Non-heated aquariums

[Corey Shelk]

I think your issue will be consistency. Having an optimisticly 6-10* temp swing over an hour or two in the mornings and evenings could add a lot of stress to you livestock much more then that and things could start a downward spiral. Stability is key.

I understand how temp stability is an issue but it will not be swinging like that. My apartment is air conditioned and maintained at a constant temperature

 

[DeniseAndy]

I rarely run a heater in my 6g. In the winter time, I throw one in the HOB filter, not sure how much it turns on. It sits at room temp in my basement so pretty consistent year round.

It really depends on the fluctuations of the room, the parts running, etc. Just watch it for a few weeks and see the temp changes via thermometer and gauge from there. I can tell you, they make really small heaters that work great in HOBs. My little guy fits in with no issues.

That being said, I run my 210g at 76 in the winter and corals are very happy as well as fish. Hawaii temps are around 75 degrees and they have happy corals and fish. Depends on types of corals and animals you want. Catalina gobies prefer much cooler temps.

The biggest issue is temp swings. As long as the temp does not swing more than a couple degrees per 24 hours, you should be good. Unless of course it keeps going up or down to critical point.

 

[Corey Shelk]

Something else not mentioned here is residual heat from your equipment. I have a 10 gallon cube AIO in my office with a single piece of tonga, an RBTA, and a pair of clowns. I have a heater in the back of it, but ask me how many times a day it turns on? That's right 0 times, big ole goose egg. Your return pump, skimmer pump, and lights will all produce heat that will in turn, warm the water. I keep my house at around 74 degrees during the day and my heater never has to turn on to keep the tank at 78 degrees.
FWIW, i think you can achieve what you are wanting to do, but you should have some type of backup plan to heat the tank in the event that your house temps drop below the threshold of what your tank can handle with no heater.

Yeah that’s why I don’t know exactly what my temperature will be. So I won’t have it figured out till the tank is running but I’m assuming it’ll be a degree or two warmer than my room

 

[Corey Shelk]

Thanks for the responses everyone! In hindsight, I should have been a little more transparent about my plans. While the tank will not be heated, the room it’s in will be kept at a constant temperature so temperature swings should be absolutely minimal. I know swings are stressful and bad, I was just asking about constant temperatures that are lower than 78, not the impact of swinging temperatures

 

[Sump Crab]

My room temperature won’t change in winter be summer. It’s air conditioned

Ah I see. I keep my home around 73 during the summer and around 65 or less during the winter. I love the energy bill savings during the winter.

 

[e3pillereefer]

I have two AI1s and neither came with a heater so...

 

[ZoWhat]

I don’t run a heater since I live in Florida l, mouse is at 73/74 degrees and my tank runs about 78-79. I do run t5 retro’s so that heats the tank.

I'd get your mouse checked by a vet. It shouldn't have a temp of 73/74

 

[JCM]

My tank is normally around 74-75, everything is growing well. My previous little tank ran without a heater, it stayed around 72-75, again everything did well.

 

[MabuyaQ]

This is not a problem at all if the temperatures you mention are garanteed year round. There are plenty of locations where corals and fish experience these kind of temperatures, especially if you are willing to look for the right species for your setup.

People seem to forget not know that the temperatures we keep our reefs at are surfacewater temperatures yet non of us have any problem putting species our tanks from much deeper waters where temperatures can/will be much different.

 

[Corey Shelk]

Ah I see. I keep my home around 73 during the summer and around 65 or less during the winter. I love the energy bill savings during the winter.

Oh yeah mine is maintained constant

 

[fish farmer]

It’s a 6 gallon, I could fit it. I just don’t want to if it isn’t necessary

Do you have the tank/equipment yet?

If so set it up with FW and run it to see what temps you will actually have....collect the data and make your decision.

If not get a bucket of water set up maybe with a pump or light....collect the data. I say this because it would be interesting to know how much the 6 gallons of water would hold temp with lights off at night.

There's a guy around here who has a reef jar running for a long time, I don't think he has a heater and lives in Texas, goes by the name of Brandon Mason.

Good luck

 

[jdiefenbaugh]

I have maintained soft corals in cooler tanks for Sygnathids, and seen them do well for years, at 73-74.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Is this just for small/fishless or damsel-only tanks that you guys keep at 72-74 degrees?

I can't imagine doing that to most of my fish, especially tangs.

 

[Corey Shelk]

Do you have the tank/equipment yet?

If so set it up with FW and run it to see what temps you will actually have....collect the data and make your decision.

If not get a bucket of water set up maybe with a pump or light....collect the data. I say this because it would be interesting to know how much the 6 gallons of water would hold temp with lights off at night.

There's a guy around here who has a reef jar running for a long time, I don't think he has a heater and lives in Texas, goes by the name of Brandon Mason.

Good luck

Yeah I don’t have it set up yet, just planning. And yeah this was my plan! Thank you I probably should’ve mentioned that too

 

[Corey Shelk]

Is this just for small/fishless or damsel-only tanks that you guys keep at 72-74 degrees?

I can't imagine doing that to most of my fish, especially tangs.

In this case, yes it’ll be with small/fish less tanks. But also live aquaria has tangs listed at a range of 72-78. But for the larger tanks tangs need, I don’t see why there wouldn’t be space for a heater. Like how I’m not adding specifically to give it that extra space since real estate is already limited

 

[jaganshi066]

One of the major pillars of SW reefkeeping knowledge is to keep a tank right at 78° +/- 1° for stability.

So idk bruh. I'd figure smthg out

I have corals and fish and this spring/summer my temperature keeps fluctuating and thankfully my fish and coral are still thriving. I don’t keep a heater plugged in right now due to the excessive heat but I normally do. One day after work I saw the temperature go to 84/85 0.0

 

[jaganshi066]

There are no heaters in the ocean or chillers and the OP isn't keeping acropora. I turn my heater off in the summer as well because its a waste of electricity, my room temp is always in the mid 70s and its another piece of gear that can screw up and wipe out my tank so I keep it off as much as possible. My tank runs between 74- to low 80s daily sometimes. Doesnt bother a thing and I have more growth than I can deal with. Pic to prove it.

Water temp changes with depth, tides, upwellings, storm fronts, etc.

Seriously. ...if the ocean doesn't change temp why do we only get hurricanes a certain time of year? Good grief....

Mine too, I saw mine at 85 last week after work but now stays around 79

 

[JCM]

Is this just for small/fishless or damsel-only tanks that you guys keep at 72-74 degrees?

I can't imagine doing that to most of my fish, especially tangs.

My current tank has SPS, LPS, tangs, anthias, wrasses, etc. Sits at 74-75 degrees.

What do you mean by "I can't imagine doing that to most of my fish"? What do you think its doing?

 

[tehmadreefer]

I'd get your mouse checked by a vet. It shouldn't have a temp of 73/74

 

[BZOFIQ]

My current tank has SPS, LPS, tangs, anthias, wrasses, etc. Sits at 74-75 degrees.

What do you mean by "I can't imagine doing that to most of my fish"? What do you think its doing?

My powder brown broke out when it hit 76 this winter. Fixed the apex programming mistake made and it bounced back by the following day.