Temp questions

[chrisnif]

So I was talking to someone at my LFS today (I have a good one

). Anyway I was told my temp swings too much and I need to work on that.
So advise me masters of the water box, what is the right temp to have the heater set to, and how many degrees is it okay to swing (lighting swings it up in my case).
My heater is at 78, runs all night because its probably a hair on the small side (200W in 56 gallons, probably actually have 55 gallons total with sump of actual water). The water creeps, and I mean CREEPS towards 80 and the only time I saw it go higher was when the fireplace was going ALL day one day, it got to 81ish.
I'm not digital yet, i'm using a glass thermometer in the tank suction cupped half way up half way down the wall in an area of high overall flow, so im fairly sure its accurate, not like a sticker one

 

[king_neptune]

2 degree swing is fine.
i personally keep mine set at 79 and it moves between 78-80.
Add more heaters if your concerned. a 150-200W heater for a tank your size will help stabilize a little more efficiently.

 

[flower]

2-4 degrees won't hurt a thing. I keep my tank at 82/84...I have warm needy critters. In summer it has gone to 86. I noticed most folks on the site keep the tank at 78/80.
Constant SG is far more important. JMO

 

[bang guy]

Your temperature swing is fine. If you want to lessen the swing then set your heater at 80F.
You really should get another heater. They fail more often than you would think and it would be bad if you woke up to a tank temp in the 60's.