Hows everyone dealing with the summer heat?

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

Just curious, how many of you react to the thermometer and not the tank inhabitants?

Definitely the tank inhabitants, I know what my tank can take and what it can't and usually freaking out just makes it worse with my too quick solutions. Heat swings are the worst for a tank esp big ones and in that case a slow fix is better. I usually try to have my fingers in the tank every day (usually have to massage the ultralith stones anyways) so I can tell whether my chiller has blown a fuse or not

[PoonTang]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Definitely the tank inhabitants, I know what my tank can take and what it can't and usually freaking out just makes it worse with my too quick solutions. Heat swings are the worst for a tank esp big ones and in that case a slow fix is better. I usually try to have my fingers in the tank every day (usually have to massage the ultralith stones anyways) so I can tell whether my chiller has blown a fuse or not

Ok so how hot is too hot? and doesnt it take a little while for the bleaching to occur? so that by the time the coral looks sick its too late?

[BC564]

I came home yesterday to find my tank in the high 80's.........some corals didnt like it much and you could tell just looking at them.........I put some ice cubes in the sump and lowered the temp. the corals perked up with in 30 minutes......I have someone at home today to keep an eye on it.....

[digital-audiophile]

My tank is in the basement so even during the hottest days it never really gets over 81Deg.

Last summer I tried a nano on the upperlevel but gave up becuase I could not keep it below 85 on hot days.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by PoonTang

Ok so how hot is too hot? and doesnt it take a little while for the bleaching to occur? so that by the time the coral looks sick its too late?

I dunno, routinely my tank sits at about 78-79. The tank has gone up to 85 a couple of times this summer when the chiller fuse has blown and I haven't had any losses. Too hot = when it feels like bathwater. Usually I put my hand in and go ahhhh, nice. When its too hot I go argggh! stupid chiller! you suck!!!! and my husband rolls his eyes

The bleaching doesn't necessarily occur as the temp rises, sometimes it occurs on the way back to cool. Depends on how fast/slow you "fix" the temperature issue.

[PoonTang]

Originally Posted by christyf5

I dunno, routinely my tank sits at about 78-79. The tank has gone up to 85 a couple of times this summer when the chiller fuse has blown and I haven't had any losses. Too hot = when it feels like bathwater. Usually I put my hand in and go ahhhh, nice. When its too hot I go argggh! stupid chiller! you suck!!!! and my husband rolls his eyes

The bleaching doesn't necessarily occur as the temp rises, sometimes it occurs on the way back to cool. Depends on how fast/slow you "fix" the temperature issue.

Yes, my tank normally sits around 79 like yours but gets up to 82 during the day when the MH is on. Hit 85 3 days in a row last week but no sign of harm so far. I reeeealllly dont want to run a chiller if i can get away with it.

[marie]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

Just curious, how many of you react to the thermometer and not the tank inhabitants?

I have one tank that doesn't have a thermometer on it and I can go for a month without checking the other 2 . Having said that when the heat gets to the point where I feel a need to turn the AC on (usually when it goes above 25) then I check on the big tank to make sure the temp hasn't gone too high.

So to answer your question its not the tank inhabitants but how hot I'm feeling that makes me react

[Johnny Reefer]

The 1 month old Lifegard Time & Temp I put on my FOWLR says it's at 45.1F. I know my chiller isn't THAT powerful. POS Time & Temp.

[landshark]

I use a window A/C unit to keep cool. It has a built in thermostat. Set the temp, and walk away. My tanks only raise max. 1deg. on the hottest days. At around $200, it's an inexpensive way to keep one and all happy.

[BC564]

bucket of ice in the sump.......used as a controlled auto top off and has a cooling effect.......