Leaving Cycled Tank

[catfishcity]

I have a tank that finished cycling about 2 weeks ago and there is nothing in it. just the live rock, sand, and cheato in the fuge. i am going on vacation from June 29 - August 19. will it be ok if i leave it empty or do i need to do something to it.

 

[loopy101]

first thought that poped into my mind is how are you going to do water top offs? is some one going to be watching the tank for you???

 

[small triggers]

just make sure you have enough water in it that it cant run low or have someone come in once or twice while you are gone andput in a few gallons (or set up an auto top off before you leave and then you wont ever have to worry about topping off)

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by catfishcity
http:///forum/post/3071850
I have a tank that finished cycling about 2 weeks ago and there is nothing in it. just the live rock, sand, and cheato in the fuge. i am going on vacation from June 29 - August 19. will it be ok if i leave it empty or do i need to do something to it.
Hi there,
If there is nothing in the tank (no bioload) there is a chance you will loose the cycle. You might have to cycle the tank again. The cheato most likely will die. Hope fully your sand bed and rock won't die, but if they do it will be very noticeable as you will get a bad smell from the water. Assuming no one will take care of it, ofcourse.

 

[loopy101]

um there going to be gone for over a month and a half! not sure where there from but i put in around a gallon of water a day so that would take alot more then one or two visits or one very big water top off unit!
but i also think they are looking for answers as far as will the tank need to be recycled when they get home or will it stay cycled for that period of time? that i am not sure about

 

[locoyo386]

Hi there,
He will be gone 50-53 days. If left unatended, I do think he will loose the tank's life. I think he will have to re-cycle the tank.

 

[small triggers]

once a tank is cycled, unless he puts something in to KILL everything the tank has no reason to 'lose the cycle'. As long as the water keeps filled, though it would be better if someone could do a water change or 2 while hes gone. BUT i left my tank cycleing for a month when i went to europe and had startedit all about 3 weeks before i left. I just had someone stop in and fill my sump. There is no way to kill the beneficial bacterial that grew during the cycle just because you dont add fish.

 

[florida joe]

I disagree as the op stated this is a newly cycled tank. His bio filtration IMO is in its infancy. The nitrifying bacteria need something to feed on. (organic brakedown) To the op how big of a tank is this. Do you have power heads in your tank ?

 

[cranberry]

Originally Posted by small triggers
http:///forum/post/3072014
once a tank is cycled, unless he puts something in to KILL everything the tank has no reason to 'lose the cycle'. As long as the water keeps filled, though it would be better if someone could do a water change or 2 while hes gone. BUT i left my tank cycleing for a month when i went to europe and had startedit all about 3 weeks before i left. I just had someone stop in and fill my sump. There is no way to kill the beneficial bacterial that grew during the cycle just because you dont add fish.
It's not a matter of killing the bacteria by not adding fish, it's a matter of not feeding the bacteria population that you have colonized. They need food and their food is ammonia. When there are fish in the tank they are guaranteed a food source. Without the fish where will they get their ammonia source... their food... unless you intervene and ghost feed?

 

[catfishcity]

ok thanks for all of the replies. i do have someone coming to take care of my other tanks and i will have them do this one to. the tank usually needs a gallon every 4-6 days. it is only a 20g with a 10g fuge and there is a koralia 2 in the 20 plus there is a lot of flow from the pump in the fuge. should i have this person do any water changes on this tank? should i ghost feed to keep the bacteria?

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by catfishcity
http:///forum/post/3072107
ok thanks for all of the replies. i do have someone coming to take care of my other tanks and i will have them do this one to. the tank usually needs a gallon every 4-6 days. it is only a 20g with a 10g fuge and there is a koralia 2 in the 20 plus there is a lot of flow from the pump in the fuge. should i have this person do any water changes on this tank? should i ghost feed to keep the bacteria?
Yeah, he should ghost feed the tank to keep the bacteria going. Water changes are not really neccesary. When you get back check ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. If the first two are zero, and the nitrates are over 10, than you might want to do a water change before you add the first fish.

 

[catfishcity]

ok, what should i ghost feed, flakes or frozen, and where do i put it, into the tank or refugium.

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by catfishcity
http:///forum/post/3072231
ok, what should i ghost feed, flakes or frozen, and where do i put it, into the tank or refugium.
Well If you are having some one check on the other tanks, than they can feed your new tank. I would recomend mysis shrimp, or brine shrimp. Two or three times a week should be fine.

 

[meowzer]

Since there is nothing in it yet...can you put a few snails, and then put one of those timed feeders...with pellets in it, to drop a small amount daily???
Just a question I am asking....