water temp. corals

[deejeff442]

where do you guys keep your water temp. in your reef.i noticed when my tank is at 78 my torch corals shrink.when its at 74-75 they blow up.
it doesnt seem to affect any other corals though.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/3234881
where do you guys keep your water temp. in your reef.i noticed when my tank is at 78 my torch corals shrink.when its at 74-75 they blow up.
it doesnt seem to affect any other corals though.

It all depends on the coral, I had a pagoda cup die while all other coral was happy, if I dropped the temp the pagoda was happy but everything else looked like death. I let the pagoda cup either adjust or die, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.
It comes down to homework. Look for all the info you can find on a coral before adding it to your tank, it will save you lots of money.
74 is way too low for a reef, between 78 to 84 is best.

 

[meowzer]

I keep mine 78-80...(summer sometimes it gets to 82)

 

[daftboy]

I also have mine at 80 it doesn't change to much.

 

[garick]

How about temp swings? say from 76 to 78 and back down? that hurt things much?

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Garick
http:///forum/post/3234930
How about temp swings? say from 76 to 78 and back down? that hurt things much?
IMO...Not if it is over time
for example...when I get up in the a.m....tank may be at 78...lights come on...by dinner time tank is 80
so the temp swing is very gradual

 

[deejeff442]

that's where i usually keep it around 78-80.but we are moving and we shut off the heater down stairs where the tanks are and the temp went to 74-75 and the corals look happier.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/3235006
that's where i usually keep it around 78-80.but we are moving and we shut off the heater down stairs where the tanks are and the temp went to 74-75 and the corals look happier.

There are times when a coral is hungry or stressed they fan out just before retreating , they send out poison darts at this stage to eliminate any opposition. Sometimes sudden stresses in water can make them withdraw right away. So being all fanned out does not always mean they are happy.

 

[geoj]

Ok you guys and gals what are you keeping at what temp…

I killed a moni cap at 82F one year

so now the tank is kept at 80 or bellow

 

[jackri]

I keep mine 78-80 but has reached 82 with no problems before.

 

[aquaknight]

I know plently of Bandit angel owners and other high dollar angelfish owners who have them in full reef systems, where the temp never climbs over 74°F.
The temp itself isn't an issue. A quick change in temp will affect things. In preparation for a pair of Multicolor angels, my 90gal reef is currently 72°F.
I've said this before and I'll say it again, the temperature of your tank should depend on the fish you keep, not the corals.

 

[jstdv8]

poison darts? Ninja corals? how much for a small colony of those?

 

[reefkprz]

I run my mixed reef at 80-82 degrees. sps lps and softies.

 

[nycbob]

i keep mine at 76-78.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Jstdv8
http:///forum/post/3235283
poison darts? Ninja corals? how much for a small colony of those?

Corals have poison they give off to kill any opposition, running carbon keeps it down. My book calls it poison darts so I used the same language.
I keep my tank at 82/84 because my Hippo tang is happiest at that temp. Even new fish seem to adapt quickly and are very happy at this temp.
The only coral that seems to really need a lower temp was the pagoda cup. Everything else is quite healthy. I have over 15 different types of coral, a few I have had for many years. I gave most away when I got divorced two years ago, and have been rebuilding my reef for the last little over a year.

 

[deejeff442]

hey flower just curious what book are you reading?
when corals send out defensive slime it is easily seen.my are not they are just blown up to receive maximum light and nutrients from the water.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Jstdv8
http:///forum/post/3235283
poison darts? Ninja corals? how much for a small colony of those?
google nematocyst this is the "dart" that flower is speaking of many corals and jellies use them as a defensive and offensice weapon as well as for capturing prey.

 

[kiefers]

okay well darts or slime or what not, no-one has metioned if this defense is harmful to humans?? (learning)

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by Kiefers
http:///forum/post/3238830
okay well darts or slime or what not, no-one has metioned if this defense is harmful to humans?? (learning)

Generally no, they usually can't penetrate the thicker parts of your skin on your hands. I know if my frogspawn brushes on the inside of my forearm, I get a few bumps.
Of course there are a few "perfect storm stories." There was an open cut on your hand and the coral got a ton in there. Your allergic to the venom, you were playing with a bunch of zoas and immediately stuck your fingers in your eye, etc...

 

[luvmyreef]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3235432
i keep mine at 76-78.