Holiday At End Of Fishless Cycle?

[ellena]

We're on holiday for 5 days on 25th May. I'm in the middle of a fishless cycle, NH3 and NO2 dropping to 0ppm in 24 hrs, just waiting for them to drop in 12 hrs and stay that way for a full week. I will then be splitting the media and running a mini cycle in 2 separate tanks before I get fish.
So there's a chance this will still be going on when our holiday comes round.
Is there an easy way to maintain it that I could ask someone to do? Would it survive on it's own?
Would getting fish before we go (if the cycles are complete) be a bad idea?
Thanks for advice on this

 

[drobbyb]

How far are you in your current cycle?

 

[ellena]

Time wise started 2 weeks ago monday.

 

[P&J]

If it's falling every 24 hrs, it shouldn't be too hard for someone (even without any prior knowledge) to dose the ammonia for you. Just let them know how much to use each time. Dosing each day will be enough to keep it going; there's no real need to ask the person to test the water or adjust anything. Once you get home, you can see how you stand.

-P

 

[fatheadminnow]

Agree^

Or you can throw a small prawn in there and then take it out when you come back.

OR

Throw a lot of fish food in there, and then siphon it out when you are done.

-FHM

 

[K-Holed]

I wouldn't recomend using a prawn, because it can allow a Saprolegnia infection to start in your tank.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I wouldn't recomend using a prawn, because it can allow a Saprolegnia infection to start in your tank.

Good to know.

-FHM

 

[K-Holed]

Yeah funnily enough I only found that out today, as I was researching information for a different thread that was completely unrelated. Apparently it can occur with fish food aswell, although this is far less likely and can be avoided by making sure it's crumbled up as small as possible.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thats interesting.

-FHM

 

[ellena]

Great, thanks guys I like the fish food option for the tank at work, especially as I'll be away from that for 9 days with school being shut at weekends.
And we have someone come to feed the cats, so I'll see if I can get them to dose the tank at home