Keep a cycle

Hi guys.

For how long will an empty, but running tank keep its cycle?

And will it help if you still throw in a pinch of fish food in the tank every 2nd or 3rd day to keep backteria alive?

Not that urgent, but want to setup tanks with cycled filters in the next few weeks. Either keep them empty and cycled or just throw in guppies for time being.

Anyway.
Thanks in advance

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The colony of beneficial bacteria is dependent on the amount of food it gets to sustain itself, so no fish, no food for bacteria, and the colony will decline, adding some food as you suggest will help.
Personally I would break the tank down, and restart when needed by seeding the tank with some filter media from another tank.

 

@Jwh Agreed, one would need to keep the beneficial bacteria active or break down the tank.
@Fishlips If you not prepared to decommission the tank, then introducing just a couple of Guppies will sustain the culture of beneficial bacteria even helping the beneficial bacteria to grow and multiply.

 

Went with the guppy root

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True @Reedfish

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You might pick up problems with the lights you have installed, as they aren't waterproof.
Moisture could easily cause problems in the future.

Chamerlains have IP65 fluorescent light fittings with 30W tubes that are in the 6500K spectrum.
I have been using them on my racking system for a few months now, and very happy with them.

 

All you need to do is rub some vaseline on the end of the bulb then push it in the fitting this helps with a bit of water proofing and the moisture issue did this before with no issues.


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Good to know.

 

I siliconed prior to installation

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Right. Just an update. Top tank has 17 new editions. A female guppy had babys.