I hear you there, running a tank without a heater is an odd choice. I just caught a few comments on the thread concerning temp swings and was curious what y'all think. I guess if you're house is constantly at 80*C you could maintain the temp in your tank but I'd hate to see the electric or gas bill.

Temp swings of 2C is chasing up the wrong tree I think. My temp regularly (aka daily) swings by 3C from 79 at night to 82 during the later parts of the day. My fish, corals, inverts and other flora and fauna seem perfectly adapted to the environment.

I suspect there are water chemistry issues at play (ammonia, nitrites, pH) or physical causes (agression from another animal, irritation from corals, etc) that are the root cause of the markings here.

I've never heard of temperature swings causing burn-like markings in a fish. Perhaps encouraging parasitic or bacterial infections, but not burn like scaring.

Just my $0.02 worth. :?

I sense a bit of "urgency" to add, alter, and adjust...I know, I've been there ! I kinda' agree with Bob in terms of tank cycling time. A "bit" long but that's not going to hurt provided the tank/filter is "biologically" fed. "Loss of money and heartache..."??? What would this hobby be without that ? :roll: My belief is a tank takes at least 12 months to establish itself. Any change during that time effects the entire system as it needs to accomadate that change. Changes must be made slowly as the tank will only accomadate it slowly. Ironically, "bad changes" happen really fast.
Ya' gotta' get a heater ! You're trusting your entire systems "well-being" to an external source that could fail at any time...usually on the coldest day. I don't trust running with a single heater on my tanks.

Oh ya', who cares if you're supposed to be painting.Isn't it better you're here "amongst friends" trying to solve an urgent problem. If ya' get any "flack", have Tony call her and explain... :wink:

Huh? What? Me? Who? What? Where? Eh?? :shock:

tony you got pm

O.K. I better rid Tony from bearing the responsibility of "domestic disputes..."
kgb, never take me too seriously. Not regarding your girlfriend anyway.
p.s. Tony, when I got home last night, I got the, "how much did this cost and can we afford it ?" question. :shock: Uuuuh, can you spare some change...?

Doug,
Funny once Katie(my wife) and I got home I got asked the same question :lol:
She didnt mind the mailorder price of shrimp once I told her they were $30 to $40 each locally :shock: