Fishless Cycle (adding Ammonia While Away)

alan3513 · Oct 20, 2009

I've been doing a fishless cycle on my latest two tanks and these have been ready for fish for a couple of weeks now.
This weekend i'm going with my fish club, to do a weekend tour of shops in England where i plan to buy the fish for these tanks.
I intend to do a large water change on Friday, then add the required ammonia. Early (6am) on Saturday morning i intend to add a dose of ammonia before i leave.
We don't return from the trip until 7pm on Sunday night.
My question is, would i need to get my wife to add some ammonia, even just a little, on Sunday morning ? as if not it would be around 36 hours since i dosed the tanks until the fish go in.
Thanks in advance for any advice, Alan.

fatheadminnow · Oct 20, 2009

How fast is your ammoina being processed right now? You should be fine for 36 hours. Just dose a little extra before you head out.

-FHM

alan3513 · Oct 20, 2009

Thanks for the reply. Both tanks are processing 3.5 mls in 12 hours. Their both 72 litre tanks (about 65 litres of water with the substrate in). The aquarium calculator says 5 ppm is 3.42 mls ammonia, so hopefully everything should be fine.

fatheadminnow · Oct 20, 2009

alan3513 said:
Thanks for the reply. Both tanks are processing 3.5 mls in 12 hours. Their both 72 litre tanks (about 65 litres of water with the substrate in). The aquarium calculator says 5 ppm is 3.42 mls ammonia, so hopefully everything should be fine.

How long has your tank been processing the 3.5 ml (5 ppm) of ammonia in 12 hours? A week, more than a week, less than a week?

Is your nitrite also at 0 ppm at the 12 hours mark? If so, you are then cycled! And, if this has been happening for a week, go ahead and do a 90% water change and add fish!

If not, since you are adding 33.5 ml ever 24 hours, why not just have your wife add the 3.5 ml at the 24 hour mark. Have it all set out for her and ready to go.

Other than that, you should still be fine. You may loose about 5% of the bacteria colony in the time there is no ammonia present in the tank, no biggy.

-FHM

alan3513 · Oct 20, 2009

Thanks again, Both tanks have been processing ammonia and nitrite in twelve hours for nearly two weeks. I have kept adding the ammonia for as long without adding fish as i've been waiting for the fish trip.

fatheadminnow · Oct 20, 2009

alan3513 said:
Thanks again, Both tanks have been processing ammonia and nitrite in twelve hours for nearly two weeks. I have kept adding the ammonia for as long without adding fish as i've been waiting for the fish trip.

Oh, nice!

Yeah, just have your wife add the ammonia for ya then.

But like I said, it will not hurt anything, maybe 5% of your colony, if you decide not to add any ammonia while you are away.

-FHM