Temperature of reef tank?
- Thread starter mjc041800
- Start date
James77
Team RC
As already stated, 78-82 is a great range. Even up to 84.
The biggest issue is drastic change. I personally would rather have a tank that has a swing of a few degrees up and down each day. If you have a tank that is set at a rock solid 78 degrees, anything that goes wrong that may push the temperature out of whack more than a degree is going to be very stressful to the tank. They are going to be used to one set temperature.
But if you have a tank where the temperature swings up and down over the course of the day, the animals will be far more tolerant of a spike/drop in temperature should it happen. Not that I would ever recommend doing so, but I have had tanks push 86.5-87 degrees in the summer and everything looked totally happy. I had a controller kill all the hot lights at 87 because that really is on the high end of temperature. This was on a tank that would drop to about 78-79 at night. Towards and during winter, my tanks tend to be more stable in temperature at around 78. But the change in swings is gradual as seasonal temps drop.
But again 78-82 is a great range. Do not worry about temperature swings within that range so long as the tank is used to it(in other words, don't immediately allow temp swings too drastic if the tank is not used to it).
The biggest issue is drastic change. I personally would rather have a tank that has a swing of a few degrees up and down each day. If you have a tank that is set at a rock solid 78 degrees, anything that goes wrong that may push the temperature out of whack more than a degree is going to be very stressful to the tank. They are going to be used to one set temperature.
But if you have a tank where the temperature swings up and down over the course of the day, the animals will be far more tolerant of a spike/drop in temperature should it happen. Not that I would ever recommend doing so, but I have had tanks push 86.5-87 degrees in the summer and everything looked totally happy. I had a controller kill all the hot lights at 87 because that really is on the high end of temperature. This was on a tank that would drop to about 78-79 at night. Towards and during winter, my tanks tend to be more stable in temperature at around 78. But the change in swings is gradual as seasonal temps drop.
But again 78-82 is a great range. Do not worry about temperature swings within that range so long as the tank is used to it(in other words, don't immediately allow temp swings too drastic if the tank is not used to it).
James77
Team RC
Fish and coral can take much larger swings in temperature and be totally fine with it, so long as they are used to it. Temperatures change very drastically on wild reefs.
Obviously our tanks are not wild reefs...but these animals are able to withstand some pretty dynamic conditions if they are used to it. Having a rock solid set up with temperature is not going to be a bad thing, but it may set you up for a big problem if one little thing goes wrong.
JammyBirch
Aquaria Engineering
Ya my tank is swinging 3-4 degrees everyday in the summer, no problems.
Just make sure your temp swings are no greater than 2 degrees in a 24 hour period and no higher than 84. I run my tank at 79 but it sometimes spikes up to 81 before the lights go off. I dont run a chiller but I do have an old computer fan that blows room temp air directly on the sump.
The fan in the sump is a good idea. I have some PC fans built in to the top of my tank but they are not sufficient in the summer. However, mounting a big fan on top of the sump which I keep in the basement is a really good idea as noise would not be an issue.
I lost a sea hare and I think some snails last week when 1 of my 3 heaters gave out resulting in a 3.7 degree drop. Are inverts more susceptible to changes in temperature than fish and corals?
I lost a sea hare and I think some snails last week when 1 of my 3 heaters gave out resulting in a 3.7 degree drop. Are inverts more susceptible to changes in temperature than fish and corals?
AmyScubaGirl
New member
Thanks everyone!!! I've been so stressed out trying to keep my tank at the perfect 78 degree mark. First thing in am 78 degrees perfect, great! Lights ramp up temp starts to climb 78.2...78.4...78.6...79... Turn fan on, starts cooling down. Now 77.7...77.4..76.9...ok so turn off fan....here we go back up again. Ok so lower lights (I'm using two orbit marine pro LEDs) and turn off fan = stabilizing. Oh no wait, house temp rising (I live in Florida) 78.2....78.6....
How in the world do I control this??? I can't sit around doing this all day for Pete sake!
How in the world do I control this??? I can't sit around doing this all day for Pete sake!
You could get a controller.
Neptune Apex.
homer1475
New member
Neptune Apex.
I have my apex control fans that turn on and off with temps. Controlled through the apex, my temps never go above 80, or below 78.
MattGatten
New member
My Apex does a nice job of keeping my temp swings to less than a degree from night to day. I like the house cool at night. 
. I average 79.5 - 80 most of the time.
. I average 79.5 - 80 most of the time.
