Will do, BTT! Thank you for posting again. Did you look at the diagram of my filter on the link I posted? I am still a little worried that i have done things wrong by squashing my doanted filter media in between my 2 existing media..... yeah i do worry too much, i know! I just don't want to lose any of my fish! Fingers crossed I can get the tank cycled before 21st March.... otherwise I will have to do a big water change early that day, then another big change late on the 24th..... assuming my fish surviveIf I am stuck in this situation, i guess I am best off feeding them on the 20th, in the evening... give them chance to eat and poop!, then not again till my return on the 24th...... ? am planning for the worst!
Hi tibby25731, sorry to hear you re still struggling but i totally agree with BTT that constant water changes are they way forward during the cycle if when the ammonia level creeps up
The donated filter media should be fine as long as it does not restrict the flow through the filter. With the sponges next to each other the bacteria will be able to grow and transfer from sponge to sponge easily.
Fish can go for some time without food so id be inclined to not feed for 48hrs before you go away and also do the water changes like you say the day before you go, this way fingers crossed the good bacteria in the filter will be abe to cope with the ammonia levels and it wont raise too dramatically whilst you are away
edit: do you have an air pump running in the tank? if not it may be worth getting a small one to increase oxygen levels in the tank which will also help with the cycle
