Reef temperatures

[bang guy]

I'd like to start an information gathering thread about Normal Tropical Reef Temperatures.
Many of the older texts I've read listed average reef temperatures in the mid to upper 70's. After noticing conflicting readings in Kauai, Phillipines, and Carribean I dug a little deeper into the research.
I found (as have others) that most of these average reef temperatures came from the same oceanic temperature table that also listed Temperate reef temperatures.
It seems pretty obvious that if you're keeping Tropical marine animals the Temperate reef temperatures should be disregarded.
I believe if you have a successful reef tank using sub-80F temperature more power to you and don't change anything that works. All I saying is that Normal Tropical reef temperature where our animals come from are in the low to mid 80's. The exceptions are corals coming from Fiji or Florida but high 70's minimum even for these corals.

 

[beth]

Bang, this should be an interesting discussion to follow...even if I don't agree with all that you say when applying your premise generally to captive reef systems.
Anyway, I'm moving this thread over to the Reef Forum where it should get a larger reading.
Thanks for posting an interesting topic!

 

[lubeck]

I have kept my reef tank at 82-84 and things are fine. during the summer the temp did increase to almost 86 and i turned the heater down to 80; which the tank water dropped to 82 and then 2 fish got ick. i like the higher temps.

 

[tizzo]

Holy cow! Is this thread really 3 years old!!??!! :scared:
Guess the "discussion" has been rather slow.
Oh well...82 here...

 

[piscesblue]

My tank runs between 80 and 82 with the heater unplugged. It seems to vary with ambient house temps, not the lights. I'm surprised this was never discussed further and would be very interested in hearing about others who keep their reefs over 80 and if they have noticed any negative effects. My last tank stayed in the upper 70's with a heater running and the soft corals thrived. I have no real corals yet in my new reef, only a mushroom here and there and scattered star polyps in my LR.

 

[granny]

Mine sits on 80-81 all the time and everything has always been fine. The water feels so warm when I stick my hands in, but the fish are happy and as I have mentioned before, I have NEVER had a case of ick or any disease in many years of fishkeeping (knock on wood)

 

[aveda6]

Not sure if this is still a valid thread due to the age, but it is very interesting. I was having major issues with temperature all summer long despite air conditioning in the house. My tank was routinely reaching high 80's and low 90's. I broke down and bought a chiller and now it stays at exactly 80.2 (that's where it seems to have settled out). I had lost some fish/coral over the summer and now everything seems to be doing much better.
What I've noticed is that even as the outside temps have cooled, the chiller still needs to run. With the lights, the powerheads and everything else running, the temps will still get too high without the chiller. Obviously my heater never turns on, except when the lights are off late at night.
With the new chiller, I also greatly increased the flow of water in the tank (to keep cold spots from happening). With the stable temp and the increased flow, the red diatom algae has finally disappeared.
Jim

 

[piscesblue]

Yes, I have a red slime invasion at this moment, but this tank is just on it's 6th week and was started with tap water, so I don't completely blame the heat, yet.
Bang Guy, have you noticed temps on the reefs rising in the past 3yrs with all the global warming hoopla taking place? I remember hearing about how raisng ocean temps were wiping out large chunks of reefs, but who do you believe, the leftwing media or the rightwing nuts? I assume you are a diver or actively travel to tropical locations on occasion. Have you noticed die off in the wild?

 

[fishfatty]

i keep mine anywhere from 78-82

 

[squishy]

80 to 82 before the fans kick in

 

[hot883]

Mine stays a constant 78* with no heater.

 

[adamc1303]

My tank stays anywhere between 79-84 even though it sounds like a huge swing, I have never had problems because the increase or decrease is always gradual. If I go away for a weekend and the AC is of for 3 days than when I retuen the tank can be at 84 but I havent had any problems yet! Thanks GOD! And if I am home the entire weekend and don't go out much than the AC can be on 24/7 so the tank can even go down to 76 but since it is happening slowly than the fish and corals are ok. I find that my corals seem to open up more in higher temperatures.

 

[poniegirl]

80 to 82 and as high as 86 in the summer. Never diseased.
I don't mess with the heater control. If it ain't broke, don't fix it mentality. The tank is thriving.
It is an interesting thread because we do all wonder if our tanks get too warm, especially in the summer months.

 

[stsweene]

I keep my reef at 81-83, all is great!

 

[madman33]

mine is about 84-86 in the summer...currently making a DIY chiller to try and cool it down acouple of degrees but i doubt it is doing to wrok....somehow pvc pipe doesnt seem like a great heat exchanger but im giving it a try anyways...

 

[hatessushi]

I keep mine at 78.5, it is computer controled and that's what I set it at. If it gets to 78.4 the heater kicks on and never gets higher the 78.5 but if it did the chiller would kick on. I live in Tucson, it's hot here but our AC has been very efficient so I haven't really had a good test of the chiller. The computer indicates it has never had to kick on.
I am actually thinking of lowering the temp to 75. Of all of the websites I have seen when looking at te requirements for individual species of fish or coral the temp range shows as 72 - 78 yet no one seems to keep their tanks that low.

 

[stanlalee]

wow lets wait another 3yrs and start the discussion again

I keep mine at 80deg since I'm here.

 

[piscesblue]

Originally Posted by Stanlalee
wow lets wait another 3yrs and start the discussion again

I keep mine at 80deg since I'm here.
Well, I can't be accused of not doing my research prior to posting.

 

[hatessushi]

So I take it not much has changed on this subject in 3 years,

 

[zanoshanox]

wow this thing is old....but my tank is usually about 879-83.. everything does great