Do You Have To Heat The Saltwater When Cycling?

[PeterC99]

Starting up a frag tank that will eventually share a sump with my main display. Getting a head start on the frag tank and starting to cycle.

Question - Do you have to heat the saltwater while you are cycling? Probably be 2 months before I have display and frag tank combined into one sump.

Thanks!

 

[ReefGuard Systems]

I always have cycled tanks with a heater and set to the temp I plan on keeping the tank at. However, I don't think you technically need to. As long as the room temp isn't super cold it should be fine.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Short answer probaby.

Assuming the cycling you are doing is to grow a bacterial population in the tank. There are different shorts of bacteria that thrive in different temperature ranges. Unless your tank will stay in reef temps (72-78) without a heater, best practice is to heat it to support the life you are going for.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I would keep it 76-78. Just me

 

[PeterC99]

Short answer probaby.

Assuming the cycling you are doing is to grow a bacterial population in the tank. There are different shorts of bacteria that thrive in different temperature ranges. Unless your tank will stay in reef temps (72-78) without a heater, best practice is to heat it to support the life you are going for.

Ok - So what’s the long answer?

Just kidding! Happy New Year!

 

[Mr Fishface]

Good question. Bacteria are pretty hardy, so it might be fine if it's not an extreme temp. Having said that, I have always used a heater as I cycle my tanks. I know some organisms are much more active in warmer water and I assume the same to be true for bacteria.

 

[Tamberav]

Starting up a frag tank that will eventually share a sump with my main display. Getting a head start on the frag tank and starting to cycle.

Question - Do you have to heat the saltwater while you are cycling? Probably be 2 months before I have display and frag tank combined into one sump.

Thanks!

No, the cycle will take longer if the water is fairly cold though.

 

[PeterC99]

No, the cycle will take longer if the water is fairly cold though.

Frag tank is in my basement - so probably around 65 degrees.

 

[Tamberav]

Frag tank is in my basement - so probably around 65 degrees.

I kept live rock in my basement and it’s cold in Wisconsin. I immediately set a tank up with it at one point, no issue.

Actually there was living starfish and worms in it at that temp just living the life. Also a single whelk.