Hi, another question. I'm trying to figure out the right photoperiod for my tank, I keep reading on it, but everyone has something different so I went with one I read in a book. Its 12 hr, 12 hour atinic and 10 hour MH. I think its ok except the temperature in my 14 Gallon Bio-Cube is really high about 82. I have a fan blowing on the aquarium but its not really enough, I'd like to get my temp down to 78 but i'm not sure if I want to spend 300 on a nano-chiller. Any suggestions
photoperiod and temp question
- Thread starter Drock169
- Start date
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
82 is fine. No worries if you can keep it around that level. I wouldn't want it much higher, though.
Your photoperiod plans sound OK too. Shortening the MH period to 8 hrs might help with the temp problem and probably won't really do much harm.
Your photoperiod plans sound OK too. Shortening the MH period to 8 hrs might help with the temp problem and probably won't really do much harm.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
82 is the yearly average for reefs around the world. It's not on the high side at all.
I agree on shortening the photoperiod. There really isn't a need for 12 hrs of light unless you just want to look at the tank for 12 hrs a day. If not, cut two hours off and save some electricity. The day length is never 12 hrs underwater anyway.
I agree on shortening the photoperiod. There really isn't a need for 12 hrs of light unless you just want to look at the tank for 12 hrs a day. If not, cut two hours off and save some electricity. The day length is never 12 hrs underwater anyway.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
78 is fine, but it's hardly the max. The max for an "average" reef is 86, but you have to go even higher before animals start running into problems. The recommendation of 78 goes back to the early days of the hobby when a lot of stuff was coming from FL and the northern Caribbean which are subtropical and cooler on average. There has also been a prevalent notion that keeping temps on the cooler side provides more leeway before your temp becomes lethal in the event of an emergency or that it has a major effect on dissolved oxygen. Neither one is true.
You can certainly set yourself up for temp related problems below 88, but none of the reef animals we keep will hit their real limits until that or higher.
You can certainly set yourself up for temp related problems below 88, but none of the reef animals we keep will hit their real limits until that or higher.
