Desert Temp settings

[azsoccerpop]

I am getting ready to plumb in a 1/4 HP chiller to my 90G mixed and wanted to ask you desert reefers for some ideas. I know there are multiple ways to do things but I think Arizona has some unique challenges and fellow residents may have ways that work here better :

1. Do you plumb the chiller into your return to the DT or are you plumbing back to the sump with a dedicated pump or manifold?
2. What temps are you turning on and then off?
3. For those with controllers do you use an outlet on the controller powerbar or just an outlet and let the chiller do its own temp monitoring?
4. I am trying to set the Apex to make sure I dont see the heater and chiller constantly cycling.

Thanks for any help.

 

[spscrackhead]

What do your temps range with no chiller?

 

[Jayreefer]

I don't run a chiller. Feels like a waist of energy. Even running MH my 240 stayes around 79-82 degrees all year round.

My nano and QT need heaters but never go above 79*

 

[Robb/Scottsdale/AZ]

No chiller. Keep house at 78-79* in Summer, 72 in Winter.

 

[epon]

Would encourage the use of a ranco with fans pointed at the sump and use the evap as an opportunity to add kalk or your suppliment of choice along with top off. Ive seen happy tanks sit at 82 - 83 in the summer months and occasionally hit upper 80's with no die off. No experience with the phx heat though.

 

[azsoccerpop]

Would encourage the use of a ranco with fans pointed at the sump and use the evap as an opportunity to add kalk or your suppliment of choice along with top off. Ive seen happy tanks sit at 82 - 83 in the summer months and occasionally hit upper 80's with no die off. No experience with the phx heat though.

Lucky you Sedona Epon..

I am using Kalk supplement and right now tank range is 78 to 80.5. We keep the house around 78 in summer and my 90G tank is building to be mixed with my 2 Montipora and 1 purple stylophora. I have mostly softies in xenia and napthea and zoas with favia and acropora being my next introductions. I am careful to space and making sure no one is stinging others with room for growth. I plan on a DIY refugium light with builtin fans to the sump. I will hold on plumbing in the chiller until we hit summer but i will likely put it in if we run above 81. Thanks for the help all. Old Newbie on the loose

 

[azsoccerpop]

No chiller. Keep house at 78-79* in Summer, 72 in Winter.

Rob whay kind of temps do you see in the tank with your house at 78-79?

 

[Robb/Scottsdale/AZ]

Not much above 78 using LED lighting. Even when I had a 400w metal halide over the tank, it was rarely above 81 but that was due in part to having a hood with a push-pull series of fans.

Currently my tank (110gal plus 20gal sump and 20 gal refugium) rides whatever the average house temperature is, now that I switched to LED.

 

[Vanpire]

azsoccerpop, I bought a 1/4 HP chiller that I never used. I never needed it.

You can have it now, and if it works for you pay $100 whenever you want. If it does not, it is yours free.

Let me know if you are interested.

 

[azsoccerpop]

azsoccerpop, I bought a 1/4 HP chiller that I never used. I never needed it.

You can have it now, and if it works for you pay $100 whenever you want. If it does not, it is yours free.

Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks Vanpire. I will PM you if I decide to put a chiller in. Very generous offer.

 

[drtrash]

Never used chiller, 80-82 is norm never had issues

 

[plantastic]

Peer reviewed, published studies have shown that corals that live at higher temps, can tolerate larger "heat waves", without bleaching, than corals that live at lower temps.

If I am remembering correctly, corals that lived at 75-76 degrees started showing symptoms of bleaching (loss of zooxanthellae), reduced growth rates, and reduced habitat retention when temperatures reached 81. Corals that lived between 80-82 degrees didn't show the same response until temps. reached 90. Obviously "corals" is a very broad category and YMMV, however there was a reproducible and measurable correlation.