Corals and temp fluctuations?? in a nano

jerbosreef

New member
Are corals more forgiving to swings in temperature compared to fish?

I mean: way back in my noob freshwater days i thought i could keep my tank heated with just my apartments ambiant temp. I soon realized shortly after that, that fish get stressed and get ICK, with unstable temps LOL.
So guess what ever since that day i use a heater in my tank hehe.

But u get the point.

Im sure corals change and will respond to swings in temperature but does it hurt them?, get them stressed to the point of getting sick?

What would be there temperature change tolerance lvl, in degree change per hr.? ie: a 3 degree change in the span of 4hrs.

Sorry for my noobishness, but i thought i would ask u guys.

~jerbosreef
 
3 degrees in 4 hours is a pretty steep change, and could be dangerrous...from my minimal understanding, that type of fluctuation could cause some bleaching of the zooxanthellae....but as long as the heat situation doesnt get too much worse than that, i think you should be ok as long as you dont have any really finniky coral like some sps are.
 
well as of right now i can keep my 10g nano at a 2.5 degree change in a span of 10hrs. (basically a full photo period). that is with a: ac110 and a 96watt corralife pc fixture. no powerhead.

Im still experimenting with fan, lighting, ac ect. before i even start to cycle my tank with LR:)
 
I'm sure it depends on the species, but my Nepthea and Spaghetti leather have made it through several temperature swings, one mass snail extinction, two tank moves, and over a day of no flow, several times.
 
Me thinks that coral might be more forgiving at least they don't get ich but overall, this is a serious problem causing me to give up on anything less than 24 gallons and I have added chillers. Extra moola but better than being disapointed and forced to give up.
 
Since this post I've been watching temp fluctuations. OK I'm not really watching the temp, probes on the digital thermometers record high/low. My tanks have been as low as 74.8 and as high as 81.3

No ich, no dead corals.


fwiw,
 
3 degrees in 4 hours is fine. Corals can be delicate but slow changes are not bad. If they were THAT delicate....many couldnt keep them. Of course it depends on which species as well.
 
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