What temp do you run?

[aquatechy]

Originally Posted by mikellini

I think the key is consistency, and I don't mean necessarily one temperature. For example, if you consistently have a 2-3 degree temp swing, that's probably OK, but the problem is when your AC breaks or something else happens to make the temp swing larger (or perhaps smaller).

+1 on this. The actual temperature is not that big a deal, provided it is within a healthy range. Keeping it consistent is more important.

[MitchM]

Temperature IS important.

From the article I posted:

The most rapid growth of most corals is generally around 27°C to 29°C (80.6°F to 84.2°F) (Barnes et al., 1995; Clausen and Roth, 1975; Weber and White 1976; Coles and Jokiel, 1977, 1978; Highsmith, 1979a, b; Highsmith, et al., 1983).

and..


A recent study shows how differences of only a couple of degrees Celsius determine the distribution of Montastrea annularis populations in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean Sea, proper ( Carricart-Ganivet, 2004 ). In this case, the no growth lower limit of zero calcification occurred at 23.7°C (74.7°F) in corals from the Gulf of Mexico and at 25.5°C (77.9°F) in corals from the Caribbean Sea.

[Jordon]

I run at 80 degrees. Some of my Zoas close at 82. Not sure if it's just me, or anyone else has seen a physical response from a small difference in temp?

[mike31154]

Never been to the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean & I'm trying to convert my critters to more northern latitude conditions. Depending on which of my 3 or 4 thermometers I look at, I'm running at a cool as a cucumber 23.7 to 24.7 degrees C. My montipora cap doesn't seem to care about slow growth statistics published by very well educated scientists, it insists on growing like the dickens. Not sure I want my coral to grow too fast anyhow, my little box full of water has only so much space! The fish aren't hibernating either. Perhaps it's the elevated dissolved oxygen level that goes with running so cool? My critters are all on an oxygen high! Anyhow, works for me & I save a bit of electricity. I wouldn't recommend anyone with valuable sps to start experimenting with temps at the low end of the scale though.

[Myka]

I have two answers for you. I find tanks are easier to maintain at 78F as everything progresses slower (including growth of corals, but also growth of algae). The corals grow faster at 82F which, depending who's article you read, is close to natural reef temperatures where typical SPS and shallower water LPS are collected. Everything progresses faster at 82F though, including algae growth, breakdown down nutrients, etc. so you have to be more on top of things.

[MitchM]

I posted an article a couple of years ago, I think, where an experiment was done on some corals where the temperature was varied by 11F each day and it made for stronger corals.
The experiment demonstrated that younger corals were able to adapt more easily to the temperature swings than larger colonies.

Interesting that the same species of coral in Shimek's article can have different characteristics depending on where the coral originates.
I wonder how all the fragging that happens in captivity affects the corals that we wind up with.

[e46er]

controller is set for 78.0, Ive seen it go to 77.5 and up to 78.2 or so.
house is AC so that helps maintain temp is the summer