Feeding Bacteria

[DavidBearWeber]

I have a bare bottom tank. Its a waterbox 20 cube OT tank.

I have just completed Dr. Tim's fishless cycling process. I am going on vacation in 15 days and do not want to introduce fish until I get back. Do I need to worry about feeding the bacteria now?

If so, what do I feed them?

 

[Gareth elliott]

I would let it be, you could use say an auto feeder To feed like a pellet each day. But i dont think would make much of a difference, except the watwr will have more no3 and po4 when you return.

the bacteria will go dormant, when you return, Dose your ammonia test, if takes too long dose a little more dr. Tims. And by day 2 or 3 should be fine, if it even needs this.

 

[DavidBearWeber]

I would let it be, you could use say an auto feeder To feed like a pellet each day. But i dont think would make much of a difference, except the watwr will have more no3 and po4 when you return.

the bacteria will go dormant, when you return, Dose your ammonia test, if takes too long dose a little more dr. Tims. And by day 2 or 3 should be fine, if it even needs this.

Thanks

 

[brandon429]

I claim they will not go dormant, even if you waited six months

They’re fed, and stored in an open top aquarium this is opposite of bottle bac dormancy

why not just test it and end the guessing we always do in forum threads, you could really demonstrate the weakness or strength of bac for the hobby

As stated if they go totally dormant, they’ll emerge in two days after you feed them again, and your testing will show zero ability day of return and then all current ability in two days. Take pics of the test vials pls so we can see color interpretations

We need to see current test before the wait period that shows ammonia oxidizing action if you really want to stamp the final result solidly. A current test shows you have sufficient surface area and active bacteria to act on a given amount of ammonia added. You’d dose some liquid bac now and picture the vial showing a small amount, then tomorrow the test that shows it oxidized. Repeat when you return

 

[Malifry97]

I claim they will not go dormant, even if you waited six months

They’re fed, and stored in an open top aquarium this is opposite of bottle bac dormancy

why not just test it and end the guessing we always do in forum threads, you could really demonstrate the weakness or strength of bac for the hobby

As stated if they go totally dormant, they’ll emerge in two days after you feed them again, and your testing will show zero ability day of return and then all current ability in two days. Take pics of the test vials pls so we can see color interpretations

+1!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Ummm, this is actually not true. Bacteria need a particular set of circumstances to enter what is considered dormancy.

Without food, in a heated tank, the number of bacteria would slowly dwindle down to close to nothing.

Your tank does not contain a certain percentage of living bacteria and another percent that are just waiting around in dormancy.

Throw a chunk of frozen food in there. It will slowly break down providing ammonia to sustain and grow your bacteria population.

I would also highly suggest getting a rock from another tank and placing it in there as well. The diveristy it will foster will help stability in the long run.

 

[Malifry97]

Ummm, this is actually not true. Bacteria need a particular set of circumstances to enter what is considered dormancy.

Without food, in a heated tank, the number of bacteria would slowly dwindle down to close to nothing.

Your tank does not contain a certain percentage of living bacteria and another percent that are just waiting around in dormancy.

Throw a chunk of frozen food in there. It will slowly break down providing ammonia to sustain and grow your bacteria population.

I would also highly suggest getting a rock from another tank and placing it in there as well. The diveristy it will foster will help stability in the long run.

+1 to frozen food, maybe two cubes