fluctuating tempreature

If my tank goes from 78 degrees and then rises to 80 degrees everytime the lights turn on will that have bad effects on my tank? After reading the article posted by Matt (im sure it was his) about how the great barrier reef will disappear due to global warming im sure the tempreature flux is bad, but i though i would get your guys input as well.....

 

How close is your temp probe to the surface of the water?

 

It's normal for your tank temps to go up a few degrees after the lights come on, especially if you run MH. Having a fan blow over the surface of the water will help keep those temps from getting any higher.

 

The temperature probe is in the middle of the tank right underneath the metal halide (im only running lights on one side of my tank) i just moved it to the complete opposite corner of my tank and i will check the temperature there.. Do you think two degrees flux is that bad even for fairly sensitive organisms?

Since I arguably live in the hottest state in the US, I should definately try the fan thing during the summer.

In the future I would like to get some mushroom coral, xenia, and perhaps some hammer coral.. all soft coral I assume (are these corals called sps corals?) you know, corals along these lines, and if I have a 250w 20,000k metal halide with a 28w actinic, how long should i run each of them?

 

Well, what you could do is lower your heater so that during the night the tank goes down to 76 then when the lights come on, it goes to 78. As Amcarrig said, some fluctuation is to be expected. A fan would help alot too but be aware it will cause more evaporation, so toping off will be more of a chore.

 

SPS corals are small polyped stonies-meaning they are "hermatypic" have a calcareous skeleton responsible for building our coral reefs!
LPS is Large polyped stonies also Hermatypic.
Xenia, shrooms etc. are classified under soft corals(Octocorals)
Hammer coral is a LPS from the Euphylia family. They don't require very intense light however they do contain long sweeper tentacles used in toxic warfare to grow and keep other corals from crowding it.
Just some FYI for you-but I would read up on all the corals you would like before investing the money and having them die to improper husbandry etc. !

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, I have been doing a little bit of reading from the awesome "aquarium corals" book. however, I need to learn a lot more. I know they dont need that much intense light, I will probably put them under overhangs or in slightly shaded places. But how long do you think i should run the lights for?

As for the temperature, I think that I bumped my thermometer up to 80 degrees because my lights have been off for almost an hour and the tempreature has not budged. Ill keep your advice on turning it down to 76 so when it climbs up it wont go too high... Thanks again.

 

Are you talking about the soft corals?
I would keep your lights on for a 8-10 hour day. As fot the placement... you can place the soft corals anywhere basically, however placement lower in your tank will be sufficient for those corals mentioned above(soft corals). Good water flow will also aid in the happiness of your corals to remove detritus from acclimating and carry nutrients to your corals!
Keep in mind the toxicity of neighboring corals as well!
Happy coral hunting!

 

Lighting timing for me below

10am: Actinics On
12am: 6500k + 11,000k On
8pm: 6500k + 11,000k Off
10pm: Actinics Off


As for coral placement. When you first purchase the coral keep it at the bottom of the tank. After about one week you can start moving it upwards. Really...there isnt any set area where you should put corals.

You know which ones Require more light, but each has its own personaility. I know that I have two xenias of the same mother colony, one likes to be up at the top and the other likes the bottom.