Do I Need A Specific Temp For A Fishless Cycle?

[Linway]

Hey again all,
Sorry about all the questions I'm posting lately, I'm just very new to this and don't want to mess anything up...
 
Anyway, the heater that I have is fine, however the thermometer that came with it is dog **** and doesn't work... Like at all lol... I knew it would be like this but I forgot to buy a thermometer when I was at the store. I want to start my fishless cycle today but I have no idea of knowing what temp the water is until I can get a thermometer which wont be until Sunday...
 
Am I ok starting without the water being at a desired temp? Or does the temp need to be specific in order to get the right bacteria to grow?
 
Thanks

 

[ech0o]

it may as well be in the same ballpark as what your going to keep it at.   no reason to cycle it at 60 degrees, only to raise the water temp by 20 degrees before you drop fish in, this may unsettle bacteria although i have no experience with this as here where we live it is warm, and the house has air conditioning always at 78 so all of the tanks remain at that temp.
 
anyways i'd say get it to about where you are going to keep it, but it doesn't really make much of a difference!!

 

[Chad]

I apologize for not providing a link, I am not where I can search for it right now, but I remember reading that the warmer temperature promotes the bacterial growth which can in turn shorten the duration of the cycle. Lower temps drag things out.

 

[fm1978]

I apologize for not providing a link, I am not where I can search for it right now, but I remember reading that the warmer temperature promotes the bacterial growth which can in turn shorten the duration of the cycle. Lower temps drag things out.

 
I've heard/read this before, too.
 
If you have nothing else to go on, Linway, get the heaters thermostat in front of you and put it a few clicks (if it clicks) or perhaps a notch above the middle setting. This won't be perfect by any means but it'll get you started for now, hopefully!
 
Good Luck and get a half decent thermometer some time soon, it's the only sure-fire way to know where you are with temps. If you're anything like me, you might want to buy 2 different kinds of thermometers and put them both in to make sure....yes, I do that...it's quite sad, isn't it?

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Set it at 30c for cycling. You can just get it in the right neighborhood to start with and adjust it when you get a thermometer, it won't do any harm to change the temp a bit in a few days.

If it helps, your tank water should feel slightly warm at 30 degrees as opposed to the usual 26, which still feels a tad cool IMO. When I was cycling my tank originally I noticed that the glass felt slightly warm to the touch at 30c - I kind of wanted to get in the tank lol.

 

[Linway]

So I can just start the cycle now and then sort the temp out once I get a thermometer on Sunday?... My heater has no temp gauge on it, it's just + and - so I have no idea of what I would be setting it to... I just want to get it started I guess

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Hmmm never seen one like that! Yeah I would get started anyway and fix the temp later. Another option for the short term would be to pick up a regular people or cooking thermometer from you local supermarket if it's bothering you

 

[Ch4rlie]

 
 
Good Luck and get a half decent thermometer some time soon, it's the only sure-fire way to know where you are with temps. If you're anything like me, you might want to buy 2 different kinds of thermometers and put them both in to make sure....yes, I do that...it's quite sad, isn't it?
 

No, not sad at all. 

 
But that means I'm pretty sad as well since I have 2 thermometers as well! lol
 
One Marina stick on one at top right hand corner of tank, and the other is a glass one inside the tank on other side at lower level. 
 
This is to assure me temp is the same throughout the tank. 
 
Not expensive for these little thermometers from any LFS, a couple pounds at most really. 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The bacteria will reproduce at a wide range of temps. As tcamos noted, low 80s F (27C or so would be ideal). However it is not critical. Actually, the ammonia bacs prefer a higher temp for maximal growth effect that do the nitrite bacs who are happiest a few degrees lower. Pretty much anywhere from the low 70s F (22-23C) to the mid 80s (30C) will work OK.
 
There are a number of factors that effect the growth rate of the nitrifiers. Optimal growth rates are not a function of any one prameter but rather of a combination of factors. If the pH is low but the temp is warm, they go more slowly than at a higher pH. If oxygen levels are lower, then warmer doesn't matter much, etc.
 
So do not worry about starting your cycle at whatever your room temperature is. When you get your new thermometer you can adjust things more accurately.