Outside Tank

[konatown]

Does anyone have a fish only tank outside? I have one with live rock and had a fish during the cool Florida winter months, with a heater keeping it at 78, it was perfect. I don’t have the fish anymore.

Now that summer is here, the tank will be 83-84 during the day. Is this too hot or too much of a swing for the fish?

I have red mushrooms that are multiplying like crazy in the natural light only. Not direct sunlight

 

[blaxsun]

Not unless I'm fitting the fish for snowshoes...

 

[Karen00]

Does anyone have a fish only tank outside? I have one with live rock and had a fish during the cool Florida winter months, with a heater keeping it at 78, it was perfect. I don’t have the fish anymore.

Now that summer is here, the tank will be 83-84 during the day. Is this too hot or too much of a swing for the fish?

I have red mushrooms that are multiplying like crazy in the natural light only. Not direct sunlight

What's the possible drop at night or will you keep a heater so it doesn't drop lower than 78? The concern is not only the temp swinging but the salinity change that goes with it. Fish can handle a drop in salinity well but if it goes up too quickly that's bad. If the temp changes quickly over the course of the day then the salinity swing will be bad. Also, is there the possibility the temp could go higher than 84? I think a fair number of fish are fine in the low 80's but 84 is probably getting to the upper limit in safety. Having said that I'm sure the fishy experts will chime in. My biggest caution is the possible swings in salinity.

 

[konatown]

What's the possible drop at night or will you keep a heater so it doesn't drop lower than 78? The concern is not only the temp swinging but the salinity change that goes with it. Fish can handle a drop in salinity well but if it goes up too quickly that's bad. If the temp changes quickly over the course of the day then the salinity swing will be bad. Also, is there the possibility the temp could go higher than 84? I think a fair number of fish are fine in the low 80's but 84 is probably getting to the upper limit in safety. Having said that I'm sure the fishy experts will chime in. My biggest caution is the possible swings in salinity.

I didn’t know that salinity changes with temp swings. I’ll check it during the day today and see.

The heater will stay in for the nights. And I’m not sure if it will get any hotter, but it is only June and we do have July and august in the Florida summer heat. The temp is already 90 out.

I guess my question is what’s the warmest reasonable temp a fish can be comfortable, and you are thinking 84.. that’s getting to be about where it’s at now. So I’ll keep an eye and see if it gets any warmer. Thanks!

 

[JumboShrimp]

My two 150 gallon FOWLR tanks in what we Floridian's call a "Florida Room" (as you know), run about 86-degree this time of year; however the temperature is very stable. That could not be said for an outdoor tank-- and today's outdoor heat index is going as high as 107. Hope this info helps.

 

[konatown]

My two 150 gallon FOWLR tanks in what we Floridian's call a "Florida Room" (as you know), run about 86-degree this time of year; however the temperature is very stable. That could not be said for an outdoor tank-- and today's outdoor heat index is going as high as 107. Hope this info helps.

Your tanks run 86? Or the room? Mine is not in an enclosed room, just a screened porch, but out of direct sunlight. I’m measuring 83-84. But wondering if it’ll get hotter in the coming months.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I just checked my two main FOWLR tanks, as today was very hot outdoors and the Florida Room has a metal roof. The tanks are each running at 86.7-degrees, with salinity at 1.020 and heavy aeration (via a skimmer, and returns and a gyre pointed at the water surface.) Although I am not a 'coral' guy, I have a 20-gallon IM AIO in with quite a few softies doing well at 84.5 degrees.

 

[konatown]

I just checked my two main FOWLR tanks, as today was very hot outdoors and the Florida Room has a metal roof. The tanks are each running at 86.7-degrees, with salinity at 1.020 and heavy aeration (via a skimmer, and returns and a gyre pointed at the water surface.) Although I am not a 'coral' guy, I have a 20-gallon IM AIO in with quite a few softies doing well at 84.5 degrees.

Nice! Thanks. Beautiful fish. I’ll keep an eye on my temps for the tank I have outside and see how warm it gets

 

[Chrisv.]

I just checked my two main FOWLR tanks, as today was very hot outdoors and the Florida Room has a metal roof. The tanks are each running at 86.7-degrees, with salinity at 1.020 and heavy aeration (via a skimmer, and returns and a gyre pointed at the water surface.) Although I am not a 'coral' guy, I have a 20-gallon IM AIO in with quite a few softies doing well at 84.5 degrees.

Neat!