Cycling Tank Temperature

[Vinh]

I posted a question about heaters on the Equipment forum as my current heater is stuck and now seems to be going down to 76 degrees. I just wanted to ask a more specific question about cycling here.

Is it ok if I'm cycling the tank at 76 degrees while I wait for a new heater to be delivered? I was running it at 80 until now. Will this affect the cycle?

 

[Lenny_S]

It will just slow it down some, nothing major though.

 

[PatW]

There is an old rule of thumb that chemical reaction rates double or triple for every increase of 10 degrees centigrade. As said above, a couple of degrees farenheit will slow things down some, maybe 10 percent, but it should go fine.

 

[Vinh]

I guess that's better than starting the cycle over. New heater arriving in two days so hopefully it stays at 76 until then.

 

[ReeferBob]

Lower temp water holds more oxygen. I turned the heater off in a tank I am going to nuke and there has been an explosion of growth. Perhaps keep it at 78 once the new heater arrives. Also make sure you have a temp controller - check out reefkeeper lite it is cheap and will do other things.

 

[brandon429]

I was going to say that 76 is a fine temp for a full running reef, much less the bacteria who would do ok even lower, this range is acceptable.