Tank Cycling without Water Changes? So confused..

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PaiLum92

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2010
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Fort Collins
Hey guys, I know this has probably been asked a million times, but..

How long can I let an un-cycled tank run WITHOUT water changes (to become established)? Usually I just use Prime and such for a week or so then I’m done.

As mentioned, I only ever used prime for a week or so and them I was done, ready to go, I know nothing about letting tanks cycles like I’m supposed to (bad fish keeper I guess). So, sorry if it seems like I don’t know what I’m talking about..

I’m going out of town for a few weeks in May, and no one in my house knows how to feed fish, do water changes, etc. So, I figured I’d let the tank cycle while I am gone. Problem is, as I said, no one knows how to do water changes. I would just set it up now, but, as I said again, no one knows anything about feeding fish, cleaning the tank, no matter how many times I show them.

I’ll be out of town for 2ish-3ish weeks, leaving May 9th, coming home on May 27th. So, would it be ok to let a tank cycle for 3 weeks without the addition of any chemicals or water changes? Or would it just be better to set it up when I get home?

Thanks everyone...
 
No fish, then are you adding ammonia?
 
Hello; Here is what I do for a new setup without fish. I put some live plants and rams horn snails in the new setup. The snails and plants will respire and produce ammonia waste products. I take them from established tanks so they will have some of the beneficial bacteria (bb) on their surfaces. The plants and snails will live and grow for the three weeks you are gone and some bb should become established. You could put the lights on a timer to keep the plants growing and throw a bit of food in right before leaving to feed the snails. The snails should do fine without any care for three weeks. There will likely not be enough bb in the tank to be able to add more than a few fish when you get back, but you could add one or two. The plants and snails should not require any extra maintaince for the three weeks. You wiil not be very far along in the cycling process, but it will be underway. The bb will populate the tank to a level depending on the amount of ammonia available so a full population of fish right away may give an ammonia spike. You will at least not be starting from scratch.

Some members have suggested throwing a raw shrimp in a tank and letting it decay for a time to produce ammonia to help feed a bb population. My guess is that the shrimp will rot and the bb population will increase for a time but then crash before the three weeks are up. Others have suggested that fish food in a tank will do the same thing. At any rate the bb will need a steady ammonia source to be able to persist.
If you do not want rams horn or other snails that can reproduce in freshwater, there are some snails called neterite(sp?) that can live in fresh water but only reproduce in salt water.
 
skjl47 said:
Hello; Here is what I do for a new setup without fish. I put some live plants and rams horn snails in the new setup. The snails and plants will respire and produce ammonia waste products. I take them from established tanks so they will have some of the beneficial bacteria (bb) on their surfaces. The plants and snails will live and grow for the three weeks you are gone and some bb should become established. You could put the lights on a timer to keep the plants growing and throw a bit of food in right before leaving to feed the snails. The snails should do fine without any care for three weeks. There will likely not be enough bb in the tank to be able to add more than a few fish when you get back, but you could add one or two. The plants and snails should not require any extra maintaince for the three weeks. You wiil not be very far along in the cycling process, but it will be underway. The bb will populate the tank to a level depending on the amount of ammonia available so a full population of fish right away may give an ammonia spike. You will at least not be starting from scratch.

Some members have suggested throwing a raw shrimp in a tank and letting it decay for a time to produce ammonia to help feed a bb population. My guess is that the shrimp will rot and the bb population will increase for a time but then crash before the three weeks are up. Others have suggested that fish food in a tank will do the same thing. At any rate the bb will need a steady ammonia source to be able to persist.
If you do not want rams horn or other snails that can reproduce in freshwater, there are some snails called neterite(sp?) that can live in fresh water but only reproduce in salt water.
Click to expand...

That's a very roundabout method of cycling... An easier (and significantly faster) method is to add pure ammonia and either Seachem Stability, Nutrafin Cycle, or a similar product directly to the tank.


OP: If there are no fish in the tank, there's no need to do water changes at all until the very end of the cycle (just to lower the NO3 in preparation for adding fish).


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Tap water (dechlor-or not) a dozen feeders, few raw shrimp or even seeded substrate/media (w/ dechlor) + filtration/waterflow (oxygen exchange) x3 weeks equals 100% cycled tank imo, you can use ammonia as well but either way 3 weeks is good time to patiently cycle a proper tank!

Make sure to have adequate bio media (ceramic, scrubbies,balls etc) to house bb



GL & pics?!



‰

#1 S. Vettel
 
Not sure why I said Prime, I mean Stability.. college is making me forget things I guess..

I have 2 HOB filters, both have bio-Wheels, already established, I guess, they’ve been sitting for a year and a half though, not plugged in or running. I’m thinking of getting something more powerful though.

If I can I guess I’ll let it get started on its cycle before I go, I’m leaving right after finals, so things may get a little too hectic. If not, when I get home I may just drop some stability in and be done with it.
 
jclyde13 said:
That's a very roundabout method of cycling... An easier (and significantly faster) method is to add pure ammonia and either Seachem Stability, Nutrafin Cycle, or a similar product directly to the tank.


OP: If there are no fish in the tank, there's no need to do water changes at all until the very end of the cycle (just to lower the NO3 in preparation for adding fish).

Hello; Yes it is, but the OP will be away for three weeks and no one around will be able to add ammonia or do anything to the tank. At least this is my understanding from reading the first post.
Click to expand...
 
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