29 Gallon Tank Vacation while cycling question

Hi everyone! I have a quick question. Cycling is taking longer than I expected. I'm going to be taking a ski trip out of state while I'm cycling my 29 gallon tank. It is currently taking around 2~ days for the tank to cycle 2ppm of ammonia. I will be leaving next Tuesday and won't be coming back until Sunday. I will probably have someone that would be able to help me put ammonia in to keep the bacteria alive but she won't be testing my water (thanks mom). I'm wondering what's the best way to keep the bb alive until I come back. Would it be best for me to change all of the water and dose 2ppm on Monday and then ask her to dose again around Wednesday and Friday? Or maybe I should just ask her to dose once on Thursday and then I will come back on Sunday morning to check the level and proceed.

 

If you do not have fish in the tank, then you can either dose a bit higher with Ammonia, or you can add a small mesh bag with fish food to the tank which will raise the Ammonia naturally in a couple of days.
No reason to worry, enjoy your vacation.

 

Hi everyone! I have a quick question. Cycling is taking longer than I expected. I'm going to be taking a ski trip out of state while I'm cycling my 29 gallon tank. It is currently taking around 2~ days for the tank to cycle 2ppm of ammonia. I will be leaving next Tuesday and won't be coming back until Sunday. I will probably have someone that would be able to help me put ammonia in to keep the bacteria alive but she won't be testing my water (thanks mom). I'm wondering what's the best way to keep the bb alive until I come back. Would it be best for me to change all of the water and dose 2ppm on Monday and then ask her to dose again around Wednesday and Friday? Or maybe I should just ask her to dose once on Thursday and then I will come back on Sunday morning to check the level and proceed.

What is the nitrite, nitrate and pH level and how long has the tank been cycling?

 

Honestly, I would probably just up the ammonia to around 8 ppm providing it's a fishless cycle. Sure, it'll be more a pain in the rear to get the nitrates out, but it's been proven that high ammonia cycles a tank quicker than keeping a lower ppm, if you can keep your KH, GH and in turn your pH up.

 

You don’t need to do anything special, you can just pause your dosing while away and the cycle will still progress. It actually sounds like it’s already completed now - cycling out 2ppm in 2 days is pretty much good to go unless you are gonna load that sucker up with fish

 

What is the nitrite, nitrate and pH level and how long has the tank been cycling?

Nitrite is currently sitting at 1ppm and it's been exactly 24 hours since I last dosed 2ppm of ammonia (both ammonia and nitrite were 0). PH is around 7 and 7.2 because I have a bag of crushed coral int he filter. The tank has been cycling for 3 weeks with some seeded media.

Honestly, I would probably just up the ammonia to around 8 ppm providing it's a fishless cycle. Sure, it'll be more a pain in the rear to get the nitrates out, but it's been proven that high ammonia cycles a tank quicker than keeping a lower ppm, if you can keep your KH, GH and in turn your pH up.

I just get nervous about nitrite spike if I dose that high of ammonia but it seems like it shouldn't really hurt the cycle.

You don’t need to do anything special, you can just pause your dosing while away and the cycle will still progress. It actually sounds like it’s already completed now - cycling out 2ppm in 2 days is pretty much good to go unless you are gonna load that sucker up with fish

Ya it's been cycling 2ppm in 2 days. I read that 2ppm in 24 hours "is the golden standard" so that's what I've been aiming for. I'm planning to definitely have a decent stock (pair of apisto, hatchetfish, diamond tetra, kuhli loaches). I want to make sure I don't get an unexpected nitrite spike.

 

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I'm planning to definitely have a decent stock (pair of apisto, hatchetfish, diamond tetra, kuhli loaches). I want to make sure I don't get an unexpected nitrite spike.

are you starting with fully grown fish? if starting with juveniles like I did you might have 10-20% of the final bioload, most of the bacteria will die off before you'd even need such a big colony anyway

 

A

are you starting with fully grown fish? if starting with juveniles like I did you might have 10-20% of the final bioload, most of the bacteria will die off before you'd even need such a big colony anyway

Not at all. Most of the are honestly super juvenile. I know the marbled hatchet stay pretty small and probably won't grow too too big. I know it depends on the batches of fish. I think the fish store has been going through their fish so quickly that most of the fish I see now are juvenile fish. I just don't want to be that impatient guy that causes a fish in cycling. I was hoping that nitrite would go down within 24 hours but it's been taking a day and a half :/

 

Nitrite is currently sitting at 1ppm and it's been exactly 24 hours since I last dosed 2ppm of ammonia (both ammonia and nitrite were 0). PH is around 7 and 7.2 because I have a bag of crushed coral int he filter. The tank has been cycling for 3 weeks with some seeded media.

I just get nervous about nitrite spike if I dose that high of ammonia but it seems like it shouldn't really hurt the cycle.

Ya it's been cycling 2ppm in 2 days. I read that 2ppm in 24 hours "is the golden standard" so that's what I've been aiming for. I'm planning to definitely have a decent stock (pair of apisto, hatchetfish, diamond tetra, kuhli loaches). I want to make sure I don't get an unexpected nitrite spike.

Any nitrate?

 

Any nitrate?

Yes. I've been doing around "2 rounds of 2ppm of ammonia" which results to around 80ppm+ nitrate then I would do a 70-80% water change then re dose 2ppm of ammonia. I've done that 3 times. Each time takes a little bit less time to process nitrite equivalent to the 2ppm ammonia.

 

I’d suggest you stop dosing ammonia for now and give the nitrite eating bacteria some time to grow. You’re leaving a week from tomorrow? Or tomorrow?

What‘s the water temperature of your tank?

 

I’d suggest you stop dosing ammonia for now and give the nitrite eating bacteria some time to grow. You’re leaving a week from tomorrow? Or tomorrow?

I'm leaving tomorrow for 5 days (coming back Sunday morning). I was initially planning to do a huge water change to reset everything, dose 3-4ppm ammonia, then have my mom dose 2ppm when nitrite is 0 during this week (which i assume it will from my data for the past week). I know this is all so confusing ._.

 

I'm leaving tomorrow for 5 days (coming back Sunday morning). I was initially planning to do a huge water change to reset everything, dose 3-4ppm ammonia, then have my mom dose 2ppm when nitrite is 0 during this week (which i assume it will from my data for the past week). I know this is all so confusing ._.

If redosing ammonia will make you feel better and enjoy your vacation, go for it! That’s the beauty of a fishless cycle. . . There’s not much to harm.

But dosing to 4 ppm isn’t necessary IMO. . . I typically suggest 2 - 3 ppm. And if you dose just prior to leaving, your tank will be fine until you return. No need for mom to dose while you’re gone. Unless, of course, it will make you feel better.

Did you answer my water temperature question?

 

If redosing ammonia will make you feel better and enjoy your vacation, go for it! That’s the beauty of a fishless cycle. . . There’s not much to harm.

But dosing to 4 ppm isn’t necessary IMO. . . I typically suggest 2 - 3 ppm. And if you dose just prior to leaving, your tank will be fine until you return. No need for mom to dose while you’re gone. Unless, of course, it will make you feel better.

Did you answer my water temperature question?

Honestly that's good to know. I just don't have enough experiences in this hobby yet so I'm glad to hear someone like you to tell me things will most likely be okay

Water temperature is around 78.3 I totally forgot to answer that.

 

Honestly that's good to know. I just don't have enough experiences in this hobby yet so I'm glad to hear someone like you to tell me things will most likely be okay

Water temperature is around 78.3 I totally forgot to answer that.

Your tank will be fine while you’re gone!

If this was my tank, I’d bump the temp up to around 80F if your heater will get it there. Might promote the growth of the beneficial bacteria.

Enjoy your trip!

 

Your tank will be fine while you’re gone!

If this was my tank, I’d bump the temp up to around 80F if your heater will get it there. Might promote the growth of the beneficial bacteria.

Enjoy your trip!

I will do that. Thank you so much!

 

My wonderful mom tested the water and the tank processed 3ppm of ammonia to just nitrate in two days. I asked her to dose 2 more ppm of ammonia to tie me over so I can do a large water change on Sunday to get ready for fish.

I assume nitrate would probably be around 120-160. How big of a water change should I do? I usually try to drain all the water out. Would it be safer to do two ~100% water change in order to prepare for fish.

 

I assume nitrate would probably be around 120-160. How big of a water change should I do? I usually try to drain all the water out. Would it be safer to do two ~100% water change in order to prepare for fish.

Yes, getting rid of all the water works well. The easy way to get as close as possible, is to remove as much water as possible, fill up to about 5% of the maximum water volume, then drain. Repeat a few times if one wants to be sure.

 

Yes, getting rid of all the water works well. The easy way to get as close as possible, is to remove as much water as possible, fill up to about 5% of the maximum water volume, then drain. Repeat a few times if one wants to be sure.

You are the best! I should still dose prime right?

 

You are the best! I should still dose prime right?

Yeh, best to still dose Prime.