What temp do you keep your tank?
- Thread starter Rob's Reef
- Start date
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Harold Green
Well-Known Member
Have you tried lining the out side of the tank with Styrofoam to insulate the glass on the garage side. If you have a sump you can always place some ice in a sealed bag and allow it to slowly melt cooling the tank. I've heard of people filling an ice chest with ice and pumping tank water or air through a coil in the chest. Personally if you have a chiller I'd try to place it in a cooler area so it can run more efficiently. If it's in the hot garage it's harder for it to get rid of excess heat so it runs longer.
jasonandsarah
Sticks, sticks and more STICKS
Imo it's completely up to your tank and personal preference. I do believe if you keep your tank within 1° temp ALL the time its more susceptible to problems if something does happen and you get a large temp change.
Tapio
Active Member
Seasonal variations between 76-85, sometimes daily variations of 5 degrees, no problem. Even in nature sudden upwelling of cold water causes great swings in fringing reefs. Very evident while snorkling.
Oceansize
Active Member
I'm in Costa Mesa, 405 & 55. No AC or chiller. The last heat wave got my water to almost 86 (85.8) before I was able to get some frozen water bottles in there and drop it by 4 degrees. It was between 83 and 85 for four days, normally it's around 78. I didn't want to use a fan because my evaporation rate is already high enough. I lost a tang very quickly (went from fine to dead in less than 24 hours) and assumed it was the heat, but afterwards I ran a full check of all parameters and was surprised to see my pH had dropped significantly and quickly. My alk had been a little on the low side but I didn't think it was THAT low. My pH did return to normal after an emergency dose of alk, so maybe the tang died due to low alk/pH instead of high heat.
hig789
Active Member
I agree with this. If I had a way of controlled swinging my temps I would. I put a skimmer in mine and mine has risen to about 80*
dan987
Community Member
When I set up my tank I had a bad thermometer. Apparently it was about 85 degrees for about 5 months. Strangely enough, everything was ok. (fish, corals, inverts) I nearly had a heart attack when I found out.
now that I have 3 thermometers for redundancy, I keep it between 72 and 80.
I strongly recommend at least two digital thermometers.
now that I have 3 thermometers for redundancy, I keep it between 72 and 80.
I strongly recommend at least two digital thermometers.
Tapio
Active Member
Also hearing some people here running into problems with higher temps. This is probably due to:
1. Less than adequate water movement to keep the water well aerated for oxygenation.
2. Too low or variable alkalinity, therefore causing pH up and down variation.
My tanks have reached 88 but I have not had a SPS or fish show stress or die. However that was when I was using an ETSS giant skimmer in the ol days that certainly processed a lot of air thought the water. I would not recommend the extremes, just pointing out that the temp is not necessarily what is causing the problems itself at least sometimes.
Modern skimmers use less air comparatively.
1. Less than adequate water movement to keep the water well aerated for oxygenation.
2. Too low or variable alkalinity, therefore causing pH up and down variation.
My tanks have reached 88 but I have not had a SPS or fish show stress or die. However that was when I was using an ETSS giant skimmer in the ol days that certainly processed a lot of air thought the water. I would not recommend the extremes, just pointing out that the temp is not necessarily what is causing the problems itself at least sometimes.
Modern skimmers use less air comparatively.
