Vacation and Tank Cycling

[dugan]

Well this was probably pretty stupid of me, but here goes...
I've set up my 58 gallon with 55# LR, 5# of new LS, and probably 20# of old LS from another tank. I put in 3 shrimp (dead ones) to begin the cycle yesterday.
We are going away for 10 days on June 30. I have a friend that's going to housesit/catsit/fishsit.
1) Do you think the tank will be cycled by then? I've never cycled a tank this way before.
2) Should I toss in another shrimp before we leave to keep a source of ammonia in the tank? I don't want to add livestock (if it's cycled) since I won't be around to keep an eye on them. But I feel bad asking her to live with the stench of rotting shrimp!
I know... I should have waited until we got back to start the tank up. I wasn't thinking.
What do you think?
Katie

 

[gobylover]

Once your ammonia evens out you can take the shrimp out of there.Especially with the live sand in there.As far as if it will be cycled by then,I can't really say.I would think so with that size tank and what you have in it.HTH

 

[scy]

Hello,If the tank has not cycled by the time you leave and you want to take the shrimp out you could have your house sitter add a little flake food every other day,this will keep the cycle going and will help cut back on the smell from the shrimp.