Tank Temp

[duc]

So what is ideal? I know there are different temps per tank stock but what is the general goal everyone shoots for.
76-78
78-80
80-82
82-84
Curios because my PC's are raising my temp up and I am wondering if the temp is finally what it should be or to warm.
I use to stay 76-80 range and now with PC's I am 82-84.
Clif

[akm]

I think the best range is about 76-79, but 84 is cutting it close. Once you get to 86 corals can start to bleach. This is my opinion but alot of these guys know alot more than i do. So i may not be the most trusted source.

[GaryP]

84 is just about the upper range for most corals and above that you start putting stress on your fish too. I try to stay in the 78 to 82 range. You might need to add some extra cooling fans.

[duc]

That is what I thought, thanks.
Has anyone ever tried adding fans to there sump instead of the canopy? Would it work? Cool air blowing across the water should work either top or bottom, I am not looking forward to removing my canopy and cutting 2 or more holes in it.

[GaryP]

I've put a clip on cooling fan in my stand.

[Richard]

I have 3 fans on my canopy, a clip on fan on my sump blowing directly on my water, two little fans blowing fresh air into my stand and a little fan blowing directly on my iwaki100. All this to keep my tank at 81 degrees.

[don-n-sa]

I have 3 fans on my canopy, a clip on fan on my sump blowing directly on my water, two little fans blowing fresh air into my stand and a little fan blowing directly on my iwaki100. All this to keep my tank at 81 degrees.

Yeah but you probably have halides...In my 240g which is lit by PC's only stays between 79 and 80 deg. I have one small clip on fan blowing on my sump. I lose about a gallon a day in evaporation.

[duc]

Yeah but you probably have halides...In my 240g which is lit by PC's only stays between 79 and 80 deg. I have one small clip on fan blowing on my sump. I lose about a gallon a day in evaporation.
Thats what I was thinking, I lost a gallon a day until I built a hood and now maybe a gal every two. So a Wal-Mart fan or where did you get the one you use? I am going to try this first and if it doesn't work I will cut holes.
Do you have a canopy? Any holes in it if you do?

[Reef69]

IMO..78-81

[::pete::]

My temp runs between 80 - 82 with a canopy 2 MH's and 2 VHO's using to pc fans. There is also a 110W PC over the sump.

[don-n-sa]

Thats what I was thinking, I lost a gallon a day until I built a hood and now maybe a gal every two. So a Wal-Mart fan or where did you get the one you use? I am going to try this first and if it doesn't work I will cut holes.
Do you have a canopy? Any holes in it if you do?

I do not have a canopy, but I do have glass tops ( I have a moray). I bought the fan that I use at target.

[duc]

Thanks everyone I will buy/try a sump fan tomorrow and go from there.

[Tim Marvin]

78-82 is good. Mine hit 82 today so I added another two fans to my controller. If you have an auto top-off fans are much cheaper to buy and run than chillers. You must be topping automatically though because you will have LOTS of evaporation. 86 is your upper limit. Mushrooms start to let go of the rocks and melt at around 86 and 88 you will start to lose some caps and more delicate corals. Lots of acropora can withstand higher temps and actually come out of the water for extended periods of time in the wild. Play it safe though and keep it below 82.

[Ram_Puppy]

Also, within reason, steady temp is just as important, perhaps more important, than whatever temp you are running at.

[Tim Marvin]

Like Ram stated stability is the key. Try to keep it within 2 degrees night and day.

[CD]

Just bite the bullet and put fans in the hood. It makes more sense to go to the source of the problem...not that clipping a fan over your sump won't help - especially if you have internal pump(s) in there or lighting over a 'fuge or something - but it would be more effective to have the fans moving the hot air out of your hood as well. The problems you are having now will only intensify as summer draws closer without the fans in your hood. Were you just worried about how they will look?
We generally like to keep our display temp at about 79-80 degrees, and everything does well. Thankfully though, we have a chiller, so our temps are very consistant.

Wendy

[duc]

I think that is what I am going to do, the sump fan may/may not work for me but my canopy gets pretty warm. I put my hand on it last night and was surprised how warm it was so I figure even if a sump fan works now it may not when it gets to be summer.
Any placement (centered/height, etc.) suggestions, also do you mount it inside the canopy for looks or outside for water protection?
Clif

[CD]

Any placement (centered/height, etc.) suggestions, also do you mount it inside the canopy for looks or outside for water protection?


I would suggest putting two fans - one in each end (on the sides, not front or back panel) pushing air into the canopy...if you do this, you will want to have some sort of vents cut into the top of the canopy for the hot air to escape. OR you could have one fan pulling air in and the other pushing it out. Not sure what you meant by "inside or outside", but you will have to cut holes in your canopy to accomplish this - centered in the wood or maybe even the back rear corners would probably be best. Here is a link I found that may be helpful. It's kinda rough (look towards the center of the page for the fan section), but will give you a good general idea of what will need to take place. I'll try to find more links too...

http://www.lkraven.com/Aquarium/DIYLighting.htm

Wendy

[duc]

Because of room issues I installed two 33CFM fans (on top) aiming directly at the water and two vents (on the ends). Now do I run them 24x7 or just when the super heater 2000 (PC's) are running? I left my PC's off (just the white bulbs) all day today with a fan aimed at the top of the water and it only dropped the temp to 80ish. So I have the fans on now and plan to leave them running through the night question is should they run 24x7?
Thanks for the help so far folks this SW tank has become my pleasure and my PITA.
Clif

[eric]

I'd run them constantly for a while until it's somehwere near where you want it. 66 CFm isn't going to drop a 150+ gallons while you watch it. But you don't want a large fast swign either. Overnight tonight might get it where you are comfortable. Then I'd try running them just when the lights are on. Plug into the same light timer if you use one. You're on the right track.

[duc]

I'd run them constantly for a while until it's somehwere near where you want it. 66 CFm isn't going to drop a 150+ gallons while you watch it. But you don't want a large fast swign either. Overnight tonight might get it where you are comfortable. Then I'd try running them just when the lights are on. Plug into the same light timer if you use one. You're on the right track.
Thanks I am all over it :D Last night I ran them all night and forgot my heater wasn't plugged in any more, well this morning my temp was 74ish from last nights 80ish. Heater is on an so are the light, hopefully that was the only huge swing in temp I will have and hopefully everyone in the tank just thinks an overnight cold front blew through.

[sumo500]

im keeping my reef at 86 constantly cause i cant lower it anymore and nothing is bleaching plan at add some fans to lower temp though

[GaryP]

86 is really pushing the upper limits of what the corals will handle. As I said earlier I have had a lot of problems with Ich on my fish when the temp gets up that high because you are stressing them.

Remember that the solubility of oxygen goes down as temp. goes up. You can get to a point where you may start to oxygen deprive your fish.

[duc]

Today I lost 2 gallons of water and my temp stayed between 78-80 so woohoo I have beat the mighty heat gods! I moved my fan power to my light timer and I will let my sump heater deal with the lower temp. I guess if it gets to warm as summer progresses I will move them to there own timer.

[Tim Marvin]

86 is dangerously high for most corals we keep.

[CD]

my temp stayed between 78-80 so woohoo


Excellent! :D :D

Wendy

[GaryP]

Perfect! Good job. The key is to try to use your fans and a heater to minimize the temp swings between day and night time.

[Tim Marvin]

I use mine on a controller. It works great.