Salinity & Temperature - Interesting read

[djkms]

Found this article on the net yesterday, well worth the read!

http://web.archive.org/web/20030218...om/fish2/aqfm/1997/nov/features/1/default.asp

I often wondered the effects of keeping our animals at different temps then what they are accustomed to. I know that colder water slows the metabolism and hotter water raises it but I did not know the long term effects of temp on fish and corals.

Most my livestock comes from east and south Asia which typically have a higher temp (83-86 degrees) however I do keep cooler water livestock as well (central pacific) and I was trying to figure out a good balance for temp.

I do love keeping angels and the the angel man himself (Copps - RC) keeps his main display at 76-78, so i was following in his footsteps. Not so sure that's a good idea now. I am thinking closer to 80 degrees would be ideal.

 

[jahmic]

Thanks for sharing. My the thermostat on my heater has started to go, and I noticed my tank dipping down to 75.5 at night. Since I'd been having some trouble with a couple monti caps, I debated increasing the temp a couple degrees, as my flower petal monti seemed to be doing better this summer when the tank temps were no lower than 77 degrees (77-79 most days)

I think I'll be turning up my heater a tad and increasing the temp that my chiller kicks on to maintain higher temps to see if I notice a difference. Right now my temps are 75.5-78 I'll maintain 77-79 for a couple weeks, then 78-80 to see if there's any noticeable difference. Being that I have halides and a chiller on my cube, I'll actually probably save money allowing the tank to run a little warmer.

The relation between SG and temp vs salinity was a good read for sure. I knew the relationship existed, but that chart is a great reference...I'll be printing that out and keeping it somewhere in the fish library.


I love the wayback machine btw, lol....thanks again for digging this one up.

 

[jda123]

Even though I saw a lot of data with very little conclusions, I am a believer in natural conditions. IMO, the amount of temp flux in your tank is WAY more important than the actual level - except in really shallow atols with lots of freshwater runoff, the day/night temp of the water does not change... so 78, 80 or 82, to me, that STAYS PUT is better than a range that fluxes a degree or two during the day. I use a .1 difference in my heater and chiller, which will cause a few cycles a day even with fans, but it is worth it IMO.

Speaking of natural, I would really like to see a study on waves vs flow. Anecdotally, I have seen a tremendous growth spurt in my SPS since I gave up my flow pumps of a wavebox... I am disgusted that I cheaped out for so long and didn't buy a wavebox.

 

[djkms]

Interesting. I have read the opposite when it comes to reef temperatures. From my understanding there are quite a bit of fluctuation in temperature over a coral reef between tides and upwelling waters. I will try to find sources if when I get home from work.

I think having water vary at least a couple degrees a day would be better, just my opinion. What happens when your heater fails or your electricity goes out? Your animals are accustomed to a temp with a .1 degree variable. I would think your animals would be in a huge shock with a 5 degree fall then would animals that were kept under variable temperatures.

 

[jahmic]

Interesting. I have read the opposite when it comes to reef temperatures. From my understanding there are quite a bit of fluctuation in temperature over a coral reef between tides and upwelling waters. I will try to find sources if when I get home from work.

I think having water vary at least a couple degrees a day would be better, just my opinion. What happens when your heater fails or your electricity goes out? Your animals are accustomed to a temp with a .1 degree variable. I would think your animals would be in a huge shock with a 5 degree fall then would animals that were kept under variable temperatures.

That was my understanding as well. Can't link the stuff that I've read in hard copy...but here's a good read that I came across a while back:

http://www.reefsmagazine.com/forum/reefs-magazine/100587-great-temperature-debate-part-iv.html

 

[jda123]

I think that there is a significant difference between what things can tolerate and what is best, I think that we will all agree. You might be right, but we don't know. I know that my SPS can survive 67 degrees and live to tell about it with months of color recovery. I also know (or at least strongly suspect) that a ball-on-accurate temperature has had better results, in my house, over the +/- 2 degree MH afternoon temp spike.

I think that it would be a cool experiment to try and figure out where all my SPS and clams came from and matrix the ocean conditions... there has to be a wide variance and no temp would be perfect.