How will heat affect bacteria?

[Skunky]

I'm fishless cycling my 5gal. I bought a small heater to help it along, but I couldn't find a small one with a temp control. The temp has risen in 2 days to 91 degrees. How does bacteria handle such a high temperature? I surely don't want to kill it off!

 

[bud29]

I am not sure, but I would turn it off. I know that a temp of 86 or so speeds up colonization but 91 is awfully high. I would also take the heater back and try to find a small one with temp. control.

 

[librarygirl]

The optimum temp is 77-86 degrees fahrenheit. I think it starts to decline at higher temps and dies off at 120. You might be ok at the low nineties without too much impact but I wouldn't let it go higher. I haven't seen a non-adjustable heater that lets temp get that high though; usually they're programmed between 75-78 degrees. Is it hot in the room where the tank is?

 

[Skunky]

Thanks bud and librarygirl. I can't take the thing back because I threw the box away. I, too, believed it would be preset, somehow, to a normal temp. The 5 gal is on my desk, and I'm sure the heat from my computer adds to the temp. It is 80 degrees in this room at 6:30 pm.

I unplugged it a couple of hours ago, opened the lid up a bit, and it is now down to 90.

I hate this Petsmart here. They don't seem to stock much for fish. I used to have a small one for a fry tank that had a control. Worked perfectly.

As long as I'm not spoiling my cycle. It seems to be moving along now.