at 74-79. Most reefs average temp is about 75. If you start to get below 72 then get a heater. I dont use one now cause I dont trust mine, does not ever seem to turn off even set at 75.