what is an ok temp swing?

whiirly

Active member
my tank swings from 78.7 to 81.5 or so daily is this ok?
I run fans to keep temp down but would like to keep tank temps under 80 any suggestions?
 
Suggestions, sure. Get a chiller.

I keep my temp at 78 +/- 1 degree. and I run (2) 1/2 HP chillers, one main and one backup.

I still for the life of me do not understand how hobbyists can spend thousands and thousands on livestock and resist spending a few hundred on a piece of "insurance" equipment.

I am not coming down on you Joe. This just seems to be one of my pet peeves.
 
depends what you have in tank, my has lps, zoos, leathers and some acros, my tank swings from 78 to 84 in the summer and no porblems. For some people fans do a good job and for some they dont need anything, others need chillers. I personally never lost anything to heat or had any problems, but as you know all tanks are different and drastic changes are not good.
 
I have to agree with jjjimmy. Temperature is one of the two most common ways tanks crash (automatic fill is probably the other most common)
 
jjjimmy
I agree with you but dont really have the room for the chiller
due to tank placement and slab for a floor
 
Joe, I got a chiller this year, sits next to the tank. doesn't look bad. I was having swings from 78 to 86, it was too much.
 
no room on either side of the tank the only thig I could do is sit out in front of the tank and there is no way my wife will go for that
 
It also depends on your setup. If you've got an enclosed canopy, I'd want a chiller. I use a hanging type fixture and have an open top. I run a small fan across the top of the tank and a smaller clip on over the sump. My temps go from 79.5 at night and max out at 81.5 during the day. Anyway, I'd say your temps are definitely in the acceptable range, and I wouldn't worry about it.

Geary
 
joe, i have to agree with sullyman. my tank was swinging all over the place and i lost a huge monti that was 14 inches across for a dip higher then 84. my a/c duct was less then 3 feet away. I just got a chiller and now with 3 X 400 watt halides my tank never goes over 80. you could get a chiller used for check and it could make the difference of a couple of degrees. you could always put it on the top of the canopy???? it was suggested to me ....however...i temporarily made room in the stand....plan B will be looked at after the summer. just my thoughts....i didn't want to spend the money...but i would not hesitate to put it into the tank.
 
a 5 degree swing is fine.. it wont cause a crash... keep your tank between 77-83 an you will be fine.. its when you go outside of that range that you have problems... i try to keep mine at 80.
 
I made a tube and ran it from a/c duct to my sump inside the stand it helps keep the temp down also my electric bills, I do have a chiller though hook up as a back up. just a thought
 
ok I have 75 gal all I use during summer is fan
one day my wife closed all the windows and didnt turn on the air
it was a hell when I came back from work it was 110 in the apartment and 93 in the tank.
everything was closed like during the night for 3 days after that
but survived I have major xenia colony and it didnt melt
so the swings can be high if you cach it in time ;)
I dumped 5 lb of ice in my tank to bring it down to 84
 
from my reading on RC and general discussions over time with people in our club, I'd say most reefers generally figure out after a while how to keep there tanks temp swings to about 2 degrees between low and high. Certainly 4.

Good luck, Kevin
 
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