Chromis Question

[DraggingTail]

I feed my fish when I wake up.

At this time my lights have not kicked on yet and the water is 75.4 degrees.

The fish look pale and lethargic when they emerge from wherever they hide. However once the lights kick on they are active and colorful.

I have a heater that keeps the temp from dropping to much at night. And once the MH is on the tank will warm up to 78 degrees in a couple of hours.

Is this normal for the fish to behave this way?

Thanks for the help.

 

[sfin52]

Yep. They change colors,paterns or mute their color. It's kinda like when people wake up . It takes a little to get going . I would hold off till the lights are on for a little bit before you feed

 

[AcroNem]

Yep it's normal, fish can be very strange when they are resting or if you're looking at them in the middle of the night. Colors will be very light or different, they'll be swimming weirdly, laying on their sides even. All normal

I also agree with feeding once the lights are on for a bit and everyone is out and swimming actively.

 

[MSB123]

75 is not a good temp

 

[sfin52]

That's a good temp .

 

[AcroNem]

75 is not a good temp

I disagree, mostly.

If it was stable all the time at that temp things would be alright. The problem with it is that they stated the system will swing up to near 80 in a short time. Usually it's not the number of said parameter that's the issue but how quickly it moves that's the problem.

 

[sfin52]

I missed that part. Mine hovers around 77

 

[AcroNem]

75-82 will be fine, if stable, but temperature swings should still be avoided.

 

[MSB123]

I disagree, mostly.

If it was stable all the time at that temp things would be alright. The problem with it is that they stated the system will swing up to near 80 in a short time. Usually it's not the number of said parameter that's the issue but how quickly it moves that's the problem.

Thank you. What a meant to say is those 5 or 6 degree temp swings over a short time period is not a good thing. @DraggingTail what size heater/s are you using?

 

[Reef Obsessed 1981]

I agree, that temperature swing is less than ideal. Get a temperature controller, simple way to keep it nice and stable

 

[AcroNem]

Thank you. What a meant to say is those 5 or 6 degree temp swings over a short time period is not a good thing. @DraggingTail what size heater/s are you using?

If that's the case then yes I agree with you. And this is more of a cooling problem than a heating problem. It's not that the heater isn't keeping it warm it's that the Halides are warming too much. With a halide the system will get even warmer if they get a larger heater to keep it warmer at night.

My question to the OP is are you running Halides with little ventilation or cooling?

 

[Oshengems]

My chromis, tangs and wrasse have camouflage colors at night as well it’s fine definitely not the temp and my tank hovers around 76-77 so I’m sure 75 is no big deal

 

[eatbreakfast]

The behavior is perfectly normal.

In case my math is off 75.4-78 is a 2.6 degree swing, which is not a big deal.

 

[MSB123]

Op posted in another thread about how his tank gets much higher then 78.

 

[Oshengems]

Def not a big deal since from time to time when it’s too hot my tank goes to 81-82 of course not drastically it takes several hours But my corals and seem fine, my constant temp is 77, but def not the reason chromis change color that’s just their pajamas

 

[eatbreakfast]

Op posted in another thread about how his tank gets much higher then 78.

That was before he lowered the temp setting for his heater...

 

[DraggingTail]

Thank you. What a meant to say is those 5 or 6 degree temp swings over a short time period is not a good thing. @DraggingTail what size heater/s are you using?

250 watt heater. But if I turn it up to 78 the MH will heat it up to 81. I already have a fan on it

 

[DraggingTail]

I agree, that temperature swing is less than ideal. Get a temperature controller, simple way to keep it nice and stable

That would be great. I have a similar controller on my beer I make. I turn the heater/cooler on max and put the probe in the water and let the controller turn power on or off. Do they make those for aquarium? Can you point me towards a solution?

 

[DraggingTail]

If that's the case then yes I agree with you. And this is more of a cooling problem than a heating problem. It's not that the heater isn't keeping it warm it's that the Halides are warming too much. With a halide the system will get even warmer if they get a larger heater to keep it warmer at night.

My question to the OP is are you running Halides with little ventilation or cooling?

I have a fan blowing across the water surface. Waiting on this and will have to run exhaust and mount it

Apollo Horticulture 6” Inch 440 CFM Inline Duct Fan with Built In Variable Speed Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019INGAF8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_A0QJBbDZRG36G

 

[sfin52]

I agree if you raise the temp at night than the temp during the day will become much hotter.

Agree with @eatbreakfast. 2 degrees is not that big of a deal. And that two degrees is over the whole day.