Tank temperature. Am I too cool ;)

[DrufusReef]

I live in Southern Florida so cold weather is never an issue. I've ran tanks in the past where the biggest issue was I couldn't keep tanks cool enough, but I'm starting to run into the opposite issue. My new tank is in the initial cycling process. When I added water it was stable at around 73.4 - 73.6 F. However I left my lights off and the temp settled to 72.00 which is low since I've been keeping my house at 75 (the gap is because my thermostat is upstairs and the tank is downstairs). I turned the lights back on today for a few hours and got it back to 72.3. I'm pretty sure I can keep it stable at around 73 - 74 degrees once I turn the skimmer on. I've seen specs that a good temp is 72 - 78 degrees, but others say the perfect temp is 75 - 80. Is my cool temps going to become an issue?

 

[F i s h y]

I run my tank at 77 to 80...

 

[DrufusReef]

I run my tank at 77 to 80...

Have you ran your tank lower and had issues?

 

[F i s h y]

Tropical waters dont typically get less than 75 degrees i dont think. Im sure you can keep fish and coral at temps considered above and below optimal, but my understanding is that they are more susceptible to disease, have shorter lifespans, and do not thrive. Heaters are cheap... most of us have the opposite problem, need to keep our tanks cooler. When i get to 81.5 or 82 i start to get very nervous.

 

[lazycouch]

I live in Southern Florida so cold weather is never an issue. I've ran tanks in the past where the biggest issue was I couldn't keep tanks cool enough, but I'm starting to run into the opposite issue. My new tank is in the initial cycling process. When I added water it was stable at around 73.4 - 73.6 F. However I left my lights off and the temp settled to 72.00 which is low since I've been keeping my house at 75 (the gap is because my thermostat is upstairs and the tank is downstairs). I turned the lights back on today for a few hours and got it back to 72.3. I'm pretty sure I can keep it stable at around 73 - 74 degrees once I turn the skimmer on. I've seen specs that a good temp is 72 - 78 degrees, but others say the perfect temp is 75 - 80. Is my cool temps going to become an issue?

any reason why you dont want to use a heater? also when cycling a tank you should try to maintain 80-82 degrees F, this is the sweetspot for bacterial reproduction and will speed up the process! i'd be one to say 77-81 degrees F is best but ultimately depends on your future stock.

 

[DSEKULA]

Higher temps will generally speed up biological processes while lower will slow them down. I've never run my tank at 72 but believe it is generally ok for most stock but everything will happen slower.

 

[vanpire]

I have been running my tank at 79.0-79.5. I am experimenting to 79.5 - 80.0 to see if my corals are better or worse or no change. I measure better or worse by color observations and alk usage for SPS and colors and growth rate by polyps for Zoas.

 

[DrufusReef]

Tropical waters dont typically get less than 75 degrees i dont think. Im sure you can keep fish and coral at temps considered above and below optimal, but my understanding is that they are more susceptible to disease, have shorter lifespans, and do not thrive. Heaters are cheap... most of us have the opposite problem, need to keep our tanks cooler. When i get to 81.5 or 82 i start to get very nervous.

Here in Florida our Reefs are usually around 73 - 78 degrees you only see 80 degree temps at the surface, but I know we get our coral and fish from all over the world.

any reason why you dont want to use a heater? also when cycling a tank you should try to maintain 80-82 degrees F, this is the sweetspot for bacterial reproduction and will speed up the process! i'd be one to say 77-81 degrees F is best but ultimately depends on your future stock.

Yes. My understanding is that heaters are the biggest fail point of equipment. I have never used one in the past living in Florida, but I am in a new home that has really good insulation so my home temp is cooler than ever. lol

 

[Nick Steele]

I would want a heater just on the off chance that during those few cold days we get you open windows and let that beautiful air in the tank won’t drop much lower.

I run my reef at 77.8-79 with a heater and one of my freshwater tanks at 74-78 without a heater (drop in winter due to being next to sliding glass doors) I don’t see a big change in plant growth so I just leave heater out of the tank.

I just wouldn’t trust a reef to have those varying temps on those few cold days we have (although I’m sure I’d be fine)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I wouldnt go less than 75 as dormancy may occur in metabolism of fish.

 

[scabbedwings616]

I would worry unless it gets above 82 degrees. I have my apex set to 82 degrees and things start to shut off at this point. Lights mainly. I have a chiller on the tank But living in New England, one da6 it’ll be cold as hell, the next it will be 100 degrees out And humid.

 

[hds4216]

Yes. My understanding is that heaters are the biggest fail point of equipment.

You could get an inexpensive temperature controller as a failsafe option, I use the InkBird model and it works well.

 

[scabbedwings616]

You could get an inexpensive temperature controller as a failsafe option, I use the InkBird model and it works well.

Spend a little more and get the brs one. It has a better warranty on it. if you don’t have an apex I would do the brs one.

 

[Pistondog]

Here in Florida our Reefs are usually around 73 - 78 degrees you only see 80 degree temps at the surface, but I know we get our coral and fish from all over the world.

Yes. My understanding is that heaters are the biggest fail point of equipment. I have never used one in the past living in Florida, but I am in a new home that has really good insulation so my home temp is cooler than ever. lol

No heater failures, but we run 2 bimetallic eheim heater turned on by apex, staggered temps.
Ran at 80 for higher coral metabolism. Reduced to 77 for recent scoly, as that is their preference. Temp is livestock dependant. Higher, generally also produces more bacteria, might not be a problem.
Summer temps can be higher, up to 83 with no chiller.

 

[Crashnt24]

I live in Southern Florida so cold weather is never an issue. I've ran tanks in the past where the biggest issue was I couldn't keep tanks cool enough, but I'm starting to run into the opposite issue. My new tank is in the initial cycling process. When I added water it was stable at around 73.4 - 73.6 F. However I left my lights off and the temp settled to 72.00 which is low since I've been keeping my house at 75 (the gap is because my thermostat is upstairs and the tank is downstairs). I turned the lights back on today for a few hours and got it back to 72.3. I'm pretty sure I can keep it stable at around 73 - 74 degrees once I turn the skimmer on. I've seen specs that a good temp is 72 - 78 degrees, but others say the perfect temp is 75 - 80. Is my cool temps going to become an issue?

76-77 is my magic number. I have some fish and coral that like cooler water so I found this temp works best for me. Never tried anything cooler... up to you, and if your fish/coral don't mind the lower temps. If your livestock looks sluggish, get a heater and shoot for a minimum of 76.

 

[Gernader]

@DrufusReef I live in Florida and I always use a heater to run my tank at 80 degrees. I used to run it at 78, but now I‘m starting to see more color on my SPS and increased growth for other corals! Even my fish became more active than ever

 

[Ocelaris]

I think 72 may be a little low, but that just means you have headroom for a UV or more lights! But I don't think it's a dangerous either, just on the low side. Yeah, Scoly, Acanthophyllia, Indophyllia, I aim for 76 with the chiller even with full SPS. At around 4:30 he talks about temps.

 

[espinobj]

I do my best to hover around 78. My current tank and past tank it seems to be a sweet spot. I can go a little lower say my heaters fail, or a bit higher if my AC fails. Fish and coral both seem to do well.

 

[Peppe]

in the summer my tub stays cool. I keep the temperature at 25 °F thanks to my teko tk500.

 

[homer1475]

in the summer my tub stays cool. I keep the temperature at 25 °F thanks to my teko tk500.

Lol pretty sure thats just a typo, but at 25F your fish tank would be a solid block of ice.