What temperature do you set your tank at?

[berkdog]

What temperature do you , or should you, set your tank to be at?

I set mine at 78, but then I see it fluctuates up to 80 or even 81 at times.

I have a FOWLR system, and maybe want an anemone... no corals in the plans, but a clean up crew, etc. Would it be best to set the temperature to 75? Then if temperature goes up or down by a little bit, it's still within the 72-78 degree range...??

[reefplayground]

I prefer 77 or so. But if you are having temperature swings of more than 1-2F, I would consider a chiller. Especially if you are interested in any types of corals or inverts in the future. It's not so much the temp itself, but they swings between different temperatures.

[berkdog]

i'm definitely not buying a chiller ($$$). i noticed those higher temperatures fluctuations during the few hot days of the summer where i live, and there are only a few days a year that are that hot here. anyway, i was just thinking that if the range for a system is 72-78, why not set it at the mid point of 75?

why do you prefer 77?

[reefplayground]

no particular reason really. I just like it a couple degrees bellow 79/80 incase the chiller ever goes out.

btw, a chiller is a great asset in the long run. Better safe than sorry.

[berkdog]

I'd rather get a fan. Temperature in my area doesn't get in the 80s very often... and 90s/100s even less... and I live in a well insulated house :> I'd rather not invest it something that eats up electricity that isn't necessary. But I can get a fan or fans.

[leebca]

The best temperature is the temperature the marine lifeforms are used to. Research the temperature of the water they came from and match it.

If you have a community tank of Pacific tropical ornamental marine fishes, 75 or 76 would be the ideal, unless a different number is gotten from that recommended in the top paragraph.

The question of "do you" and "should you" are really two questions. We can rarely maintain our tanks at the lower temperature of 75 to 76 without artificial cooling, since the pumps and lighting creates too much heat. Temperatures over 79 risk problems with marine fish metabolism, dissolved gases in water, and the activity of bacteria. Maintaining a steady temperature, even if close but under 79 is preferred than fluctuations between 75 and 79.