Fishless Cycling And Vacation

[ChaseTheBetta]

When I first got my tank, I assumed it would be cycled by the time I went on vacation. I've had the tank cycling for over a month, it's still not done. Right now, it's eating about 4ppm of ammonia in 24 hours, there's a nitrite spike, and about 5 nitrate. So, it's getting there.

But, I'm going on vacation on August 18th. I'll be coming home on August 21st. I will be able to put ammonia in right before we leave and right when we come back. So, that's 2 days of not being able to add ammonia. Should I just put in a little more than normal in the day I leave? Or should I just add the normal amount and hope for the best?

It's a 5 US gallon tank with no live plants.

 

[dthoffsett]

Is there anyone that can come over and add some ammonia while you are gone? The general consensus is that bacteria start to die off in 24 hours without a food source (ammonia).

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

I can't have anyone come over to add ammonia.

Do you think if I put my filter in my betta fish's tank it would provide enough ammonia to keep the bacteria alive? His tank has a UGF with an air pump.

If by some small chance, my tank gets cycled by Friday, I'll do a big water change and put my betta in the tank while we're gone.

Any other ideas?

 

[CruX]

Have you got an electronic fish feeder you can put ammonia into? The problem with putting your filter into the betta tank is some of the bacteria will die off as the betta will just not provide enough waste to keep all the bacteria alive. I wouldn't overdose as I believe that this can stall your cycle. If there really isn't anyone to come over and help while you are away you could pollute your water with fish food but as you are doing so well in the cycle some of the bacteria might doe off. Whatever you choose I hope it works out for you.

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

I don't have an electronic fish feeder. How much do those cost?

 

[CruX]

Only looked here so far.

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

I'm in the U.S. But I'll check Petsmart's website.

 

[CruX]

Sorry I should have guessed by your original post and the use of the word 'Vacation' lol

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

LOL, that's ok! I looked at Petsmart's website and the cheapest one is $25. So, probably not.

 

[CruX]

I was expecting to pay that in £s.

 

[Matty P]

$25 is a reasonable price.

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

It's pretty reasonable compared to the others, but I don't really want to spend the money on it.

I did think of something. When I started my cycling, all my ammonia just disappeared without becoming nitrites. I figured it got absorbed by the carbon. Quite a bit of it was absorbed. Do you think it's still in the carbon? Could the bacteria eat that?

 

[znk]

Somehow...I feel that if you stopped with the amonia and put a few fish in there it would be ok. They would produce less amonia so your bacteria would manage to keep the amonia and nitrites a 0.

 

[Musho3210]

just put a small raw coctail shrimp in there.... It will slowly decompose adding ammonia....

 

[vinylman]

just put a small raw coctail shrimp in there.... It will slowly decompose adding ammonia....

But be prepared for the whiff when you come back!!.