Going Away For A Week While Tank Is Cycling!

[DanielG]

Im going away for a week in august and my tank is still fishless cycling, i am hoping that it will cycle in time for me to add fish before i go, however if it does nt how can i keep adding ammonia daily so my bacteria ive worked so hard for don t die off!!!!

Getting someone to come round and do it for me is nt going to work as i live a fair way away from all my friends and they dont have cars!!!

Really stuck on this one help please

 

[backley420]

Id add fish

 

[**sarahp**]

I wonder if you could put some fish food in a net bag - as a sort of slow release of ammonia (as it decays?). I'm sure someone on here is using food as their ammonia source because they couldnt find the bottled stuff anywhere. Trouble is - I'm not sure what quantity you would need

 

[DanielG]

if i add fish and am not there to feed them will they still let out enough ammonia?

 

[Ravi007]

yeh they will let out ammonia, but as your tank is cycling, there could be a spike in ammonia or nitrites at some point, and if your not around to maintain it, the fish could suffer!i would consider another method, im doing the whole fish food in stocking thing, it does work kinda, but slow and havent really got results other than wierd bacteria/fungus growing in certain places!

 

[**sarahp**]

if i add fish and am not there to feed them will they still let out enough ammonia?

What are your water levels?? I'm not certain of this but gut instinct tells me that if you have raised the ammonia and nitrIte by starting a fishless cycle then you cant put fish in until its complete cos there wouldl be so much poison in there it'd be unfair and may even kill them.

 

[branjie]

My local fish shop boards fish while you go on holidays. It was quite cheap boarding too. You could ask shops in your area if they board fish. If it's going to be a big worry though, I think you're better off just waiting until you get back to get the fish. Better than coming home to floaters.

 

[DanielG]

My local fish shop boards fish while you go on holidays. It was quite cheap boarding too. You could ask shops in your area if they board fish. If it's going to be a big worry though, I think you're better off just waiting until you get back to get the fish. Better than coming home to floaters.

you miss understand, my problem is how to keep adding ammonia while im away so the bacteria dont die.

i am at this stage in the fishless cycle

ammonia is going from 4ppm to 0ppm over night
nitrite is stuck at around 3ppm
nitrates going up slowly

 

[**sarahp**]

i am at this stage in the fishless cycle

ammonia is going from 4ppm to 0ppm over night
nitrite is stuck at around 3ppm
nitrates going up slowly

Well anything above zero for the nitrItes is bad news for the fish and unless you are around to do daily water changes the fish will suffer whilst you are away - so I really dont think you can put any fish in there.

I dunno what to suggest apart from decaying food

 

[Lynda B]

If it was my tank, I'd just leave it without fish until I returned, check your readings at that point, and continue at whatever place you are in cycling.... do not get fish, stick them in there, then go away and leave them for a week. They'll be stressed enough coming to you from the store.

 

[Musho3210]

shrimp method, wrap a small shrimp that you got at your supermarket in nylon netting, then put it in your tank. Id advise a gas mask when you come back. If its not a safety threat you could open a window with a fan next to it too.

 

[djceri_g]

Why dont you buy a fish feeder? they aint that expencive and set it to feeed flake food twice a day. I would not recomment bying your fish before going on holiday

 

[djceri_g]

Why dont you buy a fish feeder? they aint that expencive and set it to feeed flake food twice a day. I would not recommend bying your fish before going on holiday