Water Temperature

Harth23 · 12/22/2015, 05:29 PM

So there has been a debate going on in my family about what should the tank be kept at. The tank is just done with the cycle. I will be doing a reef tank but currently I just have a few fish in the tank. So my question is what does everyone think both a reef tank and a FOWLR be kept at.

Dkuhlmann · 12/22/2015, 06:07 PM

Most people keep either 78-80 Unless you're doing cold water critters.

kevin21 · 12/22/2015, 06:07 PM

I keep my reef at 77-78

ryeguyy84 · 12/22/2015, 06:23 PM

I keep my reef at 78

pyithar · 12/22/2015, 06:43 PM

i keep my reef at 80-82F.

Fish Keeper82 · 12/22/2015, 06:52 PM

I aim for 79. Actual values are is 79.5 - 81.5 with an occasional low 82 in summer with no chiller or fans only room Air contitioning. It stayes 77.5 - 78.5 in winter since my heater is on keeping it steady.

thegrun · 12/22/2015, 07:32 PM

I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

TangingOut · 12/22/2015, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

Curious, what was the advice?

Dkuhlmann · 12/22/2015, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

Can you share with us the reason why around 75? I've always targeted 78-79 and it does well at that. Just wondering why the lower temps

jacobl · 12/22/2015, 08:11 PM

for summer time, without having a chiller (no more space), for 120 gallon system, what room temp should I set my air condition at? Any experience on this?

TangingOut · 12/22/2015, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacobl

for summer time, without having a chiller (no more space), for 120 gallon system, what room temp should I set my air condition at? Any experience on this?

There are many variables that would make one reefer's experience with ambient temps much different to the next. Lighting type, fans, proximity to window, number of pumps, canopy, vents, etc...

For what it's worth, in our AZ summers we keep our AC at 79. With fans over DT/sump/in stand all hooked up to a Ranco controller, I can keep the tank at 78 without a chiller. Also with LEDs and an open top.

Indymann99 · 12/22/2015, 09:45 PM

For what its worth.... I run my temp around 80 year round.

I am more worried about fall storms, winter ice, and spring storms (power outage). so I keep the temp at 80 to buy time in the event of power failure.

hogfanreefer · 12/22/2015, 10:20 PM

Mine varies from 78.6 to 79.3. Our thermostat stays around 72 year round so my heaters are active throughout the year.

hotdogmj71 · 12/22/2015, 10:43 PM

I just got heaters & controller set this past weekend to 79.4.

Stable for the past 5 days with a room temp of 69.

I hope this temp works well.

Brieninsac · 12/22/2015, 11:25 PM

Do most read water temp in their sump with the heater? My heater is set to 80 but digital thermometer say 79.3. It seems like my DT is always a degree lower.

Fish Keeper82 · 12/22/2015, 11:50 PM

I have one thermometer in my sump and one in my daytank. They differ by a degree or so. I have put them side by side and they are off. Most hobby digital thermometers are plus or minus 1 degree accuracy so if one is off one degree low and one is off one degree high there is a 2 degree margin of error between the two right out the box. Dont get too hung up on one degree difference

ClownFishGuy6 · 12/22/2015, 11:53 PM

Keep it at 78-82 I recommend keeping it at 78

shifty51008 · 12/23/2015, 02:17 AM

Mine is 80-82, everything looks great

midieval10 · 12/23/2015, 04:34 AM

78-80, everything doing ok

heathlindner25 · 12/23/2015, 04:41 AM

76 here.

C.Eymann · 12/23/2015, 05:14 AM

I keep mine at 80-81. I keep my house at 68 during summer and 70 during winter.
I have my reefkeeper set to turn heater on at 79 off at 80,
fan on sump comes on at 81 lights (halides)will shut off if 83 is reached for whatever reason.

Xxero · 12/23/2015, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TangingOut

Curious, what was the advice?

I'm not sure about the advice given to Thegrun, but my LFS recently told me she keeps all of her tanks between 74-76 F. It blew my mind at the time.

Her reasoning was that higher temps provide a much more accommodating environment for both algae and parasites. I still keep mine around 79-81, but I think that I'm going to be lowering it pretty soon.

Ron Reefman · 12/23/2015, 06:31 AM

The exact temp is less important than having the temp be fairly stable day to day. Reefs off the Florida Keys, especially shallow patch reefs near shore, see pretty big fluctuations in temps from summer highs near 85F to winter lows below 70F.

Harth23 · 12/23/2015, 01:48 PM

The reason for the post was just like had been said above my lfs said they keep there's at 72 and that did not seam right so I thought it best to put it tot the experts.

thegrun · 12/23/2015, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TangingOut

Curious, what was the advice?

Let the tank drop to 75 in the winter

Can you share with us the reason why around 75? I've always targeted 78-79 and it does well at that. Just wondering why the lower temps

The lower temperatures save energy, there seems to be little if any advantage to keeping the tank warmer than 75.

12/22/2015, 05:29 PM	#1
Harth23 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 79	Water Temperature So there has been a debate going on in my family about what should the tank be kept at. The tank is just done with the cycle. I will be doing a reef tank but currently I just have a few fish in the tank. So my question is what does everyone think both a reef tank and a FOWLR be kept at.

12/22/2015, 06:07 PM	#2
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Most people keep either 78-80 Unless you're doing cold water critters. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

12/22/2015, 06:07 PM	#3
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	I keep my reef at 77-78 __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

12/22/2015, 06:23 PM	#4
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	I keep my reef at 78 __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

12/22/2015, 06:43 PM	#5
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i keep my reef at 80-82F. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

12/22/2015, 06:52 PM	#6
Fish Keeper82 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 691	I aim for 79. Actual values are is 79.5 - 81.5 with an occasional low 82 in summer with no chiller or fans only room Air contitioning. It stayes 77.5 - 78.5 in winter since my heater is on keeping it steady.

12/22/2015, 07:32 PM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

12/22/2015, 08:11 PM	#10
jacobl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 450	for summer time, without having a chiller (no more space), for 120 gallon system, what room temp should I set my air condition at? Any experience on this?

12/22/2015, 09:45 PM	#12
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	For what its worth.... I run my temp around 80 year round. I am more worried about fall storms, winter ice, and spring storms (power outage). so I keep the temp at 80 to buy time in the event of power failure. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

12/22/2015, 10:20 PM	#13
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	Mine varies from 78.6 to 79.3. Our thermostat stays around 72 year round so my heaters are active throughout the year. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

12/22/2015, 10:43 PM	#14
hotdogmj71 Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Arkansas Posts: 241	I just got heaters & controller set this past weekend to 79.4. Stable for the past 5 days with a room temp of 69. I hope this temp works well. __________________ 120G 48x24x24; Trigger Ruby 30e; Mag12 return; MarsAqua 165 x2; Aquamaxx ConeS Q2; ReefKeeper Lite; SmartATO 10gal

12/22/2015, 11:25 PM	#15
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	Do most read water temp in their sump with the heater? My heater is set to 80 but digital thermometer say 79.3. It seems like my DT is always a degree lower. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

12/22/2015, 11:50 PM	#16
Fish Keeper82 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 691	I have one thermometer in my sump and one in my daytank. They differ by a degree or so. I have put them side by side and they are off. Most hobby digital thermometers are plus or minus 1 degree accuracy so if one is off one degree low and one is off one degree high there is a 2 degree margin of error between the two right out the box. Dont get too hung up on one degree difference

12/22/2015, 11:53 PM	#17
ClownFishGuy6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 261	Keep it at 78-82 I recommend keeping it at 78

12/23/2015, 02:17 AM	#18
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Mine is 80-82, everything looks great __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/23/2015, 04:34 AM	#19
midieval10 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 51	78-80, everything doing ok

12/23/2015, 04:41 AM	#20
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	76 here.

12/23/2015, 05:14 AM	#21
C.Eymann Cnidaria lover Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Winterpark FL Posts: 1,483	I keep mine at 80-81. I keep my house at 68 during summer and 70 during winter. I have my reefkeeper set to turn heater on at 79 off at 80, fan on sump comes on at 81 lights (halides)will shut off if 83 is reached for whatever reason. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 80gal build in the works

12/23/2015, 06:31 AM	#23
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	The exact temp is less important than having the temp be fairly stable day to day. Reefs off the Florida Keys, especially shallow patch reefs near shore, see pretty big fluctuations in temps from summer highs near 85F to winter lows below 70F. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/23/2015, 01:48 PM	#24
Harth23 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 79	The reason for the post was just like had been said above my lfs said they keep there's at 72 and that did not seam right so I thought it best to put it tot the experts.