Acceptable Temp Swing

splix · 08/21/2016, 09:25 PM

125g display, 125g sump. For some reason in the last couple weeks I've been having temp swings going from 80.2 - 80.6 or 7. I've got a 150w neotherm actually inside the display to help keep stability (hard to see so I dont mind), 75w inside the skimmer area of the sump, and another 150w inside of the 100g fuge tub. With lights off at night the tank sits around 80.1-2. When the lights are on it shoots up to 80.6-7. I've tried to stabilize this as much as possible but not sure why in the past couple weeks it's been swinging like this. House temp sits around 72-73.
Lights are 4x 165w china-black boxes and 2x 80w t5 bulbs.

Is this an OK swing for SPS or should I really work harder on getting it more stable. Temp never drops below 80 and never goes over 81.

Something I've contemplated is putting a low gph pump towards the surface to help with surface agitation to help cool the water during the day. Think that would make a difference?

golferbud101691 · 08/21/2016, 09:40 PM

.5 degree swing with lighting is perfectly normal. Halides can cause swings of 3+ degrees and sps corals be OK. The main thing is not having a sudden increase/decrease in temp(seconds). What are you using to measure your temp? .5 a degree is sometimes hard to distinguish with hobby grade temp gauges.

Capsle · 08/21/2016, 10:31 PM

I'm new to the hobby as well so I can't answer what an acceptable temperature swing is but I have no heaters in my tank at the moment (one failed and heater up to 86). However my tank temperature varies between 76-78 over the course of a couple days and probably about a degree during the day.

I will replace the heater for the winter period but the way I see it is the oceans temperature varies throughout the course of the day as well; all depending on sunlight, winds and tides. So I don't think it's a huge issue as long as it's not quick, drastic changes.

Then again, like I said I'm new to this hobby as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DePinchGonze · 08/21/2016, 10:52 PM

Your ok less then one degree swing with lights off and on is way better then most. I would be concerned at having three heaters on a tank, one of those breaks and stays on ( very common) and your gonna have a lot bigger swings then .5 degrees. Have you thought about a controller? They can turn a fan on in your sump at preset temp to combat temp swings.

Ron Reefman · 08/22/2016, 02:48 AM

Think about this, many/most chillers run with a 2 degree swing. Example: On at 80F and off at 78F.

Dogshowgrl · 08/22/2016, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

Think about this, many/most chillers run with a 2 degree swing. Example: On at 80F and off at 78F.

This. You are fine. I don't stress as long as it is 2 or less in a single day. I have a weekly swing of about 5 degrees (slowly over a weeks time) when the two weeks of winter come in here in FL. But the swing you are having is awesome, I wish is could get it that small!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

splix · 08/22/2016, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DePinchGonze

Your ok less then one degree swing with lights off and on is way better then most. I would be concerned at having three heaters on a tank, one of those breaks and stays on ( very common) and your gonna have a lot bigger swings then .5 degrees. Have you thought about a controller? They can turn a fan on in your sump at preset temp to combat temp swings.

They're all on apex already.

I'm using the apex probe to monitor my temp.

PsychoticBeauty · 08/22/2016, 09:57 AM

During the summer months my tank swings at least 4 degrees each day and nobody seems to mind. 79-83 is probably the average.

mcgyvr · 08/22/2016, 10:21 AM

A few degrees is totally fine..

And yes a fan or more surface agitation will increase evaporation and evaporation causes cooling..

But you have no need to do that as your temps are totally fine..

MiataRacer · 08/24/2016, 11:55 PM

I don't know about SPS, but my air conditioning went out almost two weeks ago and my softie reef heated up by 5 degrees over the course of a day. By the next day it had dropped back down to normal after I got a window air conditioner, and I didn't lose any livestock (besides the corals I had 5 fish and 5 hermit crabs at the time; I've since added two peppermint shrimp). The only thing that seemed like it changed behavior afterwards was a clove polyp frag I have, which seems to be going back to normal.

thegrun · 08/25/2016, 04:09 AM

4 degrees a day is fine, I suspect even larger swings would not be problematic.

08/21/2016, 09:25 PM	#1
splix Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 374	Acceptable Temp Swing 125g display, 125g sump. For some reason in the last couple weeks I've been having temp swings going from 80.2 - 80.6 or 7. I've got a 150w neotherm actually inside the display to help keep stability (hard to see so I dont mind), 75w inside the skimmer area of the sump, and another 150w inside of the 100g fuge tub. With lights off at night the tank sits around 80.1-2. When the lights are on it shoots up to 80.6-7. I've tried to stabilize this as much as possible but not sure why in the past couple weeks it's been swinging like this. House temp sits around 72-73. Lights are 4x 165w china-black boxes and 2x 80w t5 bulbs. Is this an OK swing for SPS or should I really work harder on getting it more stable. Temp never drops below 80 and never goes over 81. Something I've contemplated is putting a low gph pump towards the surface to help with surface agitation to help cool the water during the day. Think that would make a difference?

08/21/2016, 10:31 PM	#3
Capsle Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 385	I'm new to the hobby as well so I can't answer what an acceptable temperature swing is but I have no heaters in my tank at the moment (one failed and heater up to 86). However my tank temperature varies between 76-78 over the course of a couple days and probably about a degree during the day. I will replace the heater for the winter period but the way I see it is the oceans temperature varies throughout the course of the day as well; all depending on sunlight, winds and tides. So I don't think it's a huge issue as long as it's not quick, drastic changes. Then again, like I said I'm new to this hobby as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Caps Current Tank Info: 65G DT with custom overflow, 35G custom sump, maxspect R420r 180w 15K, reef octopus classic 150 skimmer.

08/22/2016, 02:48 AM	#5
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Think about this, many/most chillers run with a 2 degree swing. Example: On at 80F and off at 78F. __________________ 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

08/22/2016, 10:21 AM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	A few degrees is totally fine.. And yes a fan or more surface agitation will increase evaporation and evaporation causes cooling.. But you have no need to do that as your temps are totally fine.. __________________ Who me?

08/24/2016, 11:55 PM	#10
MiataRacer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 56	I don't know about SPS, but my air conditioning went out almost two weeks ago and my softie reef heated up by 5 degrees over the course of a day. By the next day it had dropped back down to normal after I got a window air conditioner, and I didn't lose any livestock (besides the corals I had 5 fish and 5 hermit crabs at the time; I've since added two peppermint shrimp). The only thing that seemed like it changed behavior afterwards was a clove polyp frag I have, which seems to be going back to normal. __________________ Sumpless 40B Reef

08/21/2016, 09:40 PM	#2
golferbud101691 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NC Posts: 310	.5 degree swing with lighting is perfectly normal. Halides can cause swings of 3+ degrees and sps corals be OK. The main thing is not having a sudden increase/decrease in temp(seconds). What are you using to measure your temp? .5 a degree is sometimes hard to distinguish with hobby grade temp gauges.

08/21/2016, 10:52 PM	#4
DePinchGonze Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Iowa Posts: 87	Your ok less then one degree swing with lights off and on is way better then most. I would be concerned at having three heaters on a tank, one of those breaks and stays on ( very common) and your gonna have a lot bigger swings then .5 degrees. Have you thought about a controller? They can turn a fan on in your sump at preset temp to combat temp swings.

08/22/2016, 09:57 AM	#8
PsychoticBeauty Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Gotham City Posts: 123	During the summer months my tank swings at least 4 degrees each day and nobody seems to mind. 79-83 is probably the average.

08/25/2016, 04:09 AM	#11
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	4 degrees a day is fine, I suspect even larger swings would not be problematic.