Leaving Town Mid-cycle

[BrookeLea]

Hey guys,

I've been doing a fishless cycle in my 55 gallon this week, and I just found out that I have to leave town in the middle of the week next week, i.e., mid-cycle. There will be no one home to look after my tank. What should I do? Will the cycle just have to wait until I get back?

Thanks for any advice in advance,
Brooke

 

[Durbkat]

What would it matter if you had to leave while its cycling its not like if you aren't their to watch it will go bad or turn sour. It can cycle without you being their unless you are adding ammonia to the tank to help it cycle, are you?

 

[BrookeLea]

What would it matter if you had to leave while its cycling its not like if you aren't their to watch it will go bad or turn sour. It can cycle without you being their unless you are adding ammonia to the tank to help it cycle, are you?

Yes, I'm adding ammonia every day. That's the problem.

 

[rdd1952]

I remember reading some of your threads but don't remember where you are in the cycling process. How long will you be gone? If it's a matter of adding more ammonia daily and your only going to be gone for a 2 or 3 days, just put a double dose of ammonia in before you leave. If you're going to be gone for a week or so, you could probably add a bunch of fish flakes. The flakes will take a few days to start breaking down and forming ammonia so it will kind of be a delayed addition of ammonia. If you're going to be gone for as much as 2 weeks, you could buy one of the automatic feeders or even one of the feeder blocks (I know they're crap but she will be doing a huge water change after it cycles anyway). That would keep food/ammonia in the tank the entire time.

 

[Durbkat]

Oh. Then why don't you have a friend or neighbor to come over daily and add it or have your parents or realitives do it? Won't it be ok for a couple days without ammonia?

 

[BrookeLea]

Thanks for the ideas rdd. I'll be gone for about 2 weeks. I'll probably go for the auto feeder or food block. I didn't think of that!

Durbkat, it would be wonderful to have someone come over and do it for me. The problem with that is my fiance is in the military (which is why I have to go away in the first place) and he was just transfered here. I have no family here and have made no friends in the area yet. You can come house site and do it for me, if you wish to! haha

 

[Durbkat]

Ok I'll come over, I'll just walk! Then hopfully someone will let me hitch hike and once I get their I'll rob you stone cold and when you come back everything will be their except your tanks and fish. Then I'll leave you maybe a 1g bowl with a betta. Be their in a few weeks ha-ha.