How Long Before Bacteria Die Without Ammonia Source?

[amcalab]

Fishless Cycle Just Completed. Next Step...90% Water Change. But it takes 24-48 hours for PH to settle. So it will be one or two days before I can add fish. Will my bacteria die during that time without an ammonia source. Or do I need to keep feeding it from the bottle of ammonia.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Fishless Cycle Just Completed. Next Step...90% Water Change. But it takes 24-48 hours for PH to settle. So it will be one or two days before I can add fish. Will my bacteria die during that time without an ammonia source. Or do I need to keep feeding it from the bottle of ammonia.

I would do the 90% water change first thing in the morning then stock fish the following afternoon or evening. You can fully stock if youre feeling brave or certainly fully stock within a week at the most.

 

[TerraDreamer]

Toss in some fish flakes.

 

[Irf]

Fishless Cycle Just Completed. Next Step...90% Water Change. But it takes 24-48 hours for PH to settle. So it will be one or two days before I can add fish. Will my bacteria die during that time without an ammonia source. Or do I need to keep feeding it from the bottle of ammonia.

Well done!

The big water change is to remove the high nitrates that will almost certainly be in the water now. The bacteria will die without any ammonia in 24hrs, so you will need to keep adding some daily until you are ready to add fish. But make site the stats are reasonable when you add the fish.

Irf.