Empty tanks

[lawdawg18]

I have a 55 gal and a 29 gal that have sat for about a week or so with out fish in them. The 55 sat empty with only a few inches of water in it. Will it be safe to add fish or do they need to cycle again?
I'm thinking about angel fish and blood parots could both of these go into the 55 gal? anyother suggestions or ideas for a empty 55 and an empty 29. The 55 is planted.
Thanks
Jason

 

[Timmain42]

Most likely you will need to cycle again.


However, if you start another plant tank, you can be cycled in just a few days. Think about it.

{doing my part to push the crack that is a plant tank, but I see you don't need any pushing, so sorry}

 

[Timmain42]

Sorry 'bout that, sometimes I get to typing before I think.

My2Cents:
-Again, you'll prolly need to cycle. Plant tanks cycle faster. Plants in a bloodparrot-tank will prolly not do well, unless it's a mostly-fern/low-light tank, as parrots will dig up spaces to breed and defend. Java ferns and the like usually go untouched by cichlids, usually.
-Angels do pretty well in plant tanks, tho. I personally would be wary of putting them together, because the parrots might take a liking to the angel's fins. Just a thought.

 

[lawdawg18]

So after only one week of being fishless, I have to start over again?

 

[JSchmidt]

I wouldn't bet on it. You may have lost some of the biofilter, but probably not all. A simple test would be to add some clear ammonia to the tank (like what many of us use for fishless cycling) up to 3 or 4 ppm and see what the ammonia & nitrite levels are like after 24 hours. If you see a significant reduction in ammonia, without a huge nitrite spike, you're probably OK. If unsure, post your ammonia/nitrite numbers after 24 hours and we can give you some idea of where you stand.

HTH,
Jim