[GOSKN5]

I am changing my direction with my tank and have taken out 11 mbuna...

the tank is left with one giant danio and one sydno catfish.... its a 55 gallon

my question is, if left like this for about a week or so will the bacteria have enough to feed on and be ok when I add new fish next weekend? If not how long will it be ok??

If not, what steps should I do to make sure it remains cycled well.... thanks

 

[Nina_b]

your bacteria should survive, but perhaps add your new fish in small groups to give your bacteria time to catch up with the higher bioload.

 

[GOSKN5]

well I am thinking about adding a school of tetras first as they are part of my plans.... then adding the other stuff this weekend...

so I should be ok with a lighter load for a week or so right?

 

[PfunMo]

Bacteria, once fully established do not starve quickly. They also build up pretty fast compared to the first time around on the cycle. Taking fish out for a week and then adding other backshould be not problem. If you are wanting to be causious, I would have a box of Ammo chips on hand just as a backup plan. If you do regular testing for a while and see some unexpected ammonia, hang a bag of Ammo-carb in the output of a filter and it will tie the ammonia up while the bacteria go their act fully together. I keep a box in the closet just for if/when I screw things up. Kind of like cheap insurance rather than stressing.