How Hot is Too Hot?

[chrisfont23]

My 29g tank consistently runs at 79 degrees. I came home today, and saw it up to 81. It's my first summer with the reef tank and unfortunately, I just have no money for a chiller. I have recourse though - I can float some bottles of frozen RODI, start up the fan or even just flip on the AC - so my budget won't break.

I was wondering what temps to do this at. What is "too hot?" When I was in Tahiti, I remember the reef being like 84-85 degrees and everything thriving - obviously this is much different. I would also assume the temp swings are the big factor here as well, which in the tropics, is not as dramatic.

Any advice is appreciated!

[NoobSalt]

Hey for once I can answer and not just ask!! Yay!

I have no money for a chiller either but I mean my tank is usually around 79-81 area but on hotter days it has gotten up to 82-83 and nothing really seems to get bothered by it. I usually just crank the AC for a bit and float a bag of ice too and it drops down a few degrees and its just fine. I hope this helps a bit!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I thinks its anything over 85 degrees F and you could do some damage. I try to keep my tank between 80 and 81. You can blow a fan across the surface of the water too. You'll have to top off more due to increased evaporation but it works well.

[chrisfont23]

The fan works well. I am able to keep my tank at a steady 79 degrees and that was in the 80 to 86 degree NY heat these past few days. Before heading out for the day, I actually turned the AC on in my kid's room...tank got down to 72 degrees! Uh oh. Going to be a fun summer of climate control here w/ the 29 gallon!

[110galreef]

Ditto, basically a 2 degree swing is fine, also low 80"s won't be a big deal. staying under 84 is probably ideal.

Also a fan is a quick fix to keep temps lower and very cheap fix. Does add to evaporation tho.

[chrisfont23]

Ditto, basically a 2 degree swing is fine, also low 80"s won't be a big deal. staying under 84 is probably ideal.

Also a fan is a quick fix to keep temps lower and very cheap fix. Does add to evaporation tho.

Does the fan method work with bigger tanks (50 / 100 gallon)? Wondering for when I upgrade...

[110galreef]

definitly will work on a 100g tank. or bigger. Just add more evaporation as the fans speed & size increases.

Lot of times a larger tank will not see quite the temp rise too nor as fast as it is bigger!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I put 2 CPU case fans in my canopy. One drawing in air and the other blowing out. Since then, my temp has never gone up more than a half a degree. Summer is around the corner so that will be the true test. I have a 75g BTW.

[Evie]

These are good ideas here! We are in an area that gets easily over 100 F on many summer days. Hotter than , yup. Fans, floating ice and CPU fans in the canopy. We are currently building a canopy for our tank so we should include those CPU fans - they should be quiet in our living room reef tank & provide enough circulation to really help cool it down! Awesome!