OK I REALLY HAVE TO ASK>? Y ON TEMPERATURES

[Troy Valentine]

One other thing to think about as well is that the temperatures being a little high is as long as it is stable. Huge swings tend to cause more problems than a tank that stays at 80.

+1 Stability is the key

A few years ago we went to Tahiti for a few weeks, and the water temperature was a consistant 80-81, and the reefs were SPS dominated. I think it has a lot to do with where your corals are from, and understanding this when you choose your specimens. It is truly amazing how adaptable the creatures are..... My experience was when my tank was hotter with 3-400s (83-85) my corals grew much faster, and were very hardy. However this might be due to the light intensity rather than the temperature. Hotter temps will increase coral metabolism to a point... So I would burn through more trace elements quicker during warmer months. From my experience the key to higher temps is feed the system more to support it, and keep it nutrient rich.