Temp Fluctuation 2-3 degrees

rob28 · 05/10/2007, 12:16 PM

My tank temp fluc. between 2-3 degrees when the lights are on during the day.Ive left the tops open and changed my light timers down to 12 hrs a day...Everything seems to be doing well and looks good...Should i be concerned?Is is causing unneeded stress?

rusty-nail-z · 05/10/2007, 12:28 PM

yeah id like to know the answer too this also as my temps have been swinging like yours. My lights are running about 10-12. THe last day or so, I havent been even running the heaters.

Toddrtrex · 05/10/2007, 12:36 PM

2 - 3 degrees over the course of the day isn't a big deal IMO, just as long as that 2/3 degrees doesn't push the temp too high.

rob28 · 05/10/2007, 12:48 PM

the temp is max 83...
Rusty nail z even if you don't need your heater you should have it plugged in in case of some cold days or your lights don't come on for some reason...IMO..If i go away for a few days i put my lights on a different scheduel to avoid some evaporation and i don't think it hurts a few cloudy days..

surfjeepzx · 05/10/2007, 01:25 PM

Although 2-3 degerees doesn't seem like much to us it's huge to the tank inhabitants. Constant temp swings will cause stress and typically fish show this stress in developing Ich.

My advice would be to make sure you have enough ventalation and plenty of air moving in the canopy and sump. Once you're sure you have maximized the potential cooling effects of small cheap fans then you'll want to stabilize the temp. This is where a heater comes in, even during the summer. Determine the warmest temp your tank will reach and adjus the heater to just under this temp by a degree. This will keep the tank from cooling at night and warming during the day. At night when the lights are off the heater will maintain a steady temp.

smcdonn · 05/10/2007, 01:28 PM

When I had my heater set at 78, my tank would fluctuate between 78-81. Then I just cranked the heater up to 80 and all is well. It will go between 80-81 but that is much better than 78-81.

rob28 · 05/10/2007, 02:49 PM

Thanks...I'll try putting a small fan under my stand to move some air around the fuge

frederickk · 05/10/2007, 03:28 PM

2-3 degrees ain't that bad as said above as long as your tank doesn't go higher then 83-84 degrees.

Mine does fluctuate from 78 during the night to 80.6 at the most during the day.

Summer is a little harder on it but still.

rusty-nail-z · 05/10/2007, 03:30 PM

I know this probably should be in another section, but what kinds of heaters would u guys suggest. I have two Neptunes by Marine Land. THey have the knob at the top for control, and an equilibrium temp indicated by a notch which is supposed to be 76 degrees. Even before my temp problems, i had both my heater knobs turned signifigicantly to the left of equilibrium ( cooler) and my temp would still be like 80. RIght now my heaters are off, but even if I truned them on, theres not much more i can turn the knobs for cooling...

Impala1964 · 05/10/2007, 04:16 PM

In a natural reef how much does the temp change during the day?

jiterati · 05/10/2007, 04:23 PM

The tank of the month last month (April) reported that their temperature variation was something like 10 degrees across the year, from 77 to 86, with significant variation within the day. Personally my tank varies from 81 to 83 most days and things are working fine for me...

jiterati · 05/10/2007, 04:26 PM

Temperature variation in the reef system probably varies from place to place, but it is probably safe to say that any deep reef system has almost 0 variation in temperature within a single day. Tidal areas may have significant temperature variation, though I don't think you see many corals and such in these areas...

sabbath · 05/10/2007, 04:33 PM

One tip I read one time here, and I found helps keep temps close is to plug the heater on a timer with a reverse schedule of lights. Mine is with fuge. Most heater thermostats are not that accurate and will come on above set point at times.
This way you can set it closer to where you want it. Fan on light timer... If needed.

05/10/2007, 12:16 PM	#1
rob28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 241	Temp Fluctuation 2-3 degrees My tank temp fluc. between 2-3 degrees when the lights are on during the day.Ive left the tops open and changed my light timers down to 12 hrs a day...Everything seems to be doing well and looks good...Should i be concerned?Is is causing unneeded stress? __________________ When Hell Freezes Over I'll Ice Fish There TOO!!!! Current Tank Info: 55gallon,16 gall.refugium/sump 4X55W T5'S 2 false Percs,Pj Cardinal,6 line Wrasses,Green Manderine, Flame Angle,2- Purple Firefish,Lawnmower Blenny,Serpant Star,Seaba Anm., Hammer coral,Zoo's, 80 lbs Live rock/100 lbs sand

05/10/2007, 12:28 PM	#2
rusty-nail-z Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 46	yeah id like to know the answer too this also as my temps have been swinging like yours. My lights are running about 10-12. THe last day or so, I havent been even running the heaters. __________________ 55g LR/LS Remora AC, power filter, 2 powerheads, 2 percula clowns, frogspawn, greenstar, mushrooms Current Tank Info: 29g freshwater, 55g saltwater underway

05/10/2007, 12:36 PM	#3
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	2 - 3 degrees over the course of the day isn't a big deal IMO, just as long as that 2/3 degrees doesn't push the temp too high. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

05/10/2007, 12:48 PM	#4
rob28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 241	the temp is max 83... Rusty nail z even if you don't need your heater you should have it plugged in in case of some cold days or your lights don't come on for some reason...IMO..If i go away for a few days i put my lights on a different scheduel to avoid some evaporation and i don't think it hurts a few cloudy days.. __________________ When Hell Freezes Over I'll Ice Fish There TOO!!!! Current Tank Info: 55gallon,16 gall.refugium/sump 4X55W T5'S 2 false Percs,Pj Cardinal,6 line Wrasses,Green Manderine, Flame Angle,2- Purple Firefish,Lawnmower Blenny,Serpant Star,Seaba Anm., Hammer coral,Zoo's, 80 lbs Live rock/100 lbs sand

05/10/2007, 01:25 PM	#5
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	Although 2-3 degerees doesn't seem like much to us it's huge to the tank inhabitants. Constant temp swings will cause stress and typically fish show this stress in developing Ich. My advice would be to make sure you have enough ventalation and plenty of air moving in the canopy and sump. Once you're sure you have maximized the potential cooling effects of small cheap fans then you'll want to stabilize the temp. This is where a heater comes in, even during the summer. Determine the warmest temp your tank will reach and adjus the heater to just under this temp by a degree. This will keep the tank from cooling at night and warming during the day. At night when the lights are off the heater will maintain a steady temp. __________________ << All that matters Current Tank Info: 135 Acrylic flatback hex. 30 gallon sump. Twin Coralvue 250w MH's w/ 14k Hamiltons, Icecap 660 VHO, 4 URI reflected 110 actinic's. Rio 17hf return & 2 mj1200's (mod'd) pwrhds in tank. All natural... seawater

05/10/2007, 01:28 PM	#6
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	When I had my heater set at 78, my tank would fluctuate between 78-81. Then I just cranked the heater up to 80 and all is well. It will go between 80-81 but that is much better than 78-81. __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

05/10/2007, 02:49 PM	#7
rob28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 241	Thanks...I'll try putting a small fan under my stand to move some air around the fuge __________________ When Hell Freezes Over I'll Ice Fish There TOO!!!! Current Tank Info: 55gallon,16 gall.refugium/sump 4X55W T5'S 2 false Percs,Pj Cardinal,6 line Wrasses,Green Manderine, Flame Angle,2- Purple Firefish,Lawnmower Blenny,Serpant Star,Seaba Anm., Hammer coral,Zoo's, 80 lbs Live rock/100 lbs sand

05/10/2007, 03:28 PM	#8
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	2-3 degrees ain't that bad as said above as long as your tank doesn't go higher then 83-84 degrees. Mine does fluctuate from 78 during the night to 80.6 at the most during the day. Summer is a little harder on it but still.

05/10/2007, 03:30 PM	#9
rusty-nail-z Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 46	I know this probably should be in another section, but what kinds of heaters would u guys suggest. I have two Neptunes by Marine Land. THey have the knob at the top for control, and an equilibrium temp indicated by a notch which is supposed to be 76 degrees. Even before my temp problems, i had both my heater knobs turned signifigicantly to the left of equilibrium ( cooler) and my temp would still be like 80. RIght now my heaters are off, but even if I truned them on, theres not much more i can turn the knobs for cooling... __________________ 55g LR/LS Remora AC, power filter, 2 powerheads, 2 percula clowns, frogspawn, greenstar, mushrooms Current Tank Info: 29g freshwater, 55g saltwater underway

05/10/2007, 04:16 PM	#10
Impala1964 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Modesto Ca Posts: 126	In a natural reef how much does the temp change during the day?

05/10/2007, 04:23 PM	#11
jiterati Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 78	The tank of the month last month (April) reported that their temperature variation was something like 10 degrees across the year, from 77 to 86, with significant variation within the day. Personally my tank varies from 81 to 83 most days and things are working fine for me...

05/10/2007, 04:26 PM	#12
jiterati Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 78	Temperature variation in the reef system probably varies from place to place, but it is probably safe to say that any deep reef system has almost 0 variation in temperature within a single day. Tidal areas may have significant temperature variation, though I don't think you see many corals and such in these areas...

05/10/2007, 04:33 PM	#13
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	One tip I read one time here, and I found helps keep temps close is to plug the heater on a timer with a reverse schedule of lights. Mine is with fuge. Most heater thermostats are not that accurate and will come on above set point at times. This way you can set it closer to where you want it. Fan on light timer... If needed.