Will My Empty Tank Recycle

[Doirerinceoir]

Hi. I have a 180 litre fish tank which had a few discus and neons in it, which i have now given away. My tank is empty but still running. I am getting some cichled fish in two weeks.
Will my tank recycle during that time?
If so is there anyway to prevent this ?
 
Thanks.
 

 

[Shaddex]

Presuming the tank was fully cycled before you gave your fish away,  either get some bottled ammonia and dose it to 3-4ppm once a day, or add some fish food so that the bacs in your filter have something to feed on.
You will need to keep an eye on your Ammonia and Nitrite levels during the "Empty" period and make sure they stay at 0ppm.

 

[CJH0825]

+1 Shaddex
 
If it was cycled before, You should be fine ( depending on how long your tank has been empty and if you're feeding the bacteria ). 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Even a 2 week period with nothing in the tank the bacteria should be fine... they may go dormant and need time to wake up, but they will stay alive.  I assume the cichlids you'll be getting are South American - as Africans would require a completely different water chemistry compared to the discus and neons you've just had in the tank.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Eagle is pretty much correct. However, to insure the bacteria retain their maximum nitrifying capabilities you can dose 2 ppm (and not more than 3) every 3 days or so and things will be fine.
 
Research has shown a few things in this regard. First, if the bacteria do go into their dormant state, how fast they return to full strength is dependent on how well fed they were at the time. In a fully cycled tank they should be just fine in this respect. Especially when you are talking about a few week period.

 

[Doirerinceoir]

Thanks all for your replies. I have been adding a small amount of fish food as suggested, but not sure if i should do this daily or every other day.
Also should i just do a normal weekly water change to keep ammonia down.

 

Even a 2 week period with nothing in the tank the bacteria should be fine... they may go dormant and need time to wake up, but they will stay alive.  I assume the cichlids you'll be getting are South American - as Africans would require a completely different water chemistry compared to the discus and neons you've just had in the tank.

I am planning on getting African cichlids, How can i change the chemistry to suit these fish?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

African cichlids need hard water and high pH.  The easiest way to do this is to start at the substrate level.  Most folks switch out the old substrate for coral sand.  The sand is good because the cichlids like to dig in it, and coral, because it will slowly dissolve and raise the kH and pH.  These fish generally require a pH over 8.0.  Also, rocky aquascaping and lots of "hidey holes" for them as well.  Its best to overstock the tank (based on adult size) to curb aggression - not too overstocked, but just heavier than you would with discus.

 

[Doirerinceoir]

African cichlids need hard water and high pH.  The easiest way to do this is to start at the substrate level.  Most folks switch out the old substrate for coral sand.  The sand is good because the cichlids like to dig in it, and coral, because it will slowly dissolve and raise the kH and pH.  These fish generally require a pH over 8.0.  Also, rocky aquascaping and lots of "hidey holes" for them as well.  Its best to overstock the tank (based on adult size) to curb aggression - not too overstocked, but just heavier than you would with discus.

Thanks, will change to coral sand. Have gravel at the moment.
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[eaglesaquarium]

As for further care, have a read through the OLD WORLD Cichlids forum.