Can Temperature Swing Cause RTN/STN?

rutz81

rutz81

New member
Yesterday on one of the warmer days so far this year, my tank went up to about 84.5. This isn't too far from what it usually gets up too. In the morning my tank is about 79. Is it the swing that cause one SPS to completely RTN, and 2 other pieces to start STN'ing? Should I be looking at any other parameters? I checked the usual suspects(alk, calcium, nitrates, phosphates) The only rational conclusion I can come up with is the tempereature. But, I don't know if temp. alone can cause this? Anyone else with temperature related RTN'ing?
 
IMO that is too hot and more than likely is the culprit. Do you have fans? You should consider a chiller since you have all that other nice stuff.
 
fishy: I was actually looking into a chiller. Only problem is that I would have to drill through the floor and put it in the basement. My tank is in my bedroom and I have just run out of room. Not too sure how the parents would feel about a hole in the floor.
For now, I am gonna leave my room AC on 68 and see if that helps.
 
Temp swings can definitely cause RTN/STN issues IMO. My experience is that swings greater than 5 degrees caused RTN in several of my SPS colonies, and browning of the remaining colonies. Stability is more crucial with SPS, so perhaps gradually raising your night temperature would help. I don't know if you have cooling fans, but the Icecap fans work great at reducing daytime temps through evaporation. HTH
 
SPSs are so sensitive and they don't like change every parameter.
So big temp change can make RTN. Think you'd better to get chiller or fan to cool your tank.
 
I run 4 canopy fans, but, maybe I'll have to try a sump fan. What kind of fans do you guys use to blow over your sumps?
 
Before I bought my chiller I had two Ice Cap variable speed fans that kept my 125 under 82 with a closed canopy and 960W of lighting. I also kept my house at 72 deg. HTH
 
Don't remember if they were ice cap or PFO, just make sure they are the variable speed and yes they will work better. I had the sensors on the light reflector and they can really crank some air when the sensor heats up.
 
Fishy: Looks like I'm gonna have to make a trip to LFS. Hopefully, the prices aren't too crazy, or I'll have to order on-line.

Thanks for your help everyone and I will let you know how it works out.
 
I had the same exact problem with my sps before I just redid my system. I may still have that problem unless I get a chiller or more fans.

I couldnt keep color on any sps and had quite a few rtn/stn, forever I thought it was from having 10ppm nitrate but I dont think that was the case, I eventually figured out that my tank was temp swinging about 6 degrees night to day which Im almost positive was giving me all those problems.

Im now waiting till I have my temp control perfect till I even think about putting my sps back in there, its all currently at my lfs.
 
wow that is awsome, I was about to look for something exactly like that but didnt think I would find one that cheap! now I dont need to spend 30 dollars per fan at radio shack or $400 on a chiller.

Thanks for finding that!
 
I think this thread just saved me $400(chiller), or $100(2 x IceCap Fans). I took apart a mini Vortex Fan that I already had and have it blowing directly on the water, temperature has already dropped almost 1 degree in 45 minutes.

Thank You Everybody!
 
Luck,

I was just about to suggest a walmart fan. I've been using the rectangular Lasko fan blowing under my lights for a couple of months. The swing so far is neglible, but summer hasn't hit yet so I'll have to wait and see.

I will say that before I added a fan I had a couple pieces that I'd lost to swings from about 76-82 within a day. With the fan I usually go from 77-79 throughout the day now.
 
It would be a really good idea to put them on a controller. I was totally suprised how much the temp dropped on my tank. I never imagined that you could cool your tank below room temp with a fan but you sure can! I used to run mine just on the same timer as the Halides, but I ran into the issue that if it was a cool day, the temp could drop down to the 76's from the normal 80, thats why I suggest them on a controller.

I have one of those big pedistal fans that used to blow on my tank. IMO, that didn't do much good, as it was not very focused on the surface of the water. But, those things really focus that air movement. Walmart also has a big stanlely one that REALLY puts out air. It would be interesting to see how much that one could cool, but its $40.

You can watch how well my fan cools by going to my aquacontroller site...

http://ryanbaker.homeip.net:82/Aquanotes/main.asp

Use the guest, guest username password.
 
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