Cycling

[MAM]

So I was finally able to sit down the other night to read the latest issue of a fishkeeping magazine that I get, and they had an article about using FW snails (like apple snails or even just pond snails) and shrimps to cycle a tank. I had never thought of those as options before if you were to choose to not do it fishless.

I'm curious, has anyone ever tried cycling with snails or maybe ghost shrimp? How did that go and how did the critters fair?

What are some thoughts on this method? Do you all think snails and shrimp can make it through the cycling process with little harm? Might they be a more hardy choice? Or could they actually be more sensitive than fish to the whole cycling process?

Just looking for thoughts.

 

[Tropjunky]

i don't think any fish should be used in the cycle stage of a tank it seems crule to me.

 

[Walt]

i just read that too

I hadnt thought of snails before....

 

[SirMinion]

I've never cycled a tank from scratch with snails, but the cycle is maintained in our hospital tank with ramshorn snails and seems to work perfectly well.

 

[LA321]

when I cycled my 12g I added ghosties in there, not for the purpose of cycle but it was by accident lol

 

[jacblades]

i would think ghost shrimp would die. they dont seem to be very hardy ime. pond snails, perhaps. i wouldnt do apple snails either. like the shrimp, not very hardy

i would think fishless would be easier and take less time anyways.

 

[fish_keeper2]

i think cycleing with one or 2 very hardy fish is esier....u dont have to come up with ways to some how add amonia with out puting a lot of excess cheimicals in the water(ie phosphorus from using food to make amonia....i think thats the right chemicle) ones that i find very hardy are wcmn and danios....i think pond snails would be a great idea to try they breed easily so you can make sure u have plenty and they r usauly very cheap to get a hold of if not free

 

[aquatic-Bizkut]

i hardly cycle at all any more, instead i just order bio-spira, its a chemical that automatically cycles your tank in seconds.... works great gonna use it soon on my 10 gallon for the first time......

 

[yvez9]

watch out with the bio-spira

reports seem good but it isn't 100% sure. I'd be careful with it