What temp and salinity do you keep in your reef tank?

2una · Nov 20, 2017

Trialing a bit warmer with nothing bad to report

35-36ppt - 27-28C/81-82F

An interesting read:
http://www.ronshimek.com/salinity_temperature.html

vertigo01 · Nov 20, 2017

78° & 1.026

Swoody · Nov 20, 2017

77*- 1.025

ReeferMaddness843 · Nov 20, 2017

78-79 and 1.026

AntarcticIkeelu · Nov 20, 2017

78-79 and 1.026

wattson · Nov 20, 2017

taggin

Daltrey · Nov 20, 2017

35 PPT and 78 Degrees

azbigjohn · Nov 20, 2017

1.026 salinity,a nd between 78-80 on temps.

The larger window is because I live in Arizona, and do not use a chiller. I am able to keep the tank under 80 using evaporative cooling (fans directed at the water surface) but allowing it to swing seems to help everyone be tolerant of those few days where it is so hot 80 might be a stretch...

MTBake · Nov 20, 2017

36ppt and 78*F

Donovan Joannes · Nov 20, 2017

1.026 / 80*F - 87*F

Branespikin · Nov 20, 2017

33 ppt/ 79 Degrees

Flippers4pups · Nov 20, 2017

35ppt, 77-79°

Tristren · Nov 20, 2017

Ok, so if Ron Shimek says that the optimal temperature for corals in the ocean is 83-86, and @Randy Holmes-Farley recommends 80-81 as an optimal target that's has some safety benefits... Why are we all keeping our tanks below that in the high 70's?

@Lasse, what is your target temperature?

BigJohnny · Nov 20, 2017

Tristren said:
Ok, so if Ron Shimek says that the optimal temperature for corals in the ocean is 83-86, and @Randy Holmes-Farley recommends 80-81 as an optimal target that's has some safety benefits... Why are we all keeping our tanks below that in the high 70's?

@Lasse, what is your target temperature?

Both smart guys but just like anything in this hobby there are many ways to achieve sucess. I believe it's because 78-80 is basically the middle of the road for acceptable temperatures for a common reef tank. There also many advantages to lower temp in a reef tank like slower metabolism of organisms which therefore require less food and produce less waste, less evaporation, lower energy costs for heating since it's close to temp we live in, less algae (I think), etc.