how long established aquarium without fish
- Thread starter shorjai
- Start date
You will have to still cycle your aquarium because all of the beneficial bacteria has died off. I would personally empty it out and wash or buy new gravel or sand. You could get on it asap. Do you know anyone who could give you some media or substrate to kick start the cycle. You will need to buy a couple of hardy cheap sacrificial fish to provide a food source for the live beneficial bacteria to feed on. Also some just use fish food or a raw shrimp for the fishless cycle.
Very important
Forgot to mention purchasing a Freshwater API test kit to test Ammonia,Nitrite,Nitrate,and PH.
just simply do small water change weekly and add fish food into the tank like every 2 or 3 days, so your tank can have some source of ammonia and beneficial bacteria can live on that. No need to change anything
Hello; This is the real question. The beneficial bacteria (bb) will survive a while but without ammonia they will eventually die back. So I have no opinion yet based on the information given.
There are ways to keep some bb alive and thriving without fish but what needs to be determined is where your tank stands now.
Hello; Yes fish wise. I fear the OP does not have a clear understanding of the nitrogen cycle based on the posts so far.
Aquarium cycling links. I suggest taking time to look over these links. The knowledge needed is included in these. It will take a bit of time and study but will be worth it over time.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html