Temperature Swings to simulate the natural environment

[FlyPenFly]

A thought that I've been playing around with is simulating the temperature fluctuations with a controller. That is, during 10:30am to 3pm, see elevated temps of 82F, during other times bring temps down to 75F. This can easily be done even on timers with 2 heaters.... perhaps build up the delta over time. This will help coral build resiliency to fluctuations and who knows, maybe bring out some other biological processes not present in our stagnant systems.

If SPS love chaotic strong current, could possibly the same mechanisms to simulate their natural environment exist?

It would be interesting to see what the temp fluctuations are like in a real thriving reef.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

That temp swing seems a little extreme to me, more than the corals would experience in their natural environment. I do force a 1 degree swing between day and night, as there is evidence that corals more accustomed to small variations can better handle unplanned larger excursions.


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[nonstopfishies]

An interesting idea. The problem I see is we source our livestock and corals from all over the place and not a particular patch of reef. One area can get huge temperature swings everyday and another area (even a football field away) may get next to no change. I'm not sure we could quickly "train" our corals to handle swings that wide in a tank. May just end up being survival of the fittest/most suited to temperature swings that handle it.

 

[FlyPenFly]

Real coral reefs swing in temps from 74 to 85 and even sometimes as high as 95 for short periods. Depends on seasons and location of course.

In healthy humans, large temperature fluctuations seem to stimulate the immune system. My hypothesis is that corals and marine life might benefit from some gradually introduced fluctuations in temperature resulting in more disease and pest resistant corals that are "stronger" due to this "exercise" and conditioning.

 

[jd371]

I just set up an anemone tank in what is my man cave/workshop/boiler room. It's a small room and because the furnace is there the tank's temp fluctuates throughout the day. I have the controller set for 78, I get swings from 77 in the morning up to 80 in the afternoon and back down to 77 at night.
Since the tank was set up in December it hasn't been through the heat of the summer months and I know the room gets hot during the summer. I have a fan over the tank to kick on if the temp goes above 81, hopefully it will keep the temp from going higher, will find out soon enough.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Real coral reefs swing in temps from 74 to 85 and even sometimes as high as 95 for short periods. Depends on seasons and location of course.

In healthy humans, large temperature fluctuations seem to stimulate the immune system. My hypothesis is that corals and marine life might benefit from some gradually introduced fluctuations in temperature resulting in more disease and pest resistant corals that are "stronger" due to this "exercise" and conditioning.

What source are you using to determine those swings? While I agree that some intertidal areas see such swings, I certainly wouldn't call that normal, and I would be surprised if those areas were packed full of thriving and diverse acropora.


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[alazo1]

Just an observation. Just about every time I've gone snorkeling and once scuba diving in reef, a periodic cold surge of water is almost typical. Almost like patches of cold water that has not mixed in with the warmer water.