Since setting it up I kept my tank at a very stable 77.5 degrees. I never actually saw it change and I verified the temperature a couple times a week with a digital meat thermometer (outside of the tank obv.).
The other day my girlfriend and I decided to shut the AC off for the year as the external temperature had fallen and isn't expected to rise above 75 degrees again this year (unless there's a fluke). I cam home on the first day and the ambient temperature in the room where the tank is was about 79 degrees. Curious, I looked at the tank's temperature....82 degrees! I was a little surprised and a little worried. I turned the lights off early and let it sit but it stayed there, so I opened a window and it came down a little bit. I know that temp is no big deal but that's a big swing I'd rather avoid.
The thing is, though, none of the corals had ever looked better. Everything was open even more than normal....ESPECIALLY my ricordea mushroom...which almost doubled in size compared to normal. They seemed to be loving the warmer water.
Most of the stuff I read and continue to read doesn't recommend stable temps. this high...and its strange that the corals like it considering most of my corals and fish are from the Indo-Pacific where the temps are more like stable high 70's...which is what I was trying to replicate.
I believe I'm going to try and keep the temp at about 80 from now on and see how it goes. The only thing that worries me is oxygen levels and having that extra buffer if there is an equipment malfunction or power outage (although I feel the outage is more likely and having a slightly higher temp with winter coming will be a good thing I suppose).
What are your experiences with corals and water temperature?
The other day my girlfriend and I decided to shut the AC off for the year as the external temperature had fallen and isn't expected to rise above 75 degrees again this year (unless there's a fluke). I cam home on the first day and the ambient temperature in the room where the tank is was about 79 degrees. Curious, I looked at the tank's temperature....82 degrees! I was a little surprised and a little worried. I turned the lights off early and let it sit but it stayed there, so I opened a window and it came down a little bit. I know that temp is no big deal but that's a big swing I'd rather avoid.
The thing is, though, none of the corals had ever looked better. Everything was open even more than normal....ESPECIALLY my ricordea mushroom...which almost doubled in size compared to normal. They seemed to be loving the warmer water.
Most of the stuff I read and continue to read doesn't recommend stable temps. this high...and its strange that the corals like it considering most of my corals and fish are from the Indo-Pacific where the temps are more like stable high 70's...which is what I was trying to replicate.
I believe I'm going to try and keep the temp at about 80 from now on and see how it goes. The only thing that worries me is oxygen levels and having that extra buffer if there is an equipment malfunction or power outage (although I feel the outage is more likely and having a slightly higher temp with winter coming will be a good thing I suppose).
What are your experiences with corals and water temperature?
