cycled tank question

[cmcpart0422]

Is it possible to keep a tank cycled with only snails?

Removed all the fish out of a 20 gallon a few weeks ago but left the filter and heater running and am wondering if the snails will keep the tank cycled. If I had to guess I would say there are about 100 malaysian trumpet snails that I feed some fish food once every other night. Any thoughts?

 

[mscichlid]

If your're feeding the tank, I imagine that it will stay cycled. My 120 was empty for quite some time and all I had in there were a million of those mts.

 

[dogofwar]

As long as there's something producing waste (uneaten food, eaten food, existing gunk in the tank, etc.) then the bacteria have something to eat...

Matt

 

[cmcpart0422]

Cool thanks!

 

[fischfan13]

Chris, I recently had a 40g breeder that had nothing alive in it for about a month but snails.
Added a few fish and everyone is fine.

 

[verbal]

I think you could probably cut your feedings down to weekly and still be fine.

 

[mchambers]

My guess from reading other sources about beneficial bacteria in the aquarium is that most of the colony will simply go into a dormant state. It won't die, as long as the conditions aren't inhospitable (such as extreme temperature, lack of oxygen, etc.)