What temp do you guys keep your reefs at?

**Fishguy2727** · 07-13-2008, 04:18 PM

I have heard conflicting information about the ideal temp for reefs, what do you guys keep yours at?

**NickFish** · 07-13-2008, 04:55 PM

Depends, reef or FOWLR?

FOWLR can go between 76-82 I believe, although optimum temps would probably be 78-80.

The natural reefs are at 82, so if you want to make it completely natural that's what I would set it at.

Mine however is at 80 right now. I personally wouldn't go any lower than 78 or any higher than 82.

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 07-13-2008, 05:01 PM

Well, since he did specifically ask about Reefs... LOL

I keep mine at 78. You have to adjust for the heat transfer from powerheads and if you have a submersed return pump on your sump. Lighting also can come into play, not so much if you have PC, T5, or LED lighting but if you have Metal Halides then you get a lot of heat transfer from lighting. I have 1x300w and 1x250w heaters for my reef and I have them both set at right around 76 in order to compensate for the heat transfer from equipment.

**cocoa_pleco** · 07-13-2008, 05:07 PM

mines 82f, which is NSW. My heater is set at at 80f since the halides bump it up 2 degrees

**NickFish** · 07-13-2008, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by ILuvMyGoldBarb

Well, since he did specifically ask about Reefs... LOL

Oops, true that. He was just talking about a FOWLR in his other post, so I assumed it still was. My bad.

And ya, then there's heat transfer. I don't relaly get any heat from my powerheads, but I do from my lighting. I have T-5s and I still get a degree or two.

You can put the heater on a timer to adjust for temp changes from lighting easy, when your tank is cycling and curing you'll have plenty of time to adjust for that kind of thing.

**kaybee** · 07-13-2008, 05:59 PM

Reef tanks generally require stable temperatures. Stability is perhaps more important than any one particular temperature.

Any temperature between 74F-84F would be acceptable, as long as there is little or no flucuation. So a stable 78F or 82F are perfectly fine. A tank that is 74F in the morning and 84F by evening might have some stress issues.

**oldhead** · 07-13-2008, 06:58 PM

Mine sits at 77 most of the time and sometimes will make it to about 79. It was near 83 before but I've added a small fan blowing across the top and working to dial in the temp so that it's as constant as possible.