tempature ????

[david emmett]

Back with another ??? I was reading my new book by simone and schuster guide to fresh water and marine aquarium fish and I notice in it ,it seem to say most salt water invert.s need a temp. of around 71f so I,m wondering in my flower anemone,s and my polyes and soft corals are ok at 80f which is what the place I bought then told me to keep them at, once again thanx for the help Dave E

[OrionGirl]

There's a lot of discussion about this, and little agreement. IMO/E, 78-82 is a good range. I think the warmer temps help out and keep corals happier than the cooler temps. So--yes, 80 is fine. I honestly don't know anyone keeping a reef at anything below 74, without it being on a chiller, with coldwater species.

[Kilat]

I live in the tropics without air/con, so my issue isn't heating but cooling (or, the lack thereof). My inside air temperature sits around 85F (30C) for about 4 months of the year. I figure water temp would be maybe 2 degrees cooler??? So...can anyone recommend tropical marine species (corals and reef-friendly fish) that seem to enjoy higher temperatures?

[Decz]

i used to keep my tank at 78... then had a power outage and somehow unintentionally reset my heater to 83.5.... my tank hasn't been happier since the increase! i'm seeing more color, and everything gets bigger (the mushrooms etc)... the only downfall is that I had to get a little more regular with my buffer because I was losing coraline algae... it all seems to be under control now tho!

[Crown Royal]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

[Kilat]

Thanks, that was very helpful. I'll do some research on the natural conditions of some commonly available corals. Maybe I can concentrate on those found in shallower water where temps tend to be higher.

[Crown Royal]

Try soft corals. They are hardier generally and originate in shallow, slightly turbid lagoon settings with little water flow.

[Kilat]

Aren't soft corals a bit scary in an aquarium due to their propensity to release toxins for self-defence? Or is this largely a myth?

[OrionGirl]

I never had problems with my softies--skimming and running carbon are easy options though, and will reduce effects of the chemicals released. Most all corals release some toxins, but softies are worse than most of the stonies, so it's best to plan in advance to deal with it.

[mogurnda]

The toxins from soft corals are not a myth, but I think the risk is overstated. I have been keeping soft and stony corals together for years, and the stony corals grow like weeds and seem quite happy. In fact, whenever the soft and stony corals grow too close to each other, the softies always lose, even with "meek" SPS like montipora.

[Crown Royal]

Agreed, run carbon and a skimmer and you won't have problems with softies.

Some LPS, such as galaxea or bubble, (which should do fine in the same conditions as softies) you really have to watch out for regarding their placement because they are quite aggressive with their stinging tentancles reaching out several inches or more.