Temps while cycling?

[GTriever]

Heat wave! Outdoor temps of 100+, heat indices of 105-110 F, and my tank temps are between 82 in the morning and 87 in the late afternoon. But, here's the question... Since it's a brand-new tank (so new that the Live Rock's not going in until this weekend), is 87 degrees going to hurt the cycle? If I can get by with those temps until September/October while cycling, then A/C units will be going on clearance and I can probably save a couple of hundred bucks on air conditioning that room. Or do I need to bite the bullet and go ahead with the A/C now?

 

[szwab]

[welcome]

the bacteria you are promoting during cycling are pretty resilient. Ideally you want to maintain proper conditions. If not just to see how well temps can be controlled before fish and inverts go in.

 

[carlosngloria]

[welcome]


You could always purchase a chiller for your tank. 87 is kinda high for a tank. It should be around 78. Check some online fish stores like Liveaquaria and in the fish description it may tell you what temp. the fish prefer.

 

[GTriever]

Thanx for the quick response. Until this heat wave hit, tank temps had been running a pretty consistent 78 - 79 degrees even under the metal halides (Being an Electronics guy by trade, I've run the equipment for about 4 - 6 weeks with both fresh- and saltwater as a burn-in period). I knew that I could stand higher temps for freshwater bacteria cycling, but didn't know how all the other stuff on the LR would deal with the higher temps...

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

87 is definitely kinda high, but 78 is unrealistic in hotter climates, IMHO. Low 80's is totally fine.

But I'll echo the sentiment that you're fine in the upper 80's during cycling. Especially if the live rock isn't even in yet - a big part of cycling is allowing the live rock to cure (i.e. let all the dead stuff rot away) and allowing beneficial organisms from it - other than bacteria - to spread across the tank.

 

[szwab]

another alternative, if you are running lights is to shorten the photo period and/or avoid having them on during the hottest parts of the day. Since they are not critical for the cycle. You will want to have them on once the live rock is in IMO. Doesn't need to be full boar but some form of a shortened photo period.

 

[wooden_reefer]

Too trends counter:

Bacteria tend to grow faster when warmer

less oxygen in water with increased temperature.

Upper 80's is OK.