Temperatures

Apkpswtank · Apr 29, 2016

I know a lot of reefers work hard to keep a specific constant temperature. I am new to reef tanks, I bought my entire setup used even the fish. But I feel the most natural approach is best, and I know temperatures vary in the ocean. I don't have chiller and don't use a heater. My water temperature varies by my apartments temperature and when my lights are on and off. The temperature is currently 80.2 degrees but goes as high as 83.7. Sometimes higher but I do usually set in when the temperature get to 84 degrees. What to you guys think natural variance or one precise temp?
P.s. I am new to the forum and would like to post this to the contest page as a "bonus entry" I will do my best to do that now but if it is not there please let me know how to get it there thank you.

jsker · Apr 29, 2016

2 degrees is the norm, and if you have higher swings you can risk a crash. When I lived in Bayside I just ran the air when It got above 78 degrees and had a heater in the tank at all times so that it maintained temp.

Apkpswtank · May 1, 2016

I believe we are lead to believe what you just stated but in fact swings of 3 degrees happen in my tank at least once a week and I have no problems. I don't see difference with my livestock or corals either. I also have a DSB so I am more at risk for problems then people who don't have them. I believe fish will adapt and do better with more variance then less. What happens if your fish get accustom to no variance and only .2 degree movement. Then something unexpected happens and you do have that 2-3 degree swing.

ksc · May 1, 2016

The "maintain a constant temperature" is an old reefers myth. Healthy tanks should be able to tolerate temperature swings and the livestock will be healthier for it. My tank has swung 5 degrees in a 24 hour period, and 2-3 degrees a day is normal.

cb684 · May 1, 2016

I looked for this information a while a go and found that a maximum of 3 degrees a day was not going to cause any problems. One of my systems had swings of 3.5 degrees during a 24 hour period with no visible the fish stress, or loss of corals. I had never had more variation than this. With that said, I try to keep variation less than 2 degrees/ day in most of my tanks.

jsker · May 1, 2016

I tended to agree, I really never cared about my tank temperature until I started adding corals that I want to keep also and expensive thermometer. I do know that my systems healthier with growth and non disease if I did keep my temp between 78 and 80 degrees.

Lionfish Lair · May 1, 2016

Actually, studies show it is one of the greatest stressors on a fish. The degree of change does not have to be much and the numbers of are tighter than one would think. It's not a myth. Sure, the oceans temperatures move..... and so do the fish. In the wild they have the ability to move to their preferred temperature, in our tanks they are trapped.

Justin D · May 1, 2016

What size is your tank,

ksc · May 1, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
Actually, studies show it is one of the greatest stressors on a fish. The degree of change does not have to be much and the numbers of are tighter than one would think. It's not a myth. Sure, the oceans temperatures move..... and so do the fish. In the wild they have the ability to move to their preferred temperature, in our tanks they are trapped.

What studies? The temperature in the tidal zones can fluctuate 5 degrees in a few minute during a tide change. And being an avid fishermen, yes fish do move from one side of a warm water eddy to the other, again moving into water 5 degrees higher or lower in less than a minute.

ngvu1 · May 1, 2016

I set my heater at 73.5 now :) They hardly turn on...saves me a lot of power. I do keep the tank cooler in the winter then I raise the temp slowly to the summer...back to low in the winter....
in the winter my tank is like 74-77 and in the summer I plan to keep it from 78-81 (85 gallon and this is the first summer for this tank)

rock_lobster · May 1, 2016

I think 80 should probably be the minimum for a reef tank. My tank goes as high as 86 with absolutely no problems. All of the coral actually look healthiest at 84 degrees. Fully opened, full polyp extension, and excellent growth.

Lionfish Lair · May 1, 2016

ksc said:
What studies?

"Madeira, D., Narciso, L., Cabral, H., Vinagre, C., & Diniz, M. (2013). Influence of temperature in thermal and oxidative stress responses in estuarine fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 166(2), 237-243."

"Gale, M., Hinch, S., & Donaldson, M. (2013). The role of temperature in the capture and release of fish. Fish and Fisheries, 14(1),"

"Fonseca, V., França, S., Vasconcelos, R., Serafim, A., Company, R., Lopes, B., Bebianno, M., & Cabral, H. (2011). Short-term variability of multiple biomarker response in fish from estuaries: Influence of environmental dynamics. Marine Environmental Research, 72(4), 172-178."

"Björnsson, B., Steinarsson, A., & Oddgeirsson, M. Optimal temperature for growth and feed conversion of immature cod ( Gadus morhua L.). ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil, 58(1), 29-38."

"Elliott, M., & Quintino, V. (2007). The Estuarine Quality Paradox, Environmental Homeostasis and the difficulty of detecting anthropogenic stress in naturally stressed areas. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(6), 640-645."

"Flik, G., Klaren, P., Van den Burg, E., Metz, J., & Huising, M. (2006). CRF and stress in fish. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 146(1), 36-44."

"Timothy E. Higham, W.P. (2015). Turbulence, Temperature, and Turbidity: The Ecomechanics of Predator–Prey Interactions in Fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 55(1),"

I'll stop there, but there are literally 100s more I have in my folder. Temperature and fish are well studied.

ksc · May 1, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
"Madeira, D., Narciso, L., Cabral, H., Vinagre, C., & Diniz, M. (2013). Influence of temperature in thermal and oxidative stress responses in estuarine fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 166(2), 237-243."

"Gale, M., Hinch, S., & Donaldson, M. (2013). The role of temperature in the capture and release of fish. Fish and Fisheries, 14(1),"

"Fonseca, V., França, S., Vasconcelos, R., Serafim, A., Company, R., Lopes, B., Bebianno, M., & Cabral, H. (2011). Short-term variability of multiple biomarker response in fish from estuaries: Influence of environmental dynamics. Marine Environmental Research, 72(4), 172-178."

"Björnsson, B., Steinarsson, A., & Oddgeirsson, M. Optimal temperature for growth and feed conversion of immature cod ( Gadus morhua L.). ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil, 58(1), 29-38."

"Elliott, M., & Quintino, V. (2007). The Estuarine Quality Paradox, Environmental Homeostasis and the difficulty of detecting anthropogenic stress in naturally stressed areas. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(6), 640-645."

"Flik, G., Klaren, P., Van den Burg, E., Metz, J., & Huising, M. (2006). CRF and stress in fish. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 146(1), 36-44."

"Timothy E. Higham, W.P. (2015). Turbulence, Temperature, and Turbidity: The Ecomechanics of Predator–Prey Interactions in Fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 55(1),"

I'll stop there, but there are literally 100s more I have in my folder. Temperature and fish are well studied.

Not one of those studies has anything to do with the subject here. It's pretty simple. A 4 degree temperature shift is not stressful to our reef fish, unless you are catching them with your fishing rod (ref."Gale, M., Hinch, S., & Donaldson, M. (2013). The role of temperature in the capture and release of fish. Fish and Fisheries, 14(1),")

Lionfish Lair · May 1, 2016

Your looking at the titles only. Titles aren't supporting data, it's the information within that supports the topic. These articles are very relevant.

ksc · May 1, 2016

I read a few that were available. I'm well aware of the "catch and release" study and also the "immature cod" study. They have nothing to do with a few degree temperature shift in a reef tank (or on a natural reef).

Wiz · May 1, 2016

Not gonna gett in to this one. I will say my system with dsb changes from 79-84. Mostly hovers around 80-81. But I take no action unless it leaves 75-85. As long as it stays in that range I leave it. I've noticed 3º+ change in 24 hours. I have not read studies but it seems to me a bit of fluctuation is good for hardiness. I could be way off. I was told higher than 82º is bad for tanked fish. But natural reefs average high 80s to low 90s. So.... that's my system and solely my experience and opinion

Lionfish Lair · May 1, 2016

They support what I was saying.... that the effects of temperature change on fish is well studied and stress was a measureable outcome.

ksc · May 1, 2016

Ironically, that is known as a "Red Herring"......

Lionfish Lair · May 1, 2016

I'm not going there......

Something else we should consider, fish have an optimal range. Some fish in our tanks could already be at their edge of tolerance.