My Cycle

[LionessN3cubs]

eh I dunno what is going on here guys. My ammonia part is FINE...down in about 10 hours.

My Nbacs however...aren't bucking up. even in 24 hours I still have about 1.0, sometimes .50, sometimes more! They are all over the place. This morning was 1.0. It's been Im thinking about 2.5 weeks now that the ammonia has been fine? aside from the ph crash I mean because that didnt hurt them, they bounced back as soon as I got the PH back up

Im sick of the cylcing by now ...but the problem is that we're going away next weekend from friday until monday...maybe even tuesday and I dont know how to keep this cycle going if its not done by then.

My temp is fine
My ph is fine

Here's what Im wondering. I know ammonia is bad, and nitrite is almost as bad...but if by next thursday, its down to almost nothing in 12 hours, can I do a big water change, put fish in and let it finish on its own so that I dont have to start all over?

I never dreamed it would take this long and I dont know anyone that would care enough about my fishless cycle to volunteer to drive out here to add ammonia every day while Im away. They all think Im nuts for having had an empty tank in my living room for so long. LOL I wouldnt be shocked if they just went out and bought fish to dump in there "to be helpful" lmfao Any suggestions?

 

[waterdrop]

I sympathize, I'm worrying about the very same thing.

An important consideration in this problem is the fact that right after you introduce new fish, well that's a time to be keeping an eye on them to see if anything goes wrong. It would not be ideal to introduce new fish and then leave them completely alone for several days I wouldn't think.

You might be surprised however by how nice people can be when you sincerely explain your dilemma and express that you really need help. Its not too hard to carefully add a set amount of ammonia each morning which is the help you need, no real need to have them test I wouldn't think.

In my case we have quite a number of kids in the neighborhood who routinely look after each others pets and in this case I'm going to think about which ones who have parents that might look over their shoulder for this slightly more finicky ammonia thing, either that or a close friend who would do anything you asked.

Oh dear, Memorial day blues!
~~waterdrop~~

 

[LionessN3cubs]

Its NEVER going to finish...never.

ammonia--didnt test
Ph 7.6
Nitrite 1.0 STILL

day 9999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

[Miss Wiggle]

there's often a really frustrating few weeks at the end of a cycle where the nitrite is just clinging on and not quite going.

it's nothing unusual, just v frustrating!

as waterdrop said best bet is to get someone in to feed them, if not then you can get an automatic feeder from a fish shop and set that up to drop a small amount of flakes into the tank each day which will keep it ticking over.

 

[OldMan47]

Another option might be to change over to the prawn method where you let a decaying prawn supply the ammonia. If you put a piece in the tank before you leave, it should still be feeding the bacteria by the time you come back. No interruptions and low risk of an inexperienced person doing it wrong.