Does the tank need to be heated for effective fishless cycling? I ask because I'm buying the tank locally and mail ordering the heater, so I'm trying to decide whether to start cycling now or wait for the heater.
Dumb Cycling Question
- Thread starter Betty Betta
- Start date
Not a scientist but
I've did a quick search and one of Orion Girls post did mention the fact that a tank would still cycle at a lower temp, however it would take longer. However there was no mention of how much longer.
I know there is an specific / optimal range that the bacteria will cultivate at. Unfortunately for the exact specific's of the temp ranges and how it would effect the cycle that will need input from RTR, Orion or one of the other's with a more in depth knowledge of the chemistry.
You could try PM'ing one of them. I don't wish to sound mean but the thread title is not going to catch some-one like RTR's eye.....
The other point is that surley the mail order should be with you in a couple of days of you placing it so the time delay if you do decide to wait shouldn't be that long.....
HTH a bit
I've did a quick search and one of Orion Girls post did mention the fact that a tank would still cycle at a lower temp, however it would take longer. However there was no mention of how much longer.
I know there is an specific / optimal range that the bacteria will cultivate at. Unfortunately for the exact specific's of the temp ranges and how it would effect the cycle that will need input from RTR, Orion or one of the other's with a more in depth knowledge of the chemistry.
You could try PM'ing one of them. I don't wish to sound mean but the thread title is not going to catch some-one like RTR's eye.....
The other point is that surley the mail order should be with you in a couple of days of you placing it so the time delay if you do decide to wait shouldn't be that long.....
HTH a bit
"I don't wish to sound mean..."
The first two paragraphs were helpful (and I do thank you for that) , but really now, was this comment necessary?
:shake:
HTH
The first two paragraphs were helpful (and I do thank you for that) , but really now, was this comment necessary?
:shake:
HTH
Start the cycle now. When the heater arrives then add it in. From what I have read bacterial growth won't really be overly affected until you start dipping into the 50F area. At room temp you will be fine.
Congrats on choosing a fishless cycle. Do you have your test kits?
Congrats on choosing a fishless cycle. Do you have your test kits?
Betty,
Sorry if I offended, it wasn't meant, but what I was trying to say (and maybe I could have worded it slightly better) is that a number of the people whose attention would be excellent on this post may have skipped over it because of the thread title.
Some of people here will spend a lot of time on various boards, therfore getting their interest in your problem is fundamental. They may skip threads that are not specifc to area's they are strong in so the more info you can give in the thread title the more chance you have of attracting the people with the knowledge to answer your specific question.
I hope that helps clarifies that I was not trying to be mean just help you get the best advice possible.....
I always figure that since this is a newbie forum, titles like that for this thread are to be expected. Cycling a tank can be very confusing for someone just starting out, so many of us try to pop in on such threads to make sure newbies are getting help.
Betty, you can certainly start your cycle without the heater. You'll get much faster bacterial growth, though, when you get the heater and crank it up to about 84-86 degrees F.
Good luck and keep asking questions!
Jim
Betty, you can certainly start your cycle without the heater. You'll get much faster bacterial growth, though, when you get the heater and crank it up to about 84-86 degrees F.
Good luck and keep asking questions!
Jim
My apologies to Fishsmurf for my Pirahna-esque response. I act like a 3 year old who missed their naptime when I'm tired. I do appreciate your efforts to help. I hope you didn't take offense at my sniping. Peace, friend.
A new complication arose.
I've been offered the "innards" of a 30-gallon tank for free. It will include the filter (with media!), a couple of plants, and gravel, but I don't know if the heater is included. Will the good "critters" on the gravel and media stay alive if their environmental temperature drops? I don't expect my heater to arrive until early next week (but I should add that my house isn't air conditioned and the temperature is SCORCHING hot here in L.A.)
A new complication arose.
I've been offered the "innards" of a 30-gallon tank for free. It will include the filter (with media!), a couple of plants, and gravel, but I don't know if the heater is included. Will the good "critters" on the gravel and media stay alive if their environmental temperature drops? I don't expect my heater to arrive until early next week (but I should add that my house isn't air conditioned and the temperature is SCORCHING hot here in L.A.)
As JSchmidt said having a heater will lead to faster growth. And everything I've read on fishless agrees. Not to mention my high school biology classes. You can start with out the heater though and add it in when it arrives. If your just starting you'll need to establish the bac in the tank so having it's food available will help with that, the heat will just help it multiply faster once it's there.
-Neo Sithlord
-Neo Sithlord
Agreed, you should be fine. Esp. if your house is scorching hot
I don't know what you mean by scorching, but I assume that you mean mid-70s? Sorry, I don't know ferrenheit (did I even spell it right?), at least for air temps. But I think that I read somewhere that the bacteria are good to about 50oF, after that they go dormant. Since I doubt that you'd call 50 'scorching', you're fine.
And yeah, even if the T is a bit low, it'll just slow the bacteria down a bit, not stop them.
I don't know what you mean by scorching, but I assume that you mean mid-70s? Sorry, I don't know ferrenheit (did I even spell it right?), at least for air temps. But I think that I read somewhere that the bacteria are good to about 50oF, after that they go dormant. Since I doubt that you'd call 50 'scorching', you're fine.
And yeah, even if the T is a bit low, it'll just slow the bacteria down a bit, not stop them.