Cycling on Vacation

Glipzcom · 11-05-2006, 11:59 PM

OK I am startting up my first ever aquarium. Its 40 gallons. And I just got all my equipment. I was going to get ready to start the cycle. But I am going away on vacation (thanksgiving) for 10 days and that is only 2 weeks away. Should I just wait to buy the LR for the cycle till after i get back? I dont think there seems to be a lot of stuff i need to do. I am not supposed to run the protein skimmer so i wont be needing to empty any cup. I wont have anything to feed. So toping off is probably the biggest concern? Would i just do better to be patient and wait? This whole vacation thing has got me worried about the future. I mean I like to go away on vacation for a weekend here and there. And generaly once a year i try to take a week away. Some people on here have horror stories about traveling. Does anyone have positive stories? I am so excited about being a tank owner. I dont mind all the maintence. But I also am worried about not being able to do anything else with your life.

Glen.

geekdafied · 11-06-2006, 03:26 AM

I would probaly wait till I get home, Then turn the heat up to about 83 degrees F. Which is a better temp for the bacteria to grow. Water will evap faster, but the bacteria will grow faster. Be sure to lower a day or 2 in advance before placing any in fish in it so it has time to drop back down.

amcarrig · 11-06-2006, 05:23 AM

I would do it considering there's not much else you have to do to a tank while it's cycling.

I'm lucky enough to have good friends who are willing to care for my tanks for me while I'm gone. So far, nothing bad has ever happened while I've been gone except for the ocassional fish death.

Tangster · 11-06-2006, 06:20 AM

Man just put the stuff in the tank and start it up its going to be 8 weeks at the very least and when using L/R lay it out on a tarp and let it set a few hrs to see if anything crawls out of it.. That you would not want in the tank get the skimmer going and dialed in. Then I add a fish to keep the cycle going at a steady and determined rate and let it ride Then get busy getting the water parameters up to desired levels and steady and in the time you would have been doing nothing then you will be about a 1/4 of the way through it.. Its take at least 8 weeks i give all of mine 12 weeks after I add a single fish and i never us L/R or live sand. To many problems and waste of money IMO.. I never really saw any advantages to its use..

Jason McKenzie · 11-06-2006, 08:49 AM

Tough call. You want to make sure all your plumbing is good and there is no leaks. If you could have someone come by just to make sure all is OK and top up the tank then I would start to cycle now

J

Glipzcom · 11-06-2006, 03:27 PM

Hey thanks guys. All this stuff makes me nervous. But as one post said. Its not as scary as it all sounds. I just have to stay relaxed.

I think I am going to wait. The last thing I need is to come home to a flood in the apartment or some other thing. Oh well i will just learn more in the mean time.

Glen.