Going Away For Long Weekend

[doresy]

Ok so am in a fishless cycle.......I am at the stage where I am adding and loosing ammonia every 12 hours but nitrIte is up around 2.0 but nitrAte is only just showing.

My problem is I am going away in the early hours this Saturday morning (5 am) and will not be back until Monday afternoon.

I can put in some ammonia when I leave but by Saturday evening all this ammonia will be gone. It will be 60 hours until I can put some ammonia back in........Will my bacteria suffer Is there anything I can do (no I have no one to do it for me before you ask) ie. put in a load of food???

Need answer soon, I have been cycling for weeks and weeks and I know I am getting close so don't want to spoil it now

 

[rdd1952]

If you could get some one to come over and put in ammonia on Sunday morning, that would be best but if not, my suggestion would be to add fish flakes along with the ammonia before you leave. The flakes will take a little while to start breaking down so they should help keep some ammonia in the tank through the time you're gone.

 

[doresy]

Yes, that is the only thing I could think of doing. It is your pinned post that I have been following, no mention of what to do in a situ like this though I have no choice as the person who usually fish-sits is coming with us

 

[rdd1952]

I would think that would work. You may even want to put the flakes in earlier than the morning you leave so they can start breaking down.

 

[doresy]

I would think that would work. You may even want to put the flakes in earlier than the morning you leave so they can start breaking down.

Yes, will do.....maybe wed & Thur evening?

 

[rdd1952]

That should be fine. I don't know how fast flakes break down.

 

[Danno]

If you are just gone for a weekend and you tank has decent airation I wouldn't worry about it. It isn't like your bacteria is just going to keel over and die.

 

[rdd1952]

I would think that going 60 hours (well about 48 if the ammonia he puts in beoe he leaves lasts about 12 hours) without an ammonia source could lead to all the bacteria or at least a very large portion of it dying off. I don't think we really know how long the bacteria can go without food. I know I've left my filters unplugged for 10 hours or so before without any problems but this is quite a bit longer.

Another possible solution would be to set up some type drip line so that it keeps adding ammonia for a longer period. But that would probably mean leaving the water level down so that you could add ammonia water back in. It would take some thinking on exactly how to do it without overflowing the tank.

 

[Danno]

Bacteria doesn't die that quickly. As long as the media is airated you are fine.

 

[Amunet]

I'd probably just float a net where some of it is in the water some out (so there is less mess to clean) and put some flakes in... that should work I think.

 

[doresy]

thank you all Like the floating net of flake Really don't want to loose my bacteria. Hoping for a fish sitter....fingers crossed