Q. What temperature should I keep my tank?

A. In natural tropical reefs, water temperature ranges from 70 to 82 degrees below the surface. In captivity the intense lighting needed to maintain corals tends to increase the temperature in the aquarium. Normal temperature in a captive reef ranges from 75 to 82 degrees. The most important factor when dealing with temperature is stability. A drop in temperature at night is normal. It is important to avoid drastic changes in temperature, a three or more degree change in temperature in a short period of time can put fish and invertebrates in shock and kill them. A higher temperature means a higher metabolism for all the animals in the aquarium. When their metabolism is higher, the fish will eat more, grow faster, and become over all more active. The amount of waste being created by the fish will increase but ideally the speed of breakdown will proportionally increase with it. A good recommended target temperature is 78 degrees. Again a slightly higher temperature won’t hurt just as long at is stable.