Temperature and Salinity (Specific gravity)

[14000K]

I've been reading some lately about keeping the temperature of your reef tank at just above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 C). And the salinity around 35ppt (spec. grav 1.026). I was wondering if these are common parameters. I've been told higher temperatures, to a point, will accerlerate coral growth.

[Ninong]

Hi 14000K,



Most reefkeeping hobbyists try to maintain natural seawater salinity (~35ppt) and water temperatures somewhere near natural tropical reef conditions. Obviously the water temperature in nature varies with the seasons, even near the equator. It varies much more as you get away from the equator.

In general, reefkeeping hobbyists today choose water temperatures that range from around 78 degrees Fahrenheit to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Some prefer the lower end of that range and others choose the higher end. There are many factors that come into play. Your choice may be influenced by the capabilities and limitations of your equipment.

There are those who will argue for 78-80 F as ideal and others who will argue for 80-82 F as ideal. And then there are those who prefer 82-84 F. There are valid arguments that can be made for all of those choices. The 82-84 F range might be a more natural choice and it will certainly lead to faster metabolism of corals and fish in the system but it may be a more difficult temperature to control unless you have a chiller. The argument in favor of 78-79 F is just the opposite. That argument says that it is better to avoid natural metabolism and growth in captive systems.

So it's a choice between a high-energy and a low-energy system. There are risks and rewards attached to both. And don't forget that stability is something we should always strive for in our water parameters.

There is really no right or wrong answer to the question of water temperature as long as you are within that general range. What's right for one person may not be right for another. On the other hand, I see no good reason to maintain salinity at anything less than natural seawater salinity -- 35ppt or thereabouts. I think anything below 34 ppt is too low and anything above 36 ppt is too high unless you are trying to mimic a Red Sea biotope.

[zhenya]

Hi 14000,

I've been reading some lately about keeping the temperature of your reef tank at just above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 C). And the salinity around 35ppt (spec. grav 1.026). I was wondering if these are common parameters. I've been told higher temperatures, to a point, will accerlerate coral growth.

Basically it is correct, temperatures and salinity you mentioned are normal values found on reefs. Higher temperatures arguably speed up metabolism of all organisms, however, I think availability of Ca and Alkalinity will accelerate growth of stony corals more than anything.