SPS at risk - bad temp gauge

I think I've got a problem with my temp gauge. It's been reading 80-83 for most of the summer but the water has felt much cooler to the touch. I finally got off my lazy @$$ and got another gauge that works and it's giving me a reading of 72.2 at the end of my photoperiod. I'm going to get a third gauge to make sure, but it looks like I've been running a frigid sps tank.

I have lost about 4-5 colonies over the summer but I actually thought it was a higher temp swing (3 degree swing peaking at 83 on what I'm guessing is a bad gauge) that did them in. They bleached and then STN'd. Bleaching seemed to support the higher temp theory/guess.

If the 72 reading turns out correct, how do you think my sps will handle a gradual climb to 78-79. They've had at least 3-4 months of living in and getting acclimated to the cold temps. I'm really sweating this one. Plenty of $$'s at risk. Any thoughts appreciated.
 
my tank hit 64 degrees for a week while I was out of town. All my SPS corals bleached none died thankfully.
 
my blue tort was solid white. It looked like it was dead I was going to ditch it but decided to let it be until I was completely sure. About 2 months later I saw a polyp then another and another and it started to turn brown. I am really glad I didn't throw it away it is my favorite coral.
 
i think a change in temp causes bleaching...not the actual temp it is at...thats just my opinion though..i would expect more bleaching as you raise the temp...make everything else perfectly stable
 
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