bpeitzke
Aquarium Advice Activist
We've finally got our new 65-gal FOWLR tank set up. I'd been running the lights from 8:00am to 11:00pm, but found that the temperature gets up into the mid-83 degree range, even with the heater's thermostat set at 80. I have observed that the temp goes up when the lights are on and down when they are off. As an interim measure I've reset the lights to run from 6:00pm to 11:00pm, and I'll keep an eye on the temperatures.
Actually, I'm not sure these temperatures are excessive. I just reread an article by Dr. Ronald Shimek, "Natural Reef Salinities and Temperatures", in which he cites average sea temperatures in the Indo-Pacific region, in the 83-84 degree fahrenheith range. I would appreciate feedback on optimal temperatures and salinities. (We've been keeping the salinity in the range of 1.022 - 1.025.)
One thing I'm considering is to get another timer and run only one of our PC flourescent bulbs during the day, running both only during the prime evening hours when we're there to enjoy the tank.
I'm looking for suggestions on how to best manage temperature with this setup. Here are my tank parameters:
65-gal tall acrylic tank (23.5" height)
Current USA Dual Satellite Compact Fluorescent 30" 130w with moonlight LED's (very cool)
CPR Cyclone BAK-PAK2 Bio-Filter protein skimmer
Finnex 200w Digital Titanium Heater
2 x MaxiJet 1200 PH's
Hydor Koralia 2 circulation pump (1)
50 lb fine-grain sand from LFS (allegedly not aragonite but what they use in their display tanks)
Lots of Fiji LR (bought over time, thus don't know total weight, but tank is full of it)
Fish:
- Spotted green puffer, 6" (1)
- Yellow Tang, 4" (1)
- Zebra Damsel, 3" (1)
- Coral Beauty, 3.5" (1)
We'd like to get a couple of more fish after we're confident of a stable environment. That's a subject for another post. The tank is beautiful. I'll try to post some pictures soon.
Grateful for any advice
Bob Peitzke
Pacific Palisades, CA
Actually, I'm not sure these temperatures are excessive. I just reread an article by Dr. Ronald Shimek, "Natural Reef Salinities and Temperatures", in which he cites average sea temperatures in the Indo-Pacific region, in the 83-84 degree fahrenheith range. I would appreciate feedback on optimal temperatures and salinities. (We've been keeping the salinity in the range of 1.022 - 1.025.)
One thing I'm considering is to get another timer and run only one of our PC flourescent bulbs during the day, running both only during the prime evening hours when we're there to enjoy the tank.
I'm looking for suggestions on how to best manage temperature with this setup. Here are my tank parameters:
65-gal tall acrylic tank (23.5" height)
Current USA Dual Satellite Compact Fluorescent 30" 130w with moonlight LED's (very cool)
CPR Cyclone BAK-PAK2 Bio-Filter protein skimmer
Finnex 200w Digital Titanium Heater
2 x MaxiJet 1200 PH's
Hydor Koralia 2 circulation pump (1)
50 lb fine-grain sand from LFS (allegedly not aragonite but what they use in their display tanks)
Lots of Fiji LR (bought over time, thus don't know total weight, but tank is full of it)
Fish:
- Spotted green puffer, 6" (1)
- Yellow Tang, 4" (1)
- Zebra Damsel, 3" (1)
- Coral Beauty, 3.5" (1)
We'd like to get a couple of more fish after we're confident of a stable environment. That's a subject for another post. The tank is beautiful. I'll try to post some pictures soon.
Grateful for any advice
Bob Peitzke
Pacific Palisades, CA