Beginner question about temperature...

[MermaidTail]

Beginner here, first tank going through cycling, but doing well on levels. Tank looking good, 6gallon Fluval Edge. Have a while to go before adding livestock, but being preemptive about knowledge, so I have a question about temperature...

All my findings say an ideal temp is 72-78 degrees F. My tank is currently at 76, has been, the last two days. I'm in the chilly Midwest, and so while heat is on in the house, I'm not convinced that's having a significant impact on the tank water temp. But when I turn the heater on, the tank quickly goes up to (and maintains) around 82 degrees.

I have a preset Aqueon 50w submersible heater mounted inside.

Moving forward, what's the best way to maintain a nice suitable temp for livestock? Use the heater and hope it regulates? No heater and let 76 be the standard?

All thoughts appreciated.
And pics to see!

 

[bayoupr]

Nothing wrong with keeping your system at 76. The main key is stability and not big fluctuations.

 

[jetmaker]

Turn the heater down until it turns off should maintain the 76 temp

 

[WVReefJunkie]

I use a Neptune Apex controller to keep my temp between 78.0 - 78.4 degrees.

 

[Wiz]

My tank sits at 81. No issues. But I agree, forget the number on the heater. Turn it down slowly until you reach desired temp.

 

[OGFrenchHorn]

Don't go by the number on the heater. If you can, get some kind of controller (Reef Keeper or Apex) and use that to control the heater. I've lost a lot of live stock due to the thermometer on the heater failing. I don't mean to scare you but it doesn't hurt to have a fail safe. at the very least you should have a thermometer in the tank to double check the thermometer on the heater. I try to keep my tank at 75F in the winter and 78 in the summer.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

Nist thermometers are awesome, plus they don't cost a lot. I use it to check its values against other instruments.

 

[1fishjones]

I've been look at heat options for a new build and using controllers seems to be the best way to go.
Ranco was the brand most often recommend:

http://www.etcsupply.com/Ranco-etc11...let-p-87.html

By the way your tank looks great.

 

[MermaidTail]

Thanks all- I do have a thermometer inside the tank, that's how I'm getting my readings. The heater I have is a preset. Cannot adjust.

Was just wondering what best course of action should be when I begin to add livestock next month. Seems the heater takes the water a little hotter than recommended but I don't want to risk having water fall too low a temp if it's not on.

 

[MermaidTail]

I've been look at heat options for a new build and using controllers seems to be the best way to go.
Ranco was the brand most often recommend:

http://www.etcsupply.com/Ranco-etc11...let-p-87.html

By the way your tank looks great.

Thank you! Pictures don't really do it justice, but yeah, I think it's looking cool at the start!

 

[jetmaker]

Get a cheap adjustable heater and you be fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Beginner here, first tank going through cycling, but doing well on levels. Tank looking good, 6gallon Fluval Edge. Have a while to go before adding livestock, but being preemptive about knowledge, so I have a question about temperature...

All my findings say an ideal temp is 72-78 degrees F. My tank is currently at 76, has been, the last two days. I'm in the chilly Midwest, and so while heat is on in the house, I'm not convinced that's having a significant impact on the tank water temp. But when I turn the heater on, the tank quickly goes up to (and maintains) around 82 degrees.

I have a preset Aqueon 50w submersible heater mounted inside.

Moving forward, what's the best way to maintain a nice suitable temp for livestock? Use the heater and hope it regulates? No heater and let 76 be the standard?

All thoughts appreciated.
And pics to see!

FWIW, I do not agree that 72-78 deg F is the optimal range. It certainly is not the natural range of the most diverse coral reefs.

 

[MermaidTail]

FWIW, I do not agree that 72-78 deg F is the optimal range. It certainly is not the natural range of the most diverse coral reefs.

Yeah? What's your opinion for optimal?

 

[jetmaker]

FWIW, I do not agree that 72-78 deg F is the optimal range. It certainly is not the natural range of the most diverse coral reefs.

What's your op @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[ksc]

Optimal coral growth has been shown to occur between 82-84F. I'd say the best range is between 78-84. My tank runs 78.5-82 in the winter and 80-84 in the summer.

 

[acesfull44]

I use my Apex to keep the temp in a range of 78-79

 

[MermaidTail]

Optimal coral growth has been shown to occur between 82-84F. I'd say the best range is between 78-84. My tank runs 78.5-82 in the winter and 80-84 in the summer.

Awesome! Thanks for your advice.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is my temperature opinion:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

from it:

Temperature

Temperature impacts reef aquarium inhabitants in a variety of ways. First and foremost, the animals' metabolic rates rise as temperature rises. They may consequently use or produce more oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, calcium, and alkalinity at higher temperatures. This higher metabolic rate can also increase both their growth rate and waste production at higher temperatures.

Another important impact of temperature is on the chemical aspects of the aquarium. The solubility of dissolved gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, for example, change with temperature. Oxygen, in particular, can be a concern because it is less soluble at higher temperature.

So what does this imply for aquarists?

In most instances, trying to match the natural environment in a reef aquarium is a worthy goal. Temperature may, however, be a parameter that requires accounting for the practical considerations of a small closed system that might suffer a power failure and trap the organisms in a small amount of poorly aerated water, something that rarely happens on a natural reef. Looking to the ocean as a guide for setting temperatures in reef aquaria may also present complications because corals grow well in such a wide range of temperatures. The greatest variety of corals, however, are found in water whose average temperature is about 83-86° F.

During normal functioning of a reef aquarium, the oxygen level and the metabolic rate of the aquarium inhabitants are not often important issues, and many reef tanks do well with temperatures in the low to mid 80's. During a crisis such as a power failure, however, the dissolved oxygen can be rapidly used up. Lower temperatures not only allow a higher oxygen level before an emergency, but will also slow the consumption of that oxygen by slowing the metabolism of the aquarium's inhabitants. The production of ammonia as organisms begin to die may also be slower at lower temperatures. For reasons such as this, one may choose to strike a practical balance between temperatures that are too high (even if corals normally thrive in the ocean at those temperatures), and those that are too low.

These natural guidelines leave a fairly wide range of acceptable temperatures. I keep my aquarium at about 80-81° F year-round. I am actually more inclined to keep the aquarium cooler in the summer, when a power failure would most likely warm the aquarium, and higher in winter, when a power failure would most likely cool it. All things considered, I recommend temperatures in the range of 76-83° F unless there is a very clear reason to keep it outside that range.

One additional comment on temperatures: having a small temperature swing is not necessarily undesirable. While temperature stability may sound like a desirable attribute, and in some cases it may be, studies have shown that organisms that are acclimated to daily temperature swings become more able to deal with unexpected temperature excursions. So while a tank creature that normally experiences only 80° F may be very healthy, the same organism adapted to a range from 78° F to 82° F may be better able to deal with an aquarium that accidentally rises to 86° F

 

[pondman]

Very nice tank by the way I really like your rockwork.your temp looks good for now but as you add corals and critters try and mimic what's best for them as far as temp goes good job on your tank and happy reefing to you.

 

[MermaidTail]

This is my temperature opinion:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

from it:

Temperature

Temperature impacts reef aquarium inhabitants in a variety of ways. First and foremost, the animals' metabolic rates rise as temperature rises. They may consequently use or produce more oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, calcium, and alkalinity at higher temperatures. This higher metabolic rate can also increase both their growth rate and waste production at higher temperatures.

Another important impact of temperature is on the chemical aspects of the aquarium. The solubility of dissolved gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, for example, change with temperature. Oxygen, in particular, can be a concern because it is less soluble at higher temperature.

So what does this imply for aquarists?

In most instances, trying to match the natural environment in a reef aquarium is a worthy goal. Temperature may, however, be a parameter that requires accounting for the practical considerations of a small closed system that might suffer a power failure and trap the organisms in a small amount of poorly aerated water, something that rarely happens on a natural reef. Looking to the ocean as a guide for setting temperatures in reef aquaria may also present complications because corals grow well in such a wide range of temperatures. The greatest variety of corals, however, are found in water whose average temperature is about 83-86° F.

During normal functioning of a reef aquarium, the oxygen level and the metabolic rate of the aquarium inhabitants are not often important issues, and many reef tanks do well with temperatures in the low to mid 80's. During a crisis such as a power failure, however, the dissolved oxygen can be rapidly used up. Lower temperatures not only allow a higher oxygen level before an emergency, but will also slow the consumption of that oxygen by slowing the metabolism of the aquarium's inhabitants. The production of ammonia as organisms begin to die may also be slower at lower temperatures. For reasons such as this, one may choose to strike a practical balance between temperatures that are too high (even if corals normally thrive in the ocean at those temperatures), and those that are too low.

These natural guidelines leave a fairly wide range of acceptable temperatures. I keep my aquarium at about 80-81° F year-round. I am actually more inclined to keep the aquarium cooler in the summer, when a power failure would most likely warm the aquarium, and higher in winter, when a power failure would most likely cool it. All things considered, I recommend temperatures in the range of 76-83° F unless there is a very clear reason to keep it outside that range.

One additional comment on temperatures: having a small temperature swing is not necessarily undesirable. While temperature stability may sound like a desirable attribute, and in some cases it may be, studies have shown that organisms that are acclimated to daily temperature swings become more able to deal with unexpected temperature excursions. So while a tank creature that normally experiences only 80° F may be very healthy, the same organism adapted to a range from 78° F to 82° F may be better able to deal with an aquarium that accidentally rises to 86° F

Great read! THANK you!