Red1313

I "finally" got my 10 gal up( ) and ready to go, just in time for my summer class to finish and me to leave ( )(not my best timeing I know) now I'm not sure what to do. Orriginally I was planning to have the tank ready a week ago but due to hood fitting issues things got a bit hung up. Since I'm leaving to go back home next sunday and Bio-Spira is unable to cross the border, I need some advice.
(note: idea = bold, info = plain)

I've got my plants in my tank and the light all set up so they'll be fine till I get back, however I was hoping to move my red into it so I could worry less about him while i was gone.

So here is the crux of the problem, do I let my pretty new tank sit empty and unloved till I get back at the beginning of september, or, do I put my baby in, add his old plant decorations, a massive dose of cycle and hope?

The instructions on cycle say that for a new tank set up I should add 2 capfulls every 7 days for two weeks. If I add Red tonight and baby him through the next week, I could do a massive water change before I go and super dose with cycle. I'll be back on the 26. so I could do another water change and dose again.

As for feeding the boys will be fasting till I get back on the 26 (9/10 days) so "theoretically" the ten gal cycle shouldn't be too extreme until I get back. After that my boyfriend has agreed to feed them for me (I was thinking once a day till I got back should prevent any over feeding issues)

Now Red would be the only fish in the tank and he's less then 3 inches, so for a ten gal that's not a huge bio load and he's got lot's of plants that would love the nitrogen. Also his old tank is cycled so if I added his old decoations and (maybe some old water) would I even need to add the cycle?

I don't know what to do about this so someone please help.

Shawnie

I would take everything off the old tank, filter , decorations, gravel, and water and put it in the new tank..that would help cycle it fast...as far as not feeding for that long, I think thats too long to fast...cant a neighbor pop over or something?

I would worry about the water readings and water changes until sept....you deffinatly need a friend to help out a bit till you get back

Lucy

Shawnie gave good advice, the only thing I would add, is don't use cycle.
It contains the wrong kind of bacteria.
If you Seed the tank like Shawnie advised a few days before you go, the bacteria should take hold. Test a couple times before you leave to make sure and do a nice water change.

Red1313

The old tank has a plastic bell and a plastic plant, i'll move some of the old gravel over but it has a under gravel filter so that won't help at all, I can snitch the air stone that's got to help some. I was sort of hoping to leave the tank as intact as possible for another betta when i come back but sacrfises must be made I guess.
As for feeding I could have someone stop in a feed them a few times till the boyfriend moves up would that do?

Shawnie

if you cant move everything, then the tank wont cycle fast without biospira or tetra safe start...id almost leave him be until you return..being in an uncycled tank is worse and could kill him IMO

Red1313

That is everything.

Thanks for the advice. I think what I'll do is move everything over to the ten gal and baby him through this first week. His bio load will be pretty light concidering his current size and since the tank is moderately planted the plants can hopefully help ease the nitrogen situation during the cycle. I'll do a water change before I go and I'll talk to my neighbor to see if she wouldn't mind keeping an eye on him.
I might be able to get back before the 26 to do a partial change and if not I could probably find a friend who can be bribed to do it for food. (Straving university students need to be good for something. lol)

One last quick question would putting the old aquarium gravel in a pair of panty hose still work? I don't really need/want to add anymore substrate to the 10.

Lucy

Hanging the substrate in pantyhose would help.

If you have someone come in and feed, I'd put each feeding in a little paper cup, like the kind you put ketchup in at fast food places, or I saw someone suggest one of those daily pill holders. That way, you can be assured they won't be overfeeding and causing excess ammonia.

Shawnie

everything I meant was the filter and you said you couldnt move that maybe the friend would do small water changes also so you dont have so much ammonia or nitrites while it cycles? I hope all goes well and a fast speed home for you@!

Red1313

Thanks I think I may be able to find someone who could do a couple water changes a week for me if I can't sneak back in often. A quick question though best to show someone how to use the vac and get the bottom of the tank or would just having them scoop out a certain amount of water work?

Shawnie

that would be cool if you could find someone..and cycleing with fish means gravel vacs also to get rid of waste and to keep the ammonia levels as low as you can...anything someone can do can help for sure!