Summertime tank woes

[Anonymous]

Strange. I don't see the big deal with temp, I have experience with a tank that hits 86F on a regular basis. When I changed the metal halide to a different spanky kewl model I had to suspend it higher than the instructions dictated, simply to keep the temp from going even higher. This tank has been running for almost 4 years now with nary a glitch.
Perchance the problem is not temperature related.
Circulation is optimal, for oxygenation. Lotsa powerheads.

 

[smlacy]

I actually think that seasonable variation in coloring, health, etc. is normal and possibly even healthy for the tank itself.

Think about your front lawn, or any other plant, like an Oak Tree. It definately has seasonal variations in color, percieved health, growth, etc. It may even appear completely dead at times. If you were to deprive it of seasonal variation, it might, on average to appear "more healthy" to a casual observer, but I don't think that you'd get the same amount of total yearly growth. For example, Deciduous trees need to shed their leaves and go "dormat" for a while to really be healthy, and springtime is when things really start growing.

Unless what you're seeing is really "unsightly" (hair algae, diatoms, cyano, etc.) I tend to think that its better to go through seasonal temperature cycles. But, I'm no expert, so don't take my word for anything.

Steve