82 degree tank. How warm is too warm?

[Aspect]

I found a cheap imported chiller on eBay that I may pickup if my last attempt at fans doesn’t work.

Wouldn't recommend this. Chillers can wipe a tank if they start leeching metals into the tank.

 

[stoney7713]

Can’t with cats. WAMP wamp

Meow WOW... just gotta get the right fish...

 

[JCM]

Let's just get this out of way , reefers don't like hearing this , all the best marine reef fish prefer water temps of 81 , 82 , and 83

Why would anyone dislike hearing that? Low 80's were normal back in the halide days. 82 is only a problem if you don't let your temps naturally fluctuate.

 

[Spare time]

Let's just get this out of way , reefers don't like hearing this , all the best marine reef fish prefer water temps of 81 , 82 , and 83

And why would that be? Anything to support that claim?

 

[Doctorgori]

Let's just get this out of way , reefers don't like hearing this , all the best marine reef fish prefer water temps of 81 , 82 , and 83

I lived in Phoenix for 20yrs, and AC went out on me a couple of times…I wouldn’t press it above that and this is from direct experience and loss…

Edit add: but yeah, on the other side I kept my Reef in a unheated basement and temps regularly dipped below 70F and I noticed nothing at all…

 

[JC1977]

My tank runs 80-82 year round with no ill effects.

 

[Dom]

Can’t raise lights due to BioCube hood. I tried some fans but they didn’t work well. Going to try another set of fans tonight.

That hood is the problem; it is what keeps the heat in. Remove the hood for a day and watch the temperature go down.

 

[stoney7713]

Why would anyone dislike hearing that? Low 80's were normal back in the halide days. 82 is only a problem if you don't let your temps naturally fluctuate.

Some people are die hards, everything must be perfect, if someone else is doing it, they're doing it wrong.

Except for some corals and inverts, I think even up to mid 80's is okay. Oceans fluctuate, our tanks fluctuate, it will be okay. Yes try for stability but don't force it if it won't happen. It breaks things.

 

[stoney7713]

That hood is the problem; it is what keeps the heat in. Remove the hood for a day and watch the temperature go down.

Meow meow splash... Maybe an acrylic vented hood would help.

 

[c_johns89]

I agree with others. My tank frequently hits 82 during the summer without issues.

 

[Spare time]

Meow meow splash... Maybe an acrylic vented hood would help.

Maybe a mesh vent in the back of the hood facing the wall or one of those mini ice powered desktop AC units behind the tank

 

[sandybottom]

Started up a BioCube 29 and long story short, I can’t get the dang thing to cool down below 82 degrees. And I have two more ideas that I am going to try but if I cannot lower the tanks temperature is it going to be too hot for fish and coral? Wanting to set up a mixed reef tank with fish.

For what it’s worth, I had a similar issue with my RSM 130D, also hooded. I was able to reduce temp switching the factory AC pump (35watts) to a DC pump.

 

[JCM]

Some people are die hards, everything must be perfect, if someone else is doing it, they're doing it wrong.

Except for some corals and inverts, I think even up to mid 80's is okay. Oceans fluctuate, our tanks fluctuate, it will be okay. Yes try for stability but don't force it if it won't happen. It breaks things.

I'm not a big fan of stability when it comes to temperature, I'd rather my tank fluctuate. To each their own though.

 

[stoney7713]

For what it’s worth, I had a similar issue with my RSM 130D, also hooded. I was able to reduce temp switching the factory AC pump (35watts) to a DC pump.

Yup I forgot about this, I swapped out my AC pump on my 75 for DC and dropped it 2 degrees. Mag drives and similar run hot.

 

[EricR]

I'm not a big fan of stability when it comes to temperature, I'd rather my tank fluctuate. To each their own though.

I'm actually surprised none of the heater controllers (that I've seen) have a built in "daily temperature swing" setting or something like that. Seems like that'd be closer to a natural environment but, oh well.

 

[Double monti 61]

If your system is doing well short periods of high temperatures should not be a problem. I live in a studio apartment with no air conditioning and I use fans to cool the apartment today it was about 95 degrees outside but my tank temperature never went above 81 degrees and I have had periods when temperatures topped out at 85 degrees but most nights cool and my temperature drops.

 

[tmRoth]

From the opinions I've read here, it sounds like many of you would agree that gradual fluctuations throughout the year are okay, and a slow rise and drop of 2 or 3 degrees during a 24-hour period is also okay, as long as this is the usual occurrence and the tank inhabitants are acclimated to it?

That's what I have - my tank can drop to 76 degrees during the winter and can top out at a bit over 81 in the summer, with a couple of degrees of fluctuation during the day as the air temperature in my house changes.

I finally installed a heater controller this evening, hoping it will provide more consistent temperatures than the two heaters themselves on cooler days, but I've been putting of dropping several hundred dollars on a chiller just to bring down the temperature by a couple of degrees during part of the year.

 

[Tamberav]

Started up a BioCube 29 and long story short, I can’t get the dang thing to cool down below 82 degrees. And I have two more ideas that I am going to try but if I cannot lower the tanks temperature is it going to be too hot for fish and coral? Wanting to set up a mixed reef tank with fish.

My nano ran around 85 in the summer without problems

 

[JCM]

From the opinions I've read here, it sounds like many of you would agree that gradual fluctuations throughout the year are okay, and a slow rise and drop of 2 or 3 degrees during a 24-hour period is also okay, as long as this is the usual occurrence and the tank inhabitants are acclimated to it?

That's what I have - my tank can drop to 76 degrees during the winter and can top out at a bit over 81 in the summer, with a couple of degrees of fluctuation during the day as the air temperature in my house changes.

I finally installed a heater controller this evening, hoping it will provide more consistent temperatures than the two heaters themselves on cooler days, but I've been putting of dropping several hundred dollars on a chiller just to bring down the temperature by a couple of degrees during part of the year.

No need to, 81 in the summer is fine. My tank fluctuates a similar amount.

 

[3000kelvin]

That hood is the problem; it is what keeps the heat in. Remove the hood for a day and watch the temperature go down.

I agree. Owned a 32 that I made rimless and obvi never had temp issues.