Cycling A Tank

[dave_m13]

Hi All

I have cycled a couple of tanks before, using the fishless method, using a product called Stress Zyme (I think). I am now cycling a small 13G tank its been about just over 4 weeks since adding water and plants, along with the liquid bacteria stuff. I have not done any testing as yet as the previous tanks have taken 4-6 weeks to get Amm and nitrite to 0.

My question is this after adding Water/Liquid and plants I noticed (I think) a small Nerite Snail and over the following weeks many more normal snails. Should the snails speed up the process of the cycle and should they survive Ammonia and Nitrites.

Also as I am not adding food to the tank, why am I getting so many snails, are they just feeding off plants and Algae as its a new tank?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Betta5]

I assume its FW,
If you are talking about cycle it has had bad reviews and it dosent work. The snails probs came in on the plants. They can become a pest and cover the glass and make it look bad. The snails eat the algea in the new tank and when you add fish they will ear fish food that the fish leave over. 4 weeks, i would have added maby 2 fish by now!
Sean

 

[dave_m13]

I assume its FW,
If you are talking about cycle it has had bad reviews and it dosent work. The snails probs came in on the plants. They can become a pest and cover the glass and make it look bad. The snails eat the algea in the new tank and when you add fish they will ear fish food that the fish leave over. 4 weeks, i would have added maby 2 fish by now!
Sean

Thanks Sean Yes FW, I have used Stress Zyme on 2 previous tanks and has already worked for me in the past and I have never lost any fish after the cycle has completed. I prefer not to use fish to cycle the tanks, would prefer to get Amm and Nitrite to 0 before adding anything. I have 0 Amm and very low Nitrite so will wait another week before testing again to make sure nitrite at 0.

At the moment as its a new tank not too bothered about the snails they are cleaning the tank of any algae but when I have added a few fish fish I will start either removing or crushing them as food.

Thanks
Dave