Help me keep my filter alive!

[Jez1992]

I've had a disaster today, tank plumbing got a leak so got to shut down tank to repair it for few weeksand take Rays and fish to someone to care for them.

Question is, I have a 4 ft sump ful of k1, Is there a way to keep it 'alive' with bacteria if I kept sump running on its own?

To therefore save me having to restart a new cycle all again and then adding 5 Rays as this scares me lol

I considered adding ammonia, but struggling to source pure ammonia in UK and don't know how to use it even if I found it.

Anyone able to help?

 

[Jez1992]

Alternatively, if I'm worrying over nothing, how hard is it to fishless cycle a tank in prep for 5 Rays?

How long does it take and how does it work?

Thanks

 

[skjl47]

Hello; There may be more ways to deal with your situation, but two come to mind quickly.
First is that you have someone willing to take in the rays in a 2nd tank. When the time comes to get your tank set up and running perhaps some solid material which will have colonies of beneficial bacteria (bb) can be had from the 2nd tank. Beg, borrow, pay, get him a date with your sister (if the situation fits). Maybe take some of your bio-media to the 2nd tank setup and float it in a mesh bag.
A bit of logic can also be applied. Tell the generous 2nd tank person that there will be an increase in the bb population while the rays are in his/her tank. That when the rays are removed those extra bb will die back anyway so why not let some go with you.

Another thing is you might keep some fish in the sump so as to be a source of ammonia. Maybe find out what the 2nd tank owner likes/needs and donate them as a partial payback.

By the way me thinks you should feel very lucky to have some one willing to take in your fish.

Good luck

 

[Jez1992]

Hello; There may be more ways to deal with your situation, but two come to mind quickly.
First is that you have someone willing to take in the rays in a 2nd tank. When the time comes to get your tank set up and running perhaps some solid material which will have colonies of beneficial bacteria (bb) can be had from the 2nd tank. Beg, borrow, pay, get him a date with your sister (if the situation fits). Maybe take some of your bio-media to the 2nd tank setup and float it in a mesh bag.
A bit of logic can also be applied. Tell the generous 2nd tank person that there will be an increase in the bb population while the rays are in his/her tank. That when the rays are removed those extra bb will die back anyway so why not let some go with you.

Another thing is you might keep some fish in the sump so as to be a source of ammonia. Maybe find out what the 2nd tank owner likes/needs and donate them as a partial payback.

By the way me thinks you should feel very lucky to have some one willing to take in your fish.

Good luck

I'm extremely lucky yes, especially to take 5 decent sized Rays. The chap is brilliant and saved the day lol

He's also put a few bags of the media in his sump so that will kick start the new tank