Keeping QT system running w/o fish

[solitude127]

If I wanted to keep my QT system cycled and not have fish in it, I've read to ghost feed it about once a week to keep the bacteria alive. Is keeping the temperature stable a must as well?

 

[Dmorty217]

Temps stable to a point but not having a heater in the tank should be fine. Also the bacteria should live 6 months to 1 year in the tank without ghost feeding

 

[solitude127]

Temps stable to a point but not having a heater in the tank should be fine. Also the bacteria should live 6 months to 1 year in the tank without ghost feeding

ohh good to know about the bacteria living that long.

As far as temp swings, think a 5 degree temp swing is ok? So let's say to keep the temp from 74 - 79 while the tank is fishless?

 

[Dmorty217]

ohh good to know about the bacteria living that long.

As far as temp swings, think a 5 degree temp swing is ok? So let's say to keep the temp from 74 - 79 while the tank is fishless?

Yes. Its more about keeping the temps above 65 so the bacteria will keep living and doing what it does. ( I think that 55 is actually the temp where the bacteria stops reproducing but don't quote me on that)

 

[solitude127]

Yes. Its more about keeping the temps above 65 so the bacteria will keep living and doing what it does. ( I think that 55 is actually the temp where the bacteria stops reproducing but don't quote me on that)

Thank you for your time. I appreciate your help. Last question, is there too warm of a temp?

 

[Raintree]

Alternatively you could keep some type of porous media in a media bag in your display tanks system, and just move it to the QT filter when you have a fish to QT

 

[Dmorty217]

Thank you for your time. I appreciate your help. Last question, is there too warm of a temp?

I would think that anything above 85-88 or somewhere in there wouldn't be beneficial for the bacteria