Method for electrolytically depositing a zinc-nickel alloy layer on at least a substrate to be treated, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: i. providing an electrolysis reaction container comprising at least a soluble zinc anode and at least a soluble nickel anode; ii. providing an acidic electrolyte comprising at least a zinc ion source and at least a nickel ion source; iii. filling of the electrolysis reaction container of method step (i) with the acidic electrolyte of method step (ii); iv. providing at least a substrate to be treated in said electrolysis reaction container, which has been filled with the acidic electrolyte; v. executing an electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on a surface of said substrate to be treated by applying a current from at least an external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); vi. terminating applying the current from said external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); vii. remaining of at least one soluble zinc anode and at least one soluble nickel anode in the electrolysis reaction container, which remains filled with an acidic electrolyte comprising at least a zinc ion source and at least a nickel ion source, without executing electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on the surface of said substrate to be treated for a defined period of time in which no current from said external current source is applied to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); and viii. restarting of executing of the electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on the surface of said substrate to be treated by restarting applying the current from said external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); characterized in that in method step (vii) said at least one soluble zinc anode, which is remaining in the electrolysis reaction container, is electrically connected by an electrical connection element to form an electrical connection to said at least one soluble nickel anode, which is remaining in the electrolysis reaction container, for at least a part of the defined period of time. i. providing an electrolysis reaction container comprising at least a soluble zinc anode and at least a soluble nickel anode; ii. providing an acidic electrolyte comprising at least a zinc ion source and at least a nickel ion source; iii. filling of the electrolysis reaction container of method step (i) with the acidic electrolyte of method step (ii); iv. providing at least a substrate to be treated in said electrolysis reaction container, which has been filled with the acidic electrolyte; v. executing an electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on a surface of said substrate to be treated by applying a current from at least an external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); vi. terminating applying the current from said external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); vii. remaining of at least one soluble zinc anode and at least one soluble nickel anode in the electrolysis reaction container, which remains filled with an acidic electrolyte comprising at least a zinc ion source and at least a nickel ion source, without executing electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on the surface of said substrate to be treated for a defined period of time in which no current from said external current source is applied to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); and viii. restarting of executing of the electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on the surface of said substrate to be treated by restarting applying the current from said external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s);