What temp do you keep your tank at??
- Thread starter moose8721
- Start date
danthemanj
Member
low of 78.5 high of 80.5
pepsi69taste
New member
78-80
It is interesting to see that the average temp of many of the tanks kept locally seem to be lower then I expected and am curious as to the reason. I know there have been many heated arguments on RC over the years as to the proper temp for a reef tank and it certainly is not my intention to start another one here. I would however be interested in hearing peoples reasons for an average that seems to be around 77-79.
I tend to keep my tank in the 81 to 83 range and maybe even a little higher in the summer. I based this range on several articles I read a few years back of which here is one if anyone is interested. http://web.archive.org/web/20020610...om/fish2/aqfm/1997/nov/features/1/default.asp
And here is a quote from another:
"These authors took measurements from over 1000 different reefs, and determined the physical and chemical limits statistically.
The temperatures they found (Converted to Degrees Fahrenheit):
Averages: Minimum = 69.8Ã"šÃ‚º; Maximum 85.1Ã"šÃ‚º; Average = 81.7Ã"šÃ‚º(this is the average temperature of all coral reefs).
Minimums; Lowest = 60.8Ã"šÃ‚º; Highest = 82.8Ã"šÃ‚º; Average = 76.4Ã"šÃ‚º.
Maximums: Lowest = 76.2Ã"šÃ‚º; Highest = 93.9;Ã"šÃ‚º Average = 86.4Ã"šÃ‚º.
Some extremely warm and saline reefs were noted.
Extreme Reefs (Maximum Weekly Temperature in Deg. F; Salinity in ppt)
Southern Red Sea = 89.1Ã"šÃ‚ºF - 91.2Ã"šÃ‚º F; 38-40ppt.
Central Red Sea = 88.7 Ã"šÃ‚ºF - 89.1Ã"šÃ‚º F ; 40-41 ppt.
Northern Red Sea = up to 88Ã"šÃ‚º F; 41-42 ppt.
Those of you with Red Sea animals may well wish to alter the temperatures of your reefs."
I hope some find this article as interesting as I did.
Eric
I tend to keep my tank in the 81 to 83 range and maybe even a little higher in the summer. I based this range on several articles I read a few years back of which here is one if anyone is interested. http://web.archive.org/web/20020610...om/fish2/aqfm/1997/nov/features/1/default.asp
And here is a quote from another:
"These authors took measurements from over 1000 different reefs, and determined the physical and chemical limits statistically.
The temperatures they found (Converted to Degrees Fahrenheit):
Averages: Minimum = 69.8Ã"šÃ‚º; Maximum 85.1Ã"šÃ‚º; Average = 81.7Ã"šÃ‚º(this is the average temperature of all coral reefs).
Minimums; Lowest = 60.8Ã"šÃ‚º; Highest = 82.8Ã"šÃ‚º; Average = 76.4Ã"šÃ‚º.
Maximums: Lowest = 76.2Ã"šÃ‚º; Highest = 93.9;Ã"šÃ‚º Average = 86.4Ã"šÃ‚º.
Some extremely warm and saline reefs were noted.
Extreme Reefs (Maximum Weekly Temperature in Deg. F; Salinity in ppt)
Southern Red Sea = 89.1Ã"šÃ‚ºF - 91.2Ã"šÃ‚º F; 38-40ppt.
Central Red Sea = 88.7 Ã"šÃ‚ºF - 89.1Ã"šÃ‚º F ; 40-41 ppt.
Northern Red Sea = up to 88Ã"šÃ‚º F; 41-42 ppt.
Those of you with Red Sea animals may well wish to alter the temperatures of your reefs."
I hope some find this article as interesting as I did.
Eric
Hef
Premium Member
You didnt Kill It, just fueled the Fire a little. Good Data. I know I've seen that before, I'm sure you can get good arguments from both sides.
At first I thought everyone just had great Chillers and/or high electric bills. I'm sure everyone here has a high electric bill, but it seems a lot of us are running tanks without halides and struggling to keep them as warm as 77 deg with heaters.
This time of year is a battle between heaters & chiller in my tank. This thread got me to lower my heaters by a degree, and probably save a lot on my electric bill.
At first I thought everyone just had great Chillers and/or high electric bills. I'm sure everyone here has a high electric bill, but it seems a lot of us are running tanks without halides and struggling to keep them as warm as 77 deg with heaters.
This time of year is a battle between heaters & chiller in my tank. This thread got me to lower my heaters by a degree, and probably save a lot on my electric bill.
concept3
Premium Member
I'll start:
1.) Yes, electricity is my primary concern, that's why I've resorted to keep the temp a little lower than what would be the norm. My electric bill went down average $25-$32 since I lowered my heater to 77 degrees, lowered my MH photoperiod to 5 hours and switched 4 Maxijet 1200's (20W each) to 2 Tunzes (15W each)
2.) I keep my tanks at minimum 77 degrees because I need the extra 5 degrees of safety for when the halides go on, or for the uneventful warm spell. I don't have the luxury of a chiller, and would probably never be able to implement one in my condo due to space reasons, I resorted to keeping the tanks cooler for the reason stated.
3.) Cooler tanks equal slower metabolism and growth. Cooler tanks harbor or slow down bacterial or parasitic infections. Higher metabolism tanks (warmer) need to be fed more often, cleaned more often, maintained more often. I'm LAZY.
Let's not start a debate, let's please just state personal opinions for the temperatures chosen
Oh yeah, I'm starting a thread too, but it's on salinity. Doesn't salinity have a correlation to temperature?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=778879
rickyfins
New member
temp
temp
I don't run a heater, lol. it usually runs at 79-84 and I know that is a huge variance. I don't think the tank minds it though as I have great growth and color. I don't need the heater as I have 720watts on my 55gal(2X250watt MH, 2X110VHO). It doesn't usually vary that much unless the room temp is up. When it gets warmer I use the AC to cool the house and it stays at 80ish. We have had a warm spell the last two days so the tank is near 84. Any higher and the AC gets turned on or the window gets opened. Anything above that and the SPS will bite the dust.
thanks,
Rick
temp
I don't run a heater, lol. it usually runs at 79-84 and I know that is a huge variance. I don't think the tank minds it though as I have great growth and color. I don't need the heater as I have 720watts on my 55gal(2X250watt MH, 2X110VHO). It doesn't usually vary that much unless the room temp is up. When it gets warmer I use the AC to cool the house and it stays at 80ish. We have had a warm spell the last two days so the tank is near 84. Any higher and the AC gets turned on or the window gets opened. Anything above that and the SPS will bite the dust.
thanks,
Rick
blange3
Brewer and Reefer
I remebered that I read this article as I was making up my mind on parameters.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Metabolism was also a factor I considered. It's an old freshwater habit as well to keep the temp on the lower end unless a species specifically requires it, also because of the bacteria and parasite factors.
It occurs to me while reading this thread, however, that since so much of our filtration process depends on the activity of bacteria, does one factor offset the other for no gain. What I mean is if we slow the metabolism of the fish and corals reducing feeding and waste production, is that offset by less activity on the part of the bacteria that is breaking down the lower waste load?
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Metabolism was also a factor I considered. It's an old freshwater habit as well to keep the temp on the lower end unless a species specifically requires it, also because of the bacteria and parasite factors.
It occurs to me while reading this thread, however, that since so much of our filtration process depends on the activity of bacteria, does one factor offset the other for no gain. What I mean is if we slow the metabolism of the fish and corals reducing feeding and waste production, is that offset by less activity on the part of the bacteria that is breaking down the lower waste load?
piberoptikz
Premium Member
80 - 81 F
