Tank temperature variations

[weez1959]

This has probably been discussed to death but my crappy searching talents aren't coming up with much soooo.....
What is acceptable in the higher range? What I mean is what's too high?
I fight to keep it around 79-80 but it doesn't always work, right now it's at 83.5, when should I start to worry?

[zhenya]

Louise,

You are right. This subject had been discussed to near death on various boards, and still there is no content as to what is the "norm".
Having said that, I keep my tank at around 80 degrees +/- couple of degrees but before I bought the chiller I had my tank running for couple of years at 82-84 without any detrimental effects. So, I guess if your tank reaches 84 or 85 I wouldn't panic, necessarily. See if you can take some measures to prevent temperatures to go any higher(install a fan, etc.)

Here's a very nice article for you to read, it should cover many things that you are worried about in terms of stability (temps, water parameters, etc.)
Reef Stability, A Moving Target by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reef Hobbyist Online Magazine

[weez1959]

Thanks Gene,
my high temps is with a fan! Otherwise it would be 88-90!!!

[Lucid]

weez1959, is this in your nano? my dad's nano was having temp fluctuations from 79-85 every day and seemed to build heat a bit more each day. I finally left the feeding lid up and it's normal now. (aside from an open lid...)

[charlesr1958]

The mid 80's is normal and would only get concerned if it would rise to the high 80's and stay there, key word being "stay". Corals have no issue with short term / rapid temperature fluctuations, its the long term excessive heat that gets them.
Dr. Ron just put out a new article on temperature a few days ago. A very good read!

Ron Shimek's Website...Critters

Chuck

[charlie]

Great articles guys, thanx!!!

Weez, can you find a way to hook up another fan?

[weez1959]

weez1959, is this in your nano? my dad's nano was having temp fluctuations from 79-85 every day and seemed to build heat a bit more each day. I finally left the feeding lid up and it's normal now. (aside from an open lid...)

No, it's in the 90 but the nano isn't much better really. I have to leave the lid half way up and blow a fan at it. The problem with the nano is the fans died! Both at the same time so the guys at nanotuners said it was probably the little circuit board because I told them that they both turned off, on and off again when I was messing with the switch. When that didn't work he said it MIGHT be the switch
Needless to say, I'm ignoring the problem until I feel up to taking care of it

The mid 80's is normal and would only get concerned if it would rise to the high 80's and stay there, key word being "stay". Corals have no issue with short term / rapid temperature fluctuations, its the long term excessive heat that gets them.
Dr. Ron just put out a new article on temperature a few days ago. A very good read!

Ron Shimek's Website...Critters

Chuck

Thanks for the article, I'm off to read it as soon as I post this reply!

Great articles guys, thanx!!!

Weez, can you find a way to hook up another fan?

Yup, I was thinking of that, I think I'll get something a little more powerful instead since I don't have much room.

[charlie]

Good luck!!!

We have been really lucky here because the temps have been pretty mellow this summer. I think I maxed out at 83 a few weeks ago!!!!!

[zhenya]

Louise,

I don't remember if you have a sump or not on your 90. In the case that you do have it, a cheap clip on fan from any hardware store (in my case even drug stores sell them now) clipped on the edge of the sump can do wonders. It will increase evaporation and that should help in cooling your tank couple of degrees. Just make sure you check your salinity a bit more often to make sure it stays stable. If you place two of those fans (one directly on the tank and one in the sump) you may solve your problem for the summer month. ;)

[weez1959]

Thanks Gene, I have a clip on so what I'll do is get a stronger one for the tank and use the clip on in the sump!
Now if I can only get up enough gumption to go to the store...
I'm healing up pretty good but car rides are still hell!

[charlie]

Can you get your daughter to go for you???

[weez1959]

For sure but I'd rather pick it out myself, I'll probably go after lunch
Besides I gave her a day off from slaving for me since I'm up and around more and more, so she's at her boyfriend's right now

[charlie]

Good to hear that you are up and around a little more, but a day off????? Did you ever get a day off.

[weez1959]

am I supposed to?

[charlie]

I think so.

[Lucid]

No, it's in the 90 but the nano isn't much better really. I have to leave the lid half way up and blow a fan at it. The problem with the nano is the fans died! Both at the same time so the guys at nanotuners said it was probably the little circuit board because I told them that they both turned off, on and off again when I was messing with the switch. When that didn't work he said it MIGHT be the switch
Needless to say, I'm ignoring the problem until I feel up to taking care of it

Aaah, yeah the manufacturer recommended to flip one of the fans on top to allow air to be pulled in instead of both pushing out. It's a design flaw... That sucks about the switch. Lets hope it is an easy fix like loose wire!

[weez1959]

Well before messing around with it I decided to bring the balast with the switch to my coral guy since he has the exact same set-up and see if his fans turn of when I connect my balast to his tank before ordering any more stuff. I don't mind paying for stuff when it works but last time it cost $6.00 for the circuit board and $25.00 shipping to Canada. I did make it a bit more worthwhile by getting new lights for the tank but I don't need anything else now and it's still going to cost $25.00 again to ship whatever it does need...

So I have two fans running now, one on the tank, one on the sump, we'll see what happens!

[Future]

I usually keep my tank set for 80* on the dot. Being down south you tend to feel the difference in outside climate from day to day. As with such the water temp's change as well.

Take a stroll through any lake or ocean and you'll feel the warm spots and the cold spots, but the surface is typically the hottest due to the obvious sun beating down on it. Now what I did, was I took a PH and have it aimed close to the surface as to keep that portion of water moving alot just as the normal ocean surface is constantly moving.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm trying to take what I see from ocean movements and implement it into my tank's circulation. Who knows, maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, but with a temp. range between 75*-81* something seems to be working.

Then again, there are always chillers, redirection of AC vents towards the tank, repositioning of the lights a bit higher, using a screened lid for airation, etc...


just my $0.02

[charlie]

I like your theory, at least you are lucky enough to have an ocean to walk through. Every time I try to walk in the water around here, I never get past my knees for some sort of obvious reason.
I think alot of times we try to out think ourselves when all it really comes down to is the basics. We are going to have temp. swings, ph swings, and all the other good stuff that goes along with keeping our little slice of the ocean. I find that if I keep it as simple as is possible, it is easier to find out what is wrong. Sorry for the rant weez, back to our regularly scheduled program.

[weez1959]

Sorry for the rant weez, back to our regularly scheduled program.

we'll pretend it was a comercial!

So the fans worked, even with the AC off the tank only went to 82.2!