Going Away During Cycle

[Flubberlump]

Hi all. I'm currently fish less cycling my 120 Juwel lido. The first stage has finished and ammonia is dropping from 3ppm to zero in less than 12 hours, and I'm just waiting for the nitrites to drop now. Obviously I'm redosing the ammonia each morning.

I'm going away for a couple of days next week, and was wondering how long it takes for the 'ammonia bacteria' to start dying off without ammonia? There'll be about 48 hours between doses, will this be ok? I should be able to get someone to come and redose it if necessary. Obviously I don't know whether the nitrites will have dropped by then either, so if so then the 'nitrite bacteria' won't be fed for 48 hours either.

Will the bacteria start to die off, setting the cycle back, or will they be ok for a couple of days?

Thanks

 

[Nick217]

Double dose it? should be fine i think?
Dont hold me down on that tho.

 

[Flubberlump]

I would have though it'd be ok, just wanted to check lol. I suppose double dosing it can't hurt! Good idea.

 

[FishBlast]

I would have though it'd be ok, just wanted to check lol. I suppose double dosing it can't hurt! Good idea.

Actually double-dosing can. If there's too much ammonia, it might remove oxygen and stall the cycle or even kill bacteria (or so I've read on this forum).

 

[Flubberlump]

Hmm maybe not then. Might be easier just to get someone to put some in for me and then I won't have to worry. I'd be gutted to get this far through the cycle and then starve a load of bacteria and end up going backwards.

 

[Tom499]

The bacteria colonies are fairly resilient, a couple of days should be okay.

But to play it safe you could put out a dose (Hide the rest!!) for someone to put in for you.