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I've read the guidelines about temperature, but does anyone know how much turtles are effected by temperature variance within the prescribed areas? I used to think that you try to keep it "at" a temperature, but recently I've been allowing it to fluctuate fairly normally, but keeping the heater at about 72 sort of as a stop gap (my normal evening indoor temperatures rarely go below 70 anyways). But this means on most days my turtles have been having a 3-5 degree variance between day and night temps. I figure this has got to be close to their normal situation (realizing that real ponds maintain a temperature far more consistent than my 80 gallons).

Anyone have any strong feelings one way or the other about temperature variance?

For me, it depends on the age and how quickly it changes. Plus, healthy RES can handle a larger temp drop... I would just be extra cautious with hatchlings.

My preferred range is a bit higher than yours, but I wouldn't have an issue with what you're doing. On (accidental) occasions its gotten even colder.

I don't keep a heater nor a heat bulb with my turtles, I let them adapt to the temperature (I might add a few ice cubs in the water during summer because it's hotter inside than outside).
But only because the weather/temperature is pretty close to Florida (warmer winter though). So temperature varies between 22 - 28. I don't want to add heat bulb and the likes because they will eventually end up outside in a pond, so I want them to be used to the temperature changes.

I think with reptiles the more natural the better, so I think what you do is better than having a fixed temp. all year long