Reef Tank Temps

[surferboy]

There are quite a few opinions out there on what the ideal temp is for a reef tank. Post the temp that you keep your tanks at. I aim for 76-78 degrees in my 180g tank.

 

[justinx]

Personally, I shoot for 80 +/- a degree. This is the average water temp surrounding the worlds coral reefs. (from what I have read anyway)

 

[shep]

My air broke this spring and my tank got up to 86. On the way back down I noticed it was slowly declining so I done some testing. I slowly raised temp from 75 up to 84 corals and polyps seen a great change at the warmer temp. I did notice better opening at about 83 so I backed down to there. IMO I would play with it and see what the tank likes. Don't get radical and go way high. But slowly adjust. Also keep in mind that it takes the rock and sand bed about 6-8 hours to adjust temp. This will allow the rest of the tank to go to higher than you wanted if your not careful. I have a friend that uses a rock in the sump from the freezer as a chiller incase his air breaks. It's 25 lb figi and will maintin temp for a while in tank. I just keep a few 20oz dew bottles frozen now.

 

[bang guy]

My current guestimate is 82F +/- 1F

 

[jlem]

In my tank. When the temp raises to about 80-82 in the summer, stuff will open up really big for a week or so and then slightly less for the rest of the summer. Then in the fall when the temp drops to about 77-78, things will open up really big once again and then after a week or so and then slightly less until the summer again. So if you notice I always post pictures around spring and fall time

 

[nick17]

A nice 81-83 constantly here.. Since I'm in FL.. it does get passed 83 on really hot days.
-Nick

 

[harrysreef]

my currently runs at 80 / 81

 

[reefnut]

80-82...

 

[sebae0]

summer 80-82 winter it runs 78-80

 

[bacardibombillo]

I run it like sabae0!

 

[jjetjock]

I keep mine at 76* year round with the chiller.

 

[jugger]

77-79

 

[tired_boy_mike]

76-78 degree ...2 degree diff on the chiller..
tanks seems much happier that way.

 

[sammystingray]

81-83......yes, on purpose.

 

[surferboy]

Thanks for all your imputs. My 180g was getting up to a scary 85-86 in all the heat we have been having on the east coast and I finally bought an inline chiller this week which has been hooked up for the past two days. I have my neptune controller maintaining it between 80-81. Things seem a lot happier. Was planning on slowly getting the tank down to 78 which seems to be a popular temp with what I have been hearing lately.

 

[mlm]

I keep mine at 81 and my chiller comes on at 82.

 

[leigh]

80. my air conditioning comes on at 76 so no problems with going over that yet--in our last power outage tank got up to 81-2--so i guess my house is fairly temp efficient...the perks to having a really *small* house

 

[xxchris060]

80-82