Temperature

[tmz]

:worried::fish1: Temperatrue.
Seems like Spring temperatures are rising and soon unfortunately we'll be hearing about temp spikes and losses in aquariums. This is a good time to think about your approach to temperature control for the warmer months and in general.
There is considerable debate about optimal temperature and whether or not acclimatizing organisms to shifts in temperature is a good strategy vs maintaining narrow temperature range.

This thread contains some interesting information.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1977164&page=2

I found the posts(11,16,25,28) by Greenbean informative

What do you folks think? What ranges to you shoot for and how do you manage it?

 

[Willistein]

This is something I was just thinking about. I currently have a sump room on the first floor a few feet away from the tank, and the temps are creeping up when the halides are on. I will likely be building a sump room in the basement to keep things cool. The basement is usually 65 in the summertime. Other than that, the house has central A/C and should keep the room the tank is in below 75. I wonder if that will be enough?

 

[toddmh]

great post Tom,I have found the last couple days my temp went up 1 degree,i do not have the ac going yet for obvious reasons.. But soon my climate control will be up and running and the system will be in the same temp range of the winter months..

With the house opened up,my Ph went from 8.1 to 8.6 just from the influence of outside air..That is something I need to keep an eye on before the AC is turned on

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

What ranges to you shoot for and how do you manage it?

77F - 80F is target temp

controller shuts off halides @ 84F

option: I can program my controller to kick on a fan (if ever necessary)

 

[sedorusc]

I have my controller set to turn on a fan. hopefully replacing a big window in my livingroom with something I can put a decent ac unit in this summer.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I shoot for 78-83, but don't even have a thermometer anymore. Temperature is quite possibly the thing I keep track of least. I run a couple of computer fans over the tank, but that is more to cool the t5 bulbs than anything else.

I haven't lost a coral due to high temperature, but have lost them to low temperatures. Those temps were in the lower 60s though. I let my temperature fluctuate and don't control them much.

 

[iamwrasseman]

76 to 78 for me .i just keep the house air conditioned and dont have to change a thing . my sump is in the basement so its much easier as the basment is nice and cool in the summer and warm in the winter .

 

[low riderr]

i am with wrasseman

 

[tmz]

FWIW , I run it at 77 to a rare 80 but wonder if I should broaden the range per GreenBean's posts.Basement sump and AC hold it pretty well with a Ronco controller and several heaters for heat in the cold weather Thoughts about a broader range?

 

[Willistein]

Tom, thanks for the link to that thread - very useful. I think I may change my setpoint lower and let the metal halides create the temp swing from 76 to 81 or so. I never knew reefs could tolerate such swings. Basically you need to keep it under 84 though as a general rule. I learn something every day.

 

[rjmayes34]

yeah i run mine inbetween 78-81 My chillier is set to come on at 81 and my heaters are set to come on at 77. Last year we got ac installed toward the end of the summer so i might be selling my chiller,will see though. Might just keep it for peace of mind...
Thanks for the reminder thought, I have to hook back up my chiller.

 

[Haffs09]

I'm currently researching an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) for my house. It's different from a Heat Recovery Ventilator in that there's a dessicant wheel to remove some of the water from the incoming supply air. My house has tempered water baseboard heat and with ~500 gallons, I'll definitely run into whole house temperature issues if I don't do something.

I'll supply and exhaust through my DT canopy, and then plan on a few other supply and returns throughout the house.

 

[tmz]

Willistein, If I were to braoden the range upward I'd do it over a period of weeks or months. I'm a little concerned that higher temps might spur on any parasites living in a given tank as well.

 

[SkiFletch]

My LED light build can't go fast enough... Fan's already kicking on a bunch with the halides on.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Through a controller I set a base point of 78.5,I get some fluctuations from that more per the change in seasons.Never would I go above 84F

tmz-
I wonder how varying temperature might have an effect on bacterial processing in sediments.Have you given this any thought ?

 

[Gravesj1s]

It has also been shown that corals harboring these heat-tolerant clades may be more resistant to bleaching, but less resistant to bacterial disease,

Quoted from greenbean.

I thought it was an interesting part of the discussion?

 

[Gravesj1s]

http://imars.usf.edu/~carib/Public/RitchieMEPS322.pdf

Im not sure but I think this might be what Gb was refering to.I would like to know if this is what was meant by" less resistant"....