Keeping bacteria alive and my tank cycled with no fish. - Aquarium Advice

bigtard · 12-10-2005, 05:41 PM

I have to be away from my tank for about a month. I've already found a home for my fish. Right now there are no fish in my tank. How can I keep the tank cycled while I'm gone so I don't have to start the cycling process all over when I get back?

Hara · 12-10-2005, 05:43 PM

have someone feed the tank while you are gone

bigtard · 12-10-2005, 05:54 PM

I bought an auto feeder a while back because I was originally only supposed to be gone 2 weeks. I can use it to feed the tank.

How much do you think I need to use? Less than I would feed the fish?

**Fishyfanatic** · 12-10-2005, 05:56 PM

You could put a piece of raw shrimp in the tank to keep it cycled. It will cause your tank to be cloudy when you get back, but it will keep you from having to re-cycle. That's just about the only thing that I can think of. Or, run your filter on someone else's tank while you are gone. This is granted that the tank is disease free.

Hara · 12-10-2005, 06:13 PM

I would feed a little less than you would feed the fish, yes. The flake food breaking down in smaller quantities throughout the entire time would keep your tank at par, or close to it.

bigtard · 12-10-2005, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishyfanatic

You could put a piece of raw shrimp in the tank to keep it cycled.

Do you think that would be enough for a month?

rich311k · 12-10-2005, 09:30 PM

You can cycle a tank with a raw shrimp. It will last a month. Just be prepared for the mess and the smell.

Crusis · 12-11-2005, 07:11 AM

Hehe... the great smell of one month old decayed shrimp flesh. Yum!

bigtard · 12-11-2005, 03:13 PM

I think I'll just have my auto feeder dump a little flake in there and see whether that works out.

Lonewolfblue · 12-11-2005, 05:24 PM

Maybe add a little freeze-dried bloodworms and freeze-dried brine shrimp to the flakes too, but lightly.

12-10-2005, 05:41 PM	#1
bigtard Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 40	Keeping bacteria alive and my tank cycled with no fish. I have to be away from my tank for about a month. I've already found a home for my fish. Right now there are no fish in my tank. How can I keep the tank cycled while I'm gone so I don't have to start the cycling process all over when I get back?

12-10-2005, 05:43 PM	#2
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	have someone feed the tank while you are gone __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

12-10-2005, 05:56 PM	#4
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,243 Images: 15	You could put a piece of raw shrimp in the tank to keep it cycled. It will cause your tank to be cloudy when you get back, but it will keep you from having to re-cycle. That's just about the only thing that I can think of. Or, run your filter on someone else's tank while you are gone. This is granted that the tank is disease free. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

12-10-2005, 06:13 PM	#5
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	I would feed a little less than you would feed the fish, yes. The flake food breaking down in smaller quantities throughout the entire time would keep your tank at par, or close to it. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

12-11-2005, 07:11 AM	#8
Crusis Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 152	Hehe... the great smell of one month old decayed shrimp flesh. Yum! __________________ Crusis ________________ 2 x 75G Freshwater 1 African Cichlids 1 planted community 3 x 20G Freshwater Barbs, Mollies, and Platys 1 x 10G Spawning <chica boom chica boom boom>

12-10-2005, 05:54 PM	#3
bigtard Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 40	I bought an auto feeder a while back because I was originally only supposed to be gone 2 weeks. I can use it to feed the tank. How much do you think I need to use? Less than I would feed the fish?

12-10-2005, 09:30 PM	#7
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	You can cycle a tank with a raw shrimp. It will last a month. Just be prepared for the mess and the smell.

12-11-2005, 03:13 PM	#9
bigtard Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 40	I think I'll just have my auto feeder dump a little flake in there and see whether that works out.

12-11-2005, 05:24 PM	#10
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,856 Images: 7	Maybe add a little freeze-dried bloodworms and freeze-dried brine shrimp to the flakes too, but lightly. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

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