Tank cycling question?

[Chels1289]

Hi
I'm going to be running a 4 foot tank with 2 canister filters for my parents and a 3 foot grow out tank for the fry with another external canister.

My question is:
If I cycle the 3 foot and then take the fish out and have no fish in it for a month or more, but keep the canister running with the same water, does this affect the cycle?
And would I be able to add fish to that water safely after more than a month of it having no fish?

Hope this makes sense.
Thanks
Chels.

 

[lipadj46]

No fish and all your bacteria will die = no cycle.

 

[Chels1289]

So I thought
Thanks.

Any suggestions on what I could leave in there all the time.
Something that will keep the cycle running and not bother the fry.

What about bristlenose?

 

[lipadj46]

you could just add a pinch of flake food every other day or so to keep making ammonia for the cycle. you would have to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates every fews days until you were sure you had it right. A well fed bristle nose would be fine too more than likely.

 

[Chels1289]

Ok cool, I've already got a couple of adult bristlenose so might put those in. They won't bother the fry will they? Even though they are 10-15cm?

 

[packer43064]

Plecos are weird. I've seen them not bother any fish at all, then I've seen some try to suck the slime coat off of fish.

Just replace the fry when you move them with the plecos.

 

[Chels1289]

Ah great idea, thanks

 

[SCGeordie]

Or get a bottle of Ammonia from ACE Hardware and add a few drops every day to keep the bacteria going.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Pee in it everyday.

 

[JamesF]

The easiest hassle free way is to move a filter from the empty tank to the tank with fish in it. Then when you want fish in the other tank, move the filter back.