is 85 degrees a bad thing?

[MAreefer1]

I just checked my temp, and its 85...but for some reason everything in my tank seems to be doing fine...maybe looking better than it does at 80-82...could I keep my water at 85? or should it be at 78-82?

thanks
...MAreefer1...

 

[masterswimmer]

If it's 85 at this time of year, you'll have big problems (potentially) in the summer months.

78 - 82 is a more optimum temp anyway because you'll have better oxygen saturation at the lower temp range.

Russ

 

[MAreefer1]

but my question was...should I bring it down?

 

[masterswimmer]

yes

 

[Paintbug]

yes! 85Ã"šÃ‚º will make your corals start to bleach. keep the temp below 82Ã"šÃ‚º

 

[masterswimmer]

During the heat of the summer, my tank will get to 84 degrees with no bleaching. Corals can get even warmer than that (not that it's good for them constantly) but for fish it isn't as healthy.

 

[MAreefer1]

I just used a different thermometer and it read 78 degrees, my digital one is fried(it fell in the water a few days back), its off by about 7 degrees...so is 78 a good temp to have to water at? or should it be higher?

 

[Drewpy]

check to see if a pump is not working but running, and although 85 isn't deadly IME, you're probably don't have too many degrees before stuff starts to suffer....

 

[Anemonebuff]

I keep mine between 78-82 depending on the time of year. The tank hits 85-86 in the summer on occasion.

 

[masterswimmer]

I use both a floating and a digital thermometer. They NEVER read the same. I tend to lean towards the reading on the floating therm. The digitals always seem to have problems......unless of course you spend money for a lab grade therm which is ridiculous, IMO. Oh, and 78 is fine.

Russ

 

[ERTLEY]

Keep it as close to 78 as possible,Nothing over 82/nothing below 76!

 

[Drewpy]

check to see if a pump is not working but running, and although 85 isn't deadly IME, you're probably don't have too many degrees before stuff starts to suffer....

 

[MAreefer1]

ya actually I do have a scientific thermometer, I just had to calibrate it somehow...which I have no clue how to do, I got it from my science teacher...ill have to ask her when I get back from school vacation.

 

[dwd5813]

mareefer, you in the western end of ma? if so, i was wondering which lfs you use, since i am from western ma myself.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6788963#post6788963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Drewpy
check to see if a pump is not working but running, and although 85 isn't deadly IME, you're probably don't have too many degrees before stuff starts to suffer....

stress caused from high temps, and temp swings (2-3Ã"šÃ‚ºF), among other things will cause corals to lose their zooxantheallae. which is what most actual feed on. it is where the color comes from. when they lose the zooxantheallae corals begin to bleach. which if the stress doesnt subside it will kill the coral. global warming is causing the natural coral reefs to bleach as we speak.

but MAreefer1 found out it was a faulty thermometer.

 

[Sk8r]

Good idea to maintain two thermometers, one in sump, one above---in case of malfunction of one, you'll at least know they're off.

 

[Reefrookie2006]

Is it ok around 74 to 78?

 

[steve the plumb]

I have had a coral die on me at 86.The 82 is fine corals live and thrive on the threshold of high temp.Problem is after 84 you are getting risky.Some corals have a higher tolerance level but I would lower your temp.I have had 2 corals bleach on me when heater broke 76.80 -82 is a good temp for a reef tank.

 

[Johnsteph10]

It isn't so much the temp as it is the temperature swing. Even swinging from 75 to 79 can be bad. If you're tank runs at 83 normally then a swing up to 85-86 isn't bad....but that really is too high long term.

Most reefs run in the mid to high 70s - and we should attempt to recreate that. They are adapted to best survive/thrive at that temperature.

 

[DrBegalke]

my reef runs at 83-85, no problems at all... in fact, everything grows a lot faster...