Cycling & Vacation

[Kels_eh]

I'm going up to my family cottage the last week in August, & I'm planning on picking up my tank tonight.

I'm just wondering, if there's anyway to cycle through that week if I'm not there? Or is it probably best to just wait until the week after?

What I was hoping would work (I'm sure it won't, I was just brainstorming), if I DO start cycling later this week, could I just bring along the filter & some of the water from the tank, the testing kit, ammonia etc. & keep it going in something other than the tank (like a bucket)? It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive to Muskoka & obviously I'd keep the filter media wet.

Just curious...

 

[Sofia]

Just for the buggeration factor I would wait till you got back! Its only a week!

 

[craig855s]

I tried the keeping it alive in a bucket for 36 hours...didnt work for some reason but if u do it right it can do..Id just get it to 5PPM when u leave for ur parents and then get it to 5PPM when u get back and hope u stay semi cycled. Im doing the same soon (going away for 4 days mid cycle)

 

[Kels_eh]

true enough... thanks!

P.S. I think buggeration is my new favourite word

 

[Sofia]

true enough... thanks!

P.S. I think buggeration is my new favourite word

It's quintessentially British

 

[OldMan47]

Quintessentially Brit but not very pertinent to the question.
You have at least 2 options as I see it. You could bring along the filter and kit and keep cycling in a bucket as you suggested or you could use one of the older, and seemingly less desirable, methods of cycling such as leaving a shrimp to decay in the tank while you are gone to produce a constant supply of ammonia. If you choose to let a shrimp decay in the tank, don't just leave it floating around the tank, contain it with a piece of panty hose or something similar so that it is easy to remove when you return home.

 

[Kels_eh]

Quintessentially Brit but not very pertinent to the question.
You have at least 2 options as I see it. You could bring along the filter and kit and keep cycling in a bucket as you suggested or you could use one of the older, and seemingly less desirable, methods of cycling such as leaving a shrimp to decay in the tank while you are gone to produce a constant supply of ammonia. If you choose to let a shrimp decay in the tank, don't just leave it floating around the tank, contain it with a piece of panty hose or something similar so that it is easy to remove when you return home.

Does the shrimp thing actually work? I've researched elsewhere online about other techniques & alot of people seem to think that the shrimp cycle theory is bogus. (I don't mean to doubt you, I'm just wondering if you've ever tried it..)

 

[Rediahs]

Does the shrimp thing actually work? I've researched elsewhere online about other techniques & alot of people seem to think that the shrimp cycle theory is bogus. (I don't mean to doubt you, I'm just wondering if you've ever tried it..)

Bogus? Nothing bogus about it, decaying matter creates ammonia, the same ammonia that you are adding to cycle the tank.

The question is whether it's a good idea or not... I'd say generally not so fun to let something sit and rot in your tank, might smell, get messy, etc, except in situations like this where you don't have much other choice. So go with the shrimp. It's unreliable but it's better than nothing if you're along enough in your cycle that you would feel like you wasted time if you came home to an uncycled tank.

 

[Kels_eh]

Thank you!! I just found what I think is the best solution. I really appreciate all the help ladies & gents!

 

[OldMan47]

Glad to hear you have a suitable answer.