Reef temp. How high is too high?

r2d2 · 06-03-2009, 04:40 PM

Ive just read an article with thiss title and basucally it says that with corals colected from indo pacific and caribean 85F to 89F seems to be a good water temp for a reef tank.
What do you think?
I have a 75 gal with 15 gal sump and my chillers set point is at 81F. Im very worried about electricity bill and rising that set point its really a temptation.

Again, what do you think?
Greetings

ReefLady · 06-03-2009, 04:43 PM

85f-89f is *way* too high and I think it would contribute to coral bleaching and demise.

79f-81f is where you want to be.

michael_cb_125 · 06-03-2009, 04:45 PM

Reef Tanks = High Electrical Bill*

~Michael

BigAl07 · 06-03-2009, 04:46 PM

Ditto to Teri!

I like the 78 - 79 range for several reasons.

A) Gives me a "buffer" from high temps
B) Seems to help control nuisance algae growth
C) Fish seem more mild and calm. Higher temps and my fish start to get "Spastic" and swim erratically.

r2d2 · 06-03-2009, 04:48 PM

Thats exactly what I thought but these article talks about that is a missconception of coral needs.
I was so different from what Ive heard that came and post this thread.
Here is a link to article
Reef Tank Temperatures - How High is Too High?

Greetings

DrHank · 06-03-2009, 08:35 PM

In the sea, if the temp is too high, the fish can move. In your tank, they are stuck.

smkndrgn142 · 06-03-2009, 11:49 PM

some thing to consider here is the fact that the caribbean sea is usually 80-85 degrees depending on the time of year. While 89 is definitely high, 79 is probably on the low side, that is when talking about their natural habitat. While they can't handle a sudden change in temp, most marine fish can survive in a wide range of temps, but their metabolisms will change depending on the temp. Lower temp = slower metabolism, higer temp = faster metabolism. with a faster metabolism your fish will require more food and create more waste and you'll need to do more upkeep to keep your parameters in check.

csmsss · 06-04-2009, 06:55 PM

Hmmm...I've dived several reefs and while the water surface temperature can be quite warm, it was significantly cooler at depths of 10 ft. and greater. My feeling is that the more blue the light a coral/anemone likes, the cooler that animal wants/needs to be. I have never been comfortable keeping reef tanks at 80 degrees, as it gives you very little margin for error in the summertime should your air conditioning fail. Personally, I like to keep all my salt water tanks at about 75 degrees.

06-03-2009, 04:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
r2d2 Sea Pen Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Monterrey, MX. Posts: 334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Reef temp. How high is too high? Ive just read an article with thiss title and basucally it says that with corals colected from indo pacific and caribean 85F to 89F seems to be a good water temp for a reef tank. What do you think? I have a 75 gal with 15 gal sump and my chillers set point is at 81F. Im very worried about electricity bill and rising that set point its really a temptation. Again, what do you think? Greetings

06-03-2009, 04:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? 85f-89f is way too high and I think it would contribute to coral bleaching and demise. 79f-81f is where you want to be. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

06-03-2009, 04:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? Reef Tanks = High Electrical Bill* ~Michael __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

06-03-2009, 04:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? Ditto to Teri! I like the 78 - 79 range for several reasons. A) Gives me a "buffer" from high temps B) Seems to help control nuisance algae growth C) Fish seem more mild and calm. Higher temps and my fish start to get "Spastic" and swim erratically. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

06-03-2009, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
r2d2 Sea Pen Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Monterrey, MX. Posts: 334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? Thats exactly what I thought but these article talks about that is a missconception of coral needs. I was so different from what Ive heard that came and post this thread. Here is a link to article Reef Tank Temperatures - How High is Too High? Greetings

06-03-2009, 08:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,758 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? In the sea, if the temp is too high, the fish can move. In your tank, they are stuck. __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

06-03-2009, 11:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
smkndrgn142 Star Polyps Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 156 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? some thing to consider here is the fact that the caribbean sea is usually 80-85 degrees depending on the time of year. While 89 is definitely high, 79 is probably on the low side, that is when talking about their natural habitat. While they can't handle a sudden change in temp, most marine fish can survive in a wide range of temps, but their metabolisms will change depending on the temp. Lower temp = slower metabolism, higer temp = faster metabolism. with a faster metabolism your fish will require more food and create more waste and you'll need to do more upkeep to keep your parameters in check.

06-04-2009, 06:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
csmsss Midas Blenny Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 98 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef temp. How high is too high? Hmmm...I've dived several reefs and while the water surface temperature can be quite warm, it was significantly cooler at depths of 10 ft. and greater. My feeling is that the more blue the light a coral/anemone likes, the cooler that animal wants/needs to be. I have never been comfortable keeping reef tanks at 80 degrees, as it gives you very little margin for error in the summertime should your air conditioning fail. Personally, I like to keep all my salt water tanks at about 75 degrees.

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