Will A Temp Change Kill My Beneficial Bacteria?

[mgx42]

As some of you know, my tank is cycling at the moment. It should be done in another week or two. Since I don't have good tap water I use spring water for my (20g) tank. I have 4 zebra danios in there who are healthy. Anyway, my water got extremely cloudy and dirty recently so I decided to do a larger water change than usual, about 75%. I have to use spring water so getting the temperature of the new water to match the tank's (80degrees f.) is not easy. The best I can do is get it down to room temp which is between 72 and 74. After changing the water out my tank's temp went from 80 degrees to 72 degrees. Will a temp change of 7-8 degrees kill beneficial bacteria? If it does, will it kill all of it? Should I be worrying??

 

[fluttermoth]

It wouldn't kill your bacteria, but it would shock your fish, so you'll have to add it in very slowly.

Zebra danios shouldn't be kept at such a high temp anyway, they'd do far better at room temp.

What exactly is wrong with your tap water?

 

[mgx42]

It wouldn't kill your bacteria, but it would shock your fish, so you'll have to add it in very slowly.

Zebra danios shouldn't be kept at such a high temp anyway, they'd do far better at room temp.

What exactly is wrong with your tap water?

Yeah I know just keeping it at 80 for the cycle, I plan on lowering it when its done, thanks for the advice though. But yeah my tap has ammonia and high nitrite in it so I can't use it, at least not while its cycling with fish in it.

It wouldn't kill your bacteria, but it would shock your fish, so you'll have to add it in very slowly.

Zebra danios shouldn't be kept at such a high temp anyway, they'd do far better at room temp.

What exactly is wrong with your tap water?

Oh and thanks for answering so quickly!

 

[fluttermoth]

I would honestly lower it now. Fish in cycles are always a compromise between the needs of the fish and the needs of the cycle, and although it will slow your cycle down I would lower the temperature now; it really is too hot for danios.