Fish Food For Holiday Cycling

[ellena]

As per this thread, I would like to use fish food to keep my fishless cycle going when I go on holiday on Monday. I was going to suspend it in the tank in some clean tights-would this work the same? I was thinking it would make less mess?
Someone on the thread said to make sure the food is crumbled up finely so I'll do that. When should I put it in and stop dosing ammonia?
Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

You can use fish food or a piece of prawn or fish. Anything that rots will create ammonia but you don't want to add too much. If the ammonia level gets too high the cycling process will stall and the bacteria won't develop.
I would try adding a small piece now and monitor the ammonia levels over the next few days. If the ammonia level stays low then leave it as is. If the ammonia level goes above 5ppm, then remove half the food and do a water change. Then see how the level goes.
One bit of prawn or fish will keep producing ammonia until it has rotted away. A single piece will last longer than a lot of little bits.
You will need to siphon out the rotten food when you return. And it will probably stink pretty badly.