Temperature fluacations

[sps4mytank]

Currently, I live in Sunny Californa. Never really experienced a "cold" weather storm so my tanks were always in ideal temperatures. Lately its been getting cold and keeping the tank at a decent temperature is a goal of mine. I know that temperature flucuations are normal at nites but i want to keep my temperature consistent at 77 degrees. Right now I have a flucuation of roughly 76-78 which is okay but I want to keep my corals comfortable. I only have one 300 watt heater controlled by my apex, but what i want is


Any east coasters (or any one in general cold area) for any suggestions and tips how to keep my tank temperature consistent and reliable brands of heaters

Thanks
jay

 

[benny z]

i just use standard glass visitherm 300w heaters controlled via reefkeeper.

imo keeping a bit of a swing (~3 deg) keeps the corals used to a bit of a swing. this way if you ever have an emergency and the tank does swing a bit more it's not such a shock. if they are used to a constant 77*, a few degrees swing could be trouble.

also, temps on the reefs do shift some with the seasons...

 

[Joezreef]

mine gets down to 78 at night and 81-82 during the day!

 

[Ike]

Why keep it consistent, it's certainly not in nature? As for realiable heaters brands, you're going to find bad stories about just about every brand. As a whole I'd say the marineland heaters are as reliable as any and are a good price.

 

[roscoe]

I'm in washington state and it gets cold here. I use titanium heaters. In the summer time I only have to run 1 300w heater on my 330g system. In the past few months with the colder weather I had to add another 300w heater just to keep the temp from falling to low at night. The last couple weeks has been really cold. Like today it was 27 degrees when I got up at 5am. I had to add another 300w heater to keep the tank temp at 78 degrees in the day time and so the temp don't fall too low at night. So now I have 3 300w heaters to keep the temp at 78. I have my filtration in my garage and it gets COLD in there. I probally would'nt have to add those heaters if the whole system was in the house.

 

[Angels 2010]

I agree with a bit of fluctuation being ok. 3 degrees like you are getting is nothing. I control mine through my RKL and it is from 79.3-80.7. I don't know anything about the Apex, but it seems you should be able to keep it very consistent with a controller.

As far as heaters go, I agree that you will hear good and bad about all brands. I personally have always used ebo-jager 250w and been happy. I have had my heaters for 8 years w/o an issue.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

IME Marinland Stealth heaters are the best around, plus they have a lifetime warranty. Whatever heater you choose should be connected to some kind of controller.

Why keep it consistent, it's certainly not in nature?

Yes it is. Granted there are fluctuations from season to season, but that happens very gradually over months at a time. Changing temperature of millions upon millions of gallons does not happen fast as it (potentially) can in our aquariums. Corals in nature will generally only experience a maximum change of ~2 degrees F throughout a day.

 

[sps4mytank]

what is your temp at nite regularly? like my tank right now is roughly 76.7 degrees

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

what is your temp at nite regularly? like my tank right now is roughly 76.7 degrees

Don't know if you're asking me directly, but I run my tanks much, much cooler than most. My current deepwater tank runs 68-70 F consistantly. regardless it's no more than a 2 degree swing within 24 hours.

As mentioned above however, if you normally swing more than that, don't be too worried about as the corals can adapt. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it though.

 

[jam3s]

My tank has quite a bit of fluctuation as well. The heater that I added a few months ago is not doing much. 76-79 and could get to 80 sometimes if I don't turn a fan on after the lights are on. My corals seem to be doing well though, although I wonder if they'll be even more colorful if I can just keep my tem at a constant number.

 

[sps4mytank]

ideally i would only want a 1 degree drop, but i am debating if i want to add another heater to the mix

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

but i am debating if i want to add another heater to the mix

I always run multiple (barely) undersized heaters for two reasons:

1.) If one fails and shuts off, the other can hold up slack.

2.) I undersize them as if one fails and stays on, it has a harder time cooking your tank.

Regardless, connect them to an external controller.

 

[Angels 2010]

totally agree with hooking to a controller, because then it doesn't matter the reliability of the heater, just that it is strong enough to keep the temp up.

 

[Harry_Y]

I always run multiple (barely) undersized heaters for two reasons:

1.) If one fails and shuts off, the other can hold up slack.

2.) I undersize them as if one fails and stays on, it has a harder time cooking your tank.

Regardless, connect them to an external controller.

Thia is how I also do it, with a controller

I run Five 200w heaters on my system of about 250 gallons




.

 

[DFason]

I'm over in NC and we have had some cooler weather than normal. I keep my swing around 2-3 and the corals are all fine. I like to keep my tank cooler also. 72-75

-Dave

 

[sps4mytank]

I like the idea of 2 heaters...fail safe. only problem is that it would take up another outlet on my apex, hahaha

 

[Keiki]

What about when there are upwellings of cooler water? That drops the temps rather quickly. My tank fluctuates about 3-4 degrees sometimes and my corals are fine.

 

[Joezreef]

I have a 75 gallon at work have had it for over a year...never used a heater at all but have 2 250 watt mh..just bought a wireless thermometer....it reads 75.5 when I get to work and 83.5 when I leave...needless to say it now has a heater...I just hope it don't get to hot...Id rather not have a chiller...I may have to cut the lights out for a few hrs during lunch!