lowest reef temperature

toonces · 11/12/2006, 12:02 PM

hey all,
ok i've got my 60 gallon cube set up, except it's set up in my garage. the average day temp in the garage is probably about 60-65 and at night it's been getting down to mid-40's to mid-50's.

while i could drop a heater in there and keep the water at a toasty 80 all the time, i'd rather keep the water cooler to save on some electricity since i'm always going to be fighting the ambient temperatures in the garage.

so, my question is what is the lowest temp i can comfortably run a reef at? does anyone have some thoughts on what fish might adapt more readily to lower constant temps (besides catalina gobys)? for example, i know the water off of florida gets fairly cool in the winter, so i would imagine the typical caribbean fare would be fine in the 72-74 range. will indo-pacific reef animals do ok at this range?

thanks,
mike

xtrstangx · 11/12/2006, 12:20 PM

I wouldn't go below 76Âº on a reef setup. Also make sure its stable... it'd be worse to have it range 8Âº during the day than keep it constantly at 74Âº.

I would enclose the stand and canopy as much as possible and maybe insulate the inside with the dense pink/blue foam you get at Home Depot/Lowes.

michaeldaly · 11/12/2006, 12:32 PM

You will have to put a heater in thier corals cant survive in 50 degree water. A heater does not ad very much to you electricity bill.

jimbo045 · 11/12/2006, 12:38 PM

I took out my heater. And run 75-79 . JD

stereomandan · 11/12/2006, 02:40 PM

You want to keep it stable (less than 3 degree swing each day), and I also agree that 76 is about the minumum I would go.

Right now, mine stays at 78 degrees.

Dan

BadRambo · 11/12/2006, 02:52 PM

I often explored setting up a large tank in my garage, and I live in a temperate climate but still it gets down toward freezing at nights during winter.

After all the calculations, I forgot it. It would have taken a huge amount of power to keep the tank at a good constant temp range, plus the cost of running a big chiller during summer when outside temps are at 100 deg, was just too much.

So much easier when your tank setup is in a relatively stable protected environment.

Good Luck !!!

MASTER_REEFER · 11/12/2006, 03:03 PM

I run my tank at 75-76 deg with a chiller and yes I do have a heater just in case...... My LFS has a huge deltec show tank and he keeps it 73-74. He also runs heaters on his tanks just in case.. In fact the sea dragon tank on the counter he keeps at like 63 deg. brrrrrr and a heater. Now back to the issue of what temp to keep your tank at, I would not reccomend to crank it to 65 by any means, but if you can keep it between 76-78 deg you will be amazed with coral growth.

HotRod68Camaro · 11/12/2006, 03:10 PM

I keep mine between 76-77. its in my bedroom and if i have my window open in the winter it was too much for my 350W of heaters to take care of (65gal total system volume), so as long as my window is closed the the heaters can handle anything.

11/12/2006, 12:02 PM	#1
toonces Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA Posts: 1,131	lowest reef temperature hey all, ok i've got my 60 gallon cube set up, except it's set up in my garage. the average day temp in the garage is probably about 60-65 and at night it's been getting down to mid-40's to mid-50's. while i could drop a heater in there and keep the water at a toasty 80 all the time, i'd rather keep the water cooler to save on some electricity since i'm always going to be fighting the ambient temperatures in the garage. so, my question is what is the lowest temp i can comfortably run a reef at? does anyone have some thoughts on what fish might adapt more readily to lower constant temps (besides catalina gobys)? for example, i know the water off of florida gets fairly cool in the winter, so i would imagine the typical caribbean fare would be fine in the 72-74 range. will indo-pacific reef animals do ok at this range? thanks, mike

11/12/2006, 02:40 PM	#5
stereomandan Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,888	You want to keep it stable (less than 3 degree swing each day), and I also agree that 76 is about the minumum I would go. Right now, mine stays at 78 degrees. Dan __________________ 90g Tank, 75 lbs Live Rock, T5, T8 and VHO Lighting, Closed loop on Snapper Pump 1.5" Sand in main tank, DSB in 38g Sump, B-ionic Daily, Temp 79, SG 1.026 LPS, Softies Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef

11/12/2006, 12:20 PM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	I wouldn't go below 76Âº on a reef setup. Also make sure its stable... it'd be worse to have it range 8Âº during the day than keep it constantly at 74Âº. I would enclose the stand and canopy as much as possible and maybe insulate the inside with the dense pink/blue foam you get at Home Depot/Lowes.

11/12/2006, 12:32 PM	#3
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	You will have to put a heater in thier corals cant survive in 50 degree water. A heater does not ad very much to you electricity bill.

11/12/2006, 12:38 PM	#4
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	I took out my heater. And run 75-79 . JD

11/12/2006, 02:52 PM	#6
BadRambo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 58	I often explored setting up a large tank in my garage, and I live in a temperate climate but still it gets down toward freezing at nights during winter. After all the calculations, I forgot it. It would have taken a huge amount of power to keep the tank at a good constant temp range, plus the cost of running a big chiller during summer when outside temps are at 100 deg, was just too much. So much easier when your tank setup is in a relatively stable protected environment. Good Luck !!!

11/12/2006, 03:03 PM	#7
MASTER_REEFER Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Posts: 82	I run my tank at 75-76 deg with a chiller and yes I do have a heater just in case...... My LFS has a huge deltec show tank and he keeps it 73-74. He also runs heaters on his tanks just in case.. In fact the sea dragon tank on the counter he keeps at like 63 deg. brrrrrr and a heater. Now back to the issue of what temp to keep your tank at, I would not reccomend to crank it to 65 by any means, but if you can keep it between 76-78 deg you will be amazed with coral growth.

11/12/2006, 03:10 PM	#8
HotRod68Camaro Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Katy, Tx Posts: 282	I keep mine between 76-77. its in my bedroom and if i have my window open in the winter it was too much for my 350W of heaters to take care of (65gal total system volume), so as long as my window is closed the the heaters can handle anything.