Water temp at 60 degrees!

[smcnally]

Not in my tank of course
When I swapped out my sump, I didn't have anywhere to keep my excess chaeto, so I stuck it outside in a 5 gallon bucket. As I was pulling it out to toss it this morning, I noticed the pods were still crawling around and alive in 60 degree water. I'm sure lots of other stuff died, but I had no idea they would live in that. I'm sure it was even colder through the night too.

 

[cobraz]

We have lost power at my home many times, last year we lost power for 2 days and my tank went to 56 degrees, when the power was restored - I did not have any losses (Lucky). A gradual loss in temp and then an increase in temp will withstand most creatures.

I brought some flatworms and snails into work a week ago in a plastic tub to show a fellow member and they were still alive 4 days later. No heat and no change in water.

 

[Matt L.]

Not in my tank of course
When I swapped out my sump, I didn't have anywhere to keep my excess chaeto, so I stuck it outside in a 5 gallon bucket. As I was pulling it out to toss it this morning, I noticed the pods were still crawling around and alive in 60 degree water. I'm sure lots of other stuff died, but I had no idea they would live in that. I'm sure it was even colder through the night too.

Steve,

My experience is that it is unlikely a lot died off. I have found that many reef organisms can survive such low temperatures, including M. digitada. I'm sure it varies by what you have in your chaeto, but I have found that various amphipods, copepods, mini brittle stars, mini stars, nuisance flatworms, and bristleworms can all survive some time in water in the 60F's.

 

[RichConley]

Steve,

My experience is that it is unlikely a lot died off. I have found that many reef organisms can survive such low temperatures, including M. digitada. I'm sure it varies by what you have in your chaeto, but I have found that various amphipods, copepods, mini brittle stars, mini stars, nuisance flatworms, and bristleworms can all survive some time in water in the 60F's.

I've had the same experience. My tank was at 65 about 2 nights ago. The heaters just went back in yesterday. I dont see any real losses.

Too hot is MUCH worse than too cold, IMO.

 

[MikeG]

I've had the same experience. My tank was at 65 about 2 nights ago. The heaters just went back in yesterday. I dont see any real losses.

Too hot is MUCH worse than too cold, IMO.

Just wondering why you take your heaters out? I would be worried I would forget to put them back in or we would have an unexpected cold night.

 

[JayM]

My downstairs tank went down to 68 when my son unplugged the heater. 2 year olds need 24/7 supervision

 

[mloebl]

I saw the same thing. I got some sand and LR from another member and put it into a rubbermaid bin. Sat in complete darkness unheated for several weeks. Opened it up and saw pods, chaeto, snails, some sort of polyp and mini-brittlestars all running around in there trying to escape from the light. The water even had evaporated quite a bit so the gravity was very high. Tough inverts.

-Mike

 

[smcnally]

Yeah they are. I'm re-aclimating some right now. I scooped up a bunch of the water and rubble and have it floating in the sump now.

 

[RichConley]

Just wondering why you take your heaters out? I would be worried I would forget to put them back in or we would have an unexpected cold night.

Because the consequences of an unexpected cold night aren't nearly as bad as the consequences of a heater sticking on.

Its a calculated risk.