No heater, no problem.

[NinjaSushi]

So I've been running my two mixed reef aquariums with no heater for over a year now and the results are fantastic. I've watched fish aggression drop, if there was any, and coral growth has exploded. I've also noticed my fish are more active and or more likely to come out and say hi now that the water averages around 70°F.

We're in the middle of winter time right now in South Texas and so I have the heater for my house averaging 72 ambient. I don't know how much money I'm saving by not using heaters 24/7, but but I have noticed the "space heater effect" of my aquariums has disappeared for obvious reasons. That's going to be a big help in summertime when my AC is struggling to keep the house at a steady 78 when it's 100 plus outside.

Has anyone else tried going heaterless? It's nice knowing that my heater won't short out and fry my fish tank which I've heard too many stories of in my time in the aquarium hobby. Anyways, I don't really have any before or after pictures that wouldn't show anything that normal aquarium progression wouldn't do.

I can show you pictures of my aquarium now and it looks quite nice as the coral is flourishing and growing everywhere. I especially noticed the GSP and Montepora love the new temperature arrangement. I don't have any fancy acropora SPS or anything like that but I'd like to wager that these coral are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. I bought into this whole idea for 20 plus years now that your aquarium had to sit at 78° and I'm glad to know it was a bucket of fish chum.

P.S. that little proofread button is amazing on mobile. Thank you to whoever implemented that!!

 

[disaster999]

I too drop my tank to around 22c in the winter and back up to 26c in the summer to save on heating and cooling for a few years. Havent seen any significant issues. as long as it happens gradually it should be fine.

 

[Gjedde]

Dont have a heater in my tank right now.
Water is around 40 degrees.
That being said the house is currently being built and only now is being insulated and we live in montana. Once we have insulation i will definitely begin heating the tank. Big temperature swings up here.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I live far up North, so I need heaters. That being said, I decrease the temperature by 3 or 4 degrees in the winter, to 1) save money on heating and 2) recreate what happens in the ocean. I keep our house at around 65°f in the winter, so I definitely need a heater. Even in the summer, I like to have them an Inkbird, just incase for some reason the house drops a few degrees, my heaters will kick on and keep the tank at the normal summer temp of 77°f.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dont have a heater in my tank right now.
Water is around 40 degrees.
That being said the house is currently being built and only now is being insulated and we live in montana. Once we have insulation i will definitely begin heating the tank. Big temperature swings up here.

I don’t think a 40 degree tank can maintain most tropical species.

 

[BryanM]

There seems to be many ways to do this hobby, but letting my temps fluctuate that much isn't something I'm going to intentionally do.

 

[Gjedde]

I don’t think a 40 degree tank can maintain most tropical species.

Thinking about stocking it with fur bearing clownfish.
Tank only has water and sand in it until the hvac is installed for the house.

 

[ajmckay]

I think most would agree that there's a pretty wide range of temperatures our critters can survive in.

So I believe that consistency trumps absolute value. I would rather have a tank that stays 72 degrees than a tank which fluctuates from 70 to 75 throughout the day. Just my thought. That's probably fine too if you have the right inhabitants.

 

[NinjaSushi]

My house heater stays at a constant 72 all winter. During summer, I put the AC to 78 during the day, 72 at night. The aquariums don't mind the 6 degree swing. (25C-22C)

The ocean doesn't stay consistent throughout the day though. Most reefs live near the surface of the water which is more prone to temperature swings and 2 to 6 Fahrenheit (1-3 Celsius) is par for the course, so don't get too caught up with keeping every parameter perfectly stable. You might burn yourself out on the hobby. (easy to do)

Thank you all for the replies. Have a wonderful day and happy reef keeping! God bless y'all.

 

[NinjaSushi]

"Hey kids. Want check out my anemone?..."

 

[VintageReefer]

Thinking about stocking it with fur bearing clownfish.
Tank only has water and sand in it until the hvac is installed for the house.

Water sand sawdust and drywall dust lol

 

[Gjedde]

Water sand sawdust and drywall dust lol

Ha, yea! Thankfully the tank is in the basement so i am able to put a plastic sheet at the base of the stairs to keep that stuff out.
Got the heater going now!

 

[MnFish1]

I live far up North, so I need heaters. That being said, I decrease the temperature by 3 or 4 degrees in the winter, to 1) save money on heating and 2) recreate what happens in the ocean. I keep our house at around 65°f in the winter, so I definitely need a heater. Even in the summer, I like to have them an Inkbird, just incase for some reason the house drops a few degrees, my heaters will kick on and keep the tank at the normal summer temp of 77°f.

I think whether you use it or not - a back up heater/system incase - for example your furnace stops working is a good idea!

 

[NinjaSushi]

I think whether you use it or not - a back up heater/system incase - for example your furnace stops working is a good idea!

Very true. Stuff happens.