Water Temperature

[Harth23]

So there has been a debate going on in my family about what should the tank be kept at. The tank is just done with the cycle. I will be doing a reef tank but currently I just have a few fish in the tank. So my question is what does everyone think both a reef tank and a FOWLR be kept at.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Most people keep either 78-80 Unless you're doing cold water critters.

 

[kevin21]

I keep my reef at 77-78

 

[ryeguyy84]

I keep my reef at 78

 

[pyithar]

i keep my reef at 80-82F.

 

[Fish Keeper82]

I aim for 79. Actual values are is 79.5 - 81.5 with an occasional low 82 in summer with no chiller or fans only room Air contitioning. It stayes 77.5 - 78.5 in winter since my heater is on keeping it steady.

 

[thegrun]

I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

 

[TangingOut]

I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

Curious, what was the advice?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I used to keep mine at or above 78, but on the advice of several very experienced reefers including two Tank of the Month recipients, I now let the water drop to 75 during the winter with no ill effects to corals or fish. I keep the upper limit at 82.

Can you share with us the reason why around 75? I've always targeted 78-79 and it does well at that. Just wondering why the lower temps

 

[jacobl]

for summer time, without having a chiller (no more space), for 120 gallon system, what room temp should I set my air condition at? Any experience on this?

 

[TangingOut]

for summer time, without having a chiller (no more space), for 120 gallon system, what room temp should I set my air condition at? Any experience on this?

There are many variables that would make one reefer's experience with ambient temps much different to the next. Lighting type, fans, proximity to window, number of pumps, canopy, vents, etc...

For what it's worth, in our AZ summers we keep our AC at 79. With fans over DT/sump/in stand all hooked up to a Ranco controller, I can keep the tank at 78 without a chiller. Also with LEDs and an open top.

 

[Indymann99]

For what its worth.... I run my temp around 80 year round.

I am more worried about fall storms, winter ice, and spring storms (power outage). so I keep the temp at 80 to buy time in the event of power failure.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Mine varies from 78.6 to 79.3. Our thermostat stays around 72 year round so my heaters are active throughout the year.

 

[Deleted member 336650]

I just got heaters & controller set this past weekend to 79.4.

Stable for the past 5 days with a room temp of 69.

I hope this temp works well.

 

[Brieninsac]

Do most read water temp in their sump with the heater? My heater is set to 80 but digital thermometer say 79.3. It seems like my DT is always a degree lower.

 

[Fish Keeper82]

I have one thermometer in my sump and one in my daytank. They differ by a degree or so. I have put them side by side and they are off. Most hobby digital thermometers are plus or minus 1 degree accuracy so if one is off one degree low and one is off one degree high there is a 2 degree margin of error between the two right out the box. Dont get too hung up on one degree difference

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

Keep it at 78-82 I recommend keeping it at 78

 

[shifty51008]

Mine is 80-82, everything looks great

 

[midieval10]

78-80, everything doing ok

 

[heathlindner25]

76 here.