horseyg

I have a ten gallon tank at school with me, and I am getting ready to go home for Christmas break. My friend is keeping the fish in one of her tanks so I don't have to take the tank home with me, but I was wondering if there is anyway to keep the bacteria cycle going in my tank at school. I will be gone for almost a month, and I should be able to keep the heater turned on, but I don't want the bacteria to die because there is no source of ammonia. Is there something I can put in the tank to keep the bacteria alive, or am I most likely going to need to recycle my tank again in the summer.

Beeker

You can have somebody drop some fish food or pure ammonia in your tank each day while you are gone.

Dozey

Just a guess here... if some one was available to feed the tank then there would be no need to move the fish.

I'm not aware of any way too keep the cycle going. Would your friend be willing to take the tank with the fish?

Shawnie

why not throw your filter on her tank also ...extra filtration is always a bonus and it will keep the filter media cycled

Beeker

That isn't quite true.
IME, some people are willing to feed fish or a tank, but are unwilling to do waterchanges. If the water cannot be changed for a month, the fish would have to be moved, even if there is a person available to feed them.

Shawnie, I like your idea.

Dozey

OK, all that aside, a 10 gallon tank would be very easy to move and to care for. Since your friend already has tanks looking after another 10 gallon tank would take minimal effort on their part.

Moving just the filter media is a thought. But all the bacteria in the gravel and plants would die and would create a real mess. Upon return everything would have to be cleaned and the tank would have to be recycled. Although the established filter media would help speed the process slightly it would not eliminate having to recycle the tank. I stand by my suggestion; if possible move the tank to the friend’s location.

Plecolover12

You should try to get gravel from the other tank where your fish are. It has the bactieria to speed up the cycle. I do not know how fast it works but I have read it might be done cycling in 1-2 days. I am not sure, though.

Shawnie

I would empty the tank after a nice gravel vac and put the gravel in a nylon stocking and hang it off the back side of her tank, and put the filter on her tank...then when you come back, fill it with fresh water and some prime and then put your fish and the gravel back in it

Peterpiper

A month is a long time and moving the filter to your friends tank will help.
It is 10g... can you move the tank over to her place for the 4 weeks.