Ideal temp for coral?

[Bishopsnet]

LFS says to keep my Temps at 75-76. My stick on the glass thermometer reads 80 and if I stick a probe thermometer in the middle of the tank it reads 78. My heater won't go any lower than this.

 

[Sambo107]

Really ideal temps are actually auround 78-80 (i keep mine at 80) if i were you i wouldnt mess with it.

 

[ca1ore]

78 is fine. Natural reef are that, and higher.

 

[Bishopsnet]

Ok when I googled it, it said 78-80. So this confirms it. LFS is wrong

 

[Tripod1404]

Ok when I googled it, it said 78-80. So this confirms it. LFS is wrong

Technically he is not wrong. Many people advise to keep water temperature below natural levels. All reef inhabitants are cold blooded so their body temperatures match to that of water. Under cooler conditions their metabolisms slow down so they need less food and produce less waste. This is true for fish, coral, algae, bacteria and etc. Many fish stores keep their temperatures lower so that they can feed less and do less cleaning. He probably just told you his/her water temperature. Personally I keep mine between 80-82. But your lfs did not try to scam you by saying a low temperature.

 

[GimpyFin]

Yeah, I wouldn't say your LFS is wrong either. All of those temps are fine, even 82-84 range is ok. Stability is a little more important than the actual temp itself, IMO.

 

[ALLIDOISREEF]

+1 I have run different tanks anywhere from 76-82 all were nice an healthy fish and corals. Personally now I run between 78-80 but stability is the key.

 

[Timfish]

No such thing as an "ideal" temp. Species preferences are different and individual specimens/colonies "learn" so can have not only individual preferences but two sides of the same colony may have "differences of opinion". Some reefs may see temps in the upper 60's in winter also. And reefs may see daily fluctuations of 3-4º C. At the upper limit coral proteins start to denaturalize above 30º C.

 

[OldReefGuy]

+1 on 76-80

 

[ericarenee]

i keep mine around 74 to 76 Sometimes mine goes as low as 72... I have found the corals and fish do not care..
Years and years ago they said 72 was the best temp...... Reeftank warming a Environmental study might be needed


i would never let my tank get above 78

 

[Bishopsnet]

What about the salt? I am using Aquaforest salt and the say 75 degrees. Do I need to keep it at 75 or is that recommendation open to interpretation?

 

[GimpyFin]

75 is just a suggestion, and salt mix won't be a factor for temp. As long as your tank stays fairly stable, all the temps that have been mentioned work fine for most reef tanks. I ran my last tank around 80-82 and my current tank is 76-78.

 

[Bishopsnet]

Copy, thanks everyone

 

[scooter31707]

+1 on 76-80

Anywhere in this range will be fine.

 

[PatW]

I Scuba dive on reefs in the Caribbean. Water temps on these reefs range from the low seventies to 84 degrees. Above 84, things can go south for corals. What you want to avoid is rapid changes in temperature. But anything between 70 and 80 would probably work. Most reefers shoot for 78 degrees.