78 degrees and my tank is too cold?

Sometimes, in the summer, my tank gets up to 84 degrees and I have to put a big fan on my sump to keep the temp down. My LFS has even suggested that I run a reverse lighting cycle in the summer to keep the tank cooler.

Now I'm reading (http://www.rshimek.com/reef/tempsal.htm) that the ideal temp for most reef tanks is 82 to 84 degrees. I would love this to be true. I have a softie/lps mix with some fish mixed in. I would love to get some feedback/experiences on this topic.

The same webpage also gives reference to salinity and states that at ideal temp (82 to 84 degrees), specific gravity should be 1.024 to 1.025. Based on what I thought to be true, I generally run at about 1.021 SG. Can I get some feedback/experiences on this topic as well?

As always, I appreciate all replies,

As with many other topics in this hobby, it will go on for quite a while yet ...

I myself have been paying a little more attention to this URL now ... http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/dhw_news.html

What is known, however, that tropical corals can slows down at 72F, and stops 69F on the low end, and on the high end, some exists in conditions that reaches 93F+.

Do we want to keep our corals in either extremes? No way, so we need to find a happy middle.

Here are some info from Eric Borneman's book ... Aquarium Corals, pg 349

The result is based on over 1,000 reefs. All reefs Temp avg: min = 70F, max = 86F, avg = 82F Low temp reefs avg: min = 61F, max = 82F, avg = 77F High temp reefs avg: min = 77F, max = 93F, avg = 86F

SG Low SG reefs: min 23ppt, max 40ppt, avg 34ppt. High SG reefs: min 31ppt, max 42ppt, avg 35ppt

Yes, but you have to be more careful on a number of areas, namely oxygen, water circulation, etc. I keep my tank at 82, and no less than 80 at night. I'd be nervous about going to 84 because then I'd not have any buffer/margin of error. I think 80-82 is a good place to keep a reef. Higher temps. mean the fish metab. is run higher, which means more feeding, too, which carries its own ramifications. There is still debate in this area so have fun reading.

Also your salinity is too low. It may be ok for a fish only tank to make it easier visavis osmotic pressure, but not for a coral tank. I keep mine at 1.024 (I think NSW is higher than that btw).

I don't think we should be keeping temps at levels of actual reefs, we don have a reef, but a close system. You are safer to keep them in the low 80's for many reasons, so I agree with Terry and have raised marine life for over 30 years. Actual reef stuff is a nice guide but it sometimes fails in the closed system

'The same webpage also gives reference to salinity and states that at ideal temp (82 to 84 degrees), specific gravity should be 1.024 to 1.025. Based on what I thought to be true, I generally run at about 1.021 SG. Can I get some feedback/experiences on this topic as well?''

This part of the article I find amusing, as I have mentioned before, as Ron's tables and readings is that of a 'soils hydrometer', which is 10 degrees or so lower than a LFS hydrometer. If you have a swing arm it should be at 1.026 after you have tested it

table I did

I had the same problem trying to keep my tank at 78 during the summer. I met Ron Shimek at a club meeting and decided to try a higher temperature. My tanks are now at 83-84F and everything is fine. The temperature is very stable now and I don't have to run a fan in the summer. The idea is at a lower temp the metabolism of corals slow down. I think if these guys tried a higher, more natural, temp their growth rate would be phenomenal. The trick is to increase the temperature slowly. It's the rapid rise in temp that'll cause coral bleaching and such. It can't hurt to try it. Good luck.

Mark

Year round = 78~86, with mostly at 78~82 in winter, and 80~86 in summer.

When I upgraded to a bigger tank and MH lighting I have been fighting high temps all summer. My tank sits around 84-86 degress with peaks as high as 90. Livestock is mostly soft corals with some LPS corals. Recently my colt leather (Cladiella sp.) died whcih I didnt expect because it was so hardy, and the only thing I can attribute it to is the heat. But everything else including fish and the other corals are doing fine. I know these temp are really pushing the high end but I wanted to add my 2cents to the discussion.

Ken D

What have you tried so far to keep the temp down?

Basically just evaporation, I have a fan over the sump and one in the hood and keep the hood open some to let more air move. I loose about 3 gals a day when I keep the house at 78 degrees. The tank has been running about 8 degrees hotter than the house and is generally around 86.