Keeping the QT cycle alive

[Shilpan Patel]

Hey guys! So my 40gallon QT with a canister filter with SeaChem matrix last had a fish in it 3 weeks ago. My next fish (foxface lo 5cm long) arrives in one week. After the first week I remembered “oh I need to feed the bacteria!” So I put a cube of fish food in. SeaChem alert didn’t change, ammonia tests read 0. So I put another cube in the second week. Still 0’s. I can still see rotting cubes sitting at the bottom of the tank. Should I add another? Or is the tank cycle ok?

Or is it unreliable since it will be a month? (In which case I’ll add the two emergency sponges soaking in my sump).

 

[Raege]

I would think after 2weeks of rotting food with zero ammonia should be ok. A check of nitrite nitrate levels to see if a water change is needed to ensure they are low and your good to go

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree it is probably OK, but I am not 100% sure.

 

[Shilpan Patel]

Ok thanks team! Nitrites are 0, nitrates are 20ppm.

If I get ammonia in future I’ll just do one emergency WC and then add those sponges.