How can I keep the cycle going?

[thedeanorama]

I've run into a dilemna, my cycle has completed now. My nitrites and ammonia hit zero and my ph is back to its normal 7. Nitrates are still big but I will do some water changes to clear that up.

The real problem lies in the fact that I'm going away for Thanksgiving for the next three days and don't want to mess up the fishless cycle. Now that I've hit it I want to maintain it until I return. I'm not all that comfortable with just tossing in a couple of fish and then disappearing for 3 days and I wont be here to inject ammonia - though I could probably do some just before I leave tomorrow morning and also the evening I return but that still leaves Sunday unattended.

I'm hoping I can get a neighbour to help out but I'm not sure if thats an option yet as a lot of people have things going on this weekend.

If I can't get anyone, what are my options? Are 4 shrimp hearty enough (and have enough bio-loading) that I wouldn't need to monitor them after introducing them tonight ... there is definitely enough green algae to keep them going for the three days I'm thinking. Would uneaten food introduced Saturday be enough to carry through till my return Monday eve?

[Lady Hobbs]

I think I would put the shrimp elsewhere until you return and add a bit of ammonia as if you had fish in the tank.

[thedeanorama]

I think I would put the shrimp elsewhere until you return and add a bit of ammonia as if you had fish in the tank.

No Shrimp yet, I've been holding off until I can make a decision. If I skip a day of ammonia will I run the risk of stalling things out?