Spring Break Fish Dilemma

[CTU2fan]

Agreed with ewurm, stop wc-ing and let it cycle. You need that ammonia to feed your BB and get your cycle going. If it gets really bad you could do one (like >20ppm) but otherwise let it happen. How big's the tank?

I would feed them the morning of the day before you leave, then do a gravel vac and small wc (just enough to vac) that night to get any crap out; you want minimal old food and fish turds when you're gone. When you get in halfway through give them a small feeding, and when you get back test and do a wc if you're over 20ppm again. That's what I'd do anyway.

 

[fenton06]

How big's the tank?

It's a 20 tall. Way too small, I know. I'm currently saving for a 75 to make everyone happy!

Ok, I think I have a plan formulated now.

Plan 1:

I know this somewhat goes against what some of the respected members on MFK have posted in this thread but I don't want to not do a water change the whole week before I leave. I understand what you're saying about the water changes while I let it cycle, but I want to keep the stress level of the fish down before I leave. I get this will prolong the cycling process but I think that letting it build up for the next week and leaving them is a bad idea. I'm going to feed them well this week and then not feed them while I am gone. On the day I stop in I will feed them and do a water change.

Plan 2:

Now the second plan if I can get some old filter crud from my LFS is to leave it until it has cycled. If I do get some of the stuff from the LFS there will be no water changes until the cycling has completed. If I go this route do i keep vacuuming out the poop or just leave it? What is the most beneficial stuff to get from them to seed my filters? Old filter material? A squeeze from the filter into a bag? A couple bio balls?


Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[waterPOLO]

I think your plan 1 sounds good. I think the no waterchange cycling suggestion was meant for fishless cycling or if you have like a few danios or guppies in there, not oscar and clown loach. Those aren't really cycling-friendly fish...