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The heater on the office tank stuck on and the temp in the tank is over 86 degrees Farenheit (that is as high as the thermometer goes). How hot can cichlids handle water before they start to die? Everyone is currently behaving normally and none of the fish are gasping at the surface.

unplug it and get a new one

I have unplugged the heater and am going to get a new one at lunch. What I am concerned about right now is the max temp the fish can handle before they start to die.

Since the temp is already well over 86 degrees, am I going to lose all the fish or do they have a chance at surviving as long as I bring the temp back down slowly?

It'd depend on the fish you have exactly of course....If you've got a spare airstone I'd throw that in for now, it's the oxygen that is driven off @higher temps that is resposible for most fish deaths in higher temps. If you havent got a spare airstone I'd lower the water level by an inch or two (if you've got HOB filters) and allow the lowered water level to increase surface agitation.

^_^[hr width='40%'] Only 13 dives and they're already calling [link=me]http://babelfish.qwertydigital.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] a
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Buy a Ebo Jager, as they are very reliable.

In the mean time, add an air stone, if you have a spare one.



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I beg to differ on the Ebo Jager acutally. I've got 4 different brands of heaters from the cheapest HOB to a 250W Ebo Jager...and the Ebo Jager is the only one that is too high by 5F, and yes, all the instructions were followed .

^_^[hr width='40%'] Only 13 dives and they're already calling [link=me]http://babelfish.qwertydigital.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] a
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Since the temp is already well over 86 degrees, am I going to lose all the fish or do they have a chance at surviving as long as I bring the temp back down slowly?

You have an excellent chance of saving all of the fish that have not already died. And from your post it seems like you caught it pretty early.

I have had this happen twice to me now. Both times all of the fish who lived through the initial disaster made it in the end. Just bring down the temps very very slowly, introduce lots of oxygen to the water and keep a very close watch on the fish. They have been through a lot, but the worst is over. I had a 29 gallon tank heat to over 96 degrees. All of the fish died but 3 bristlenose plecos. A breeding trio. They were upside down and the gills were heavily flapping, and they did survive in the end. The other fish had long since died and had a boiled soft appearence to them. Truely nasty.

You've got good chances of saving everyone

Goodluck,

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.