Fishless Cycle & Clean-Up Crew

[Rutvij]

Hi all,

It is my first time posting here, but I have been reading and following all of the helpful advice in this community. I recently set up my first saltwater aquarium (nano tank - IM Nuvo 10) and just completed the cycle. I used the fishless cycling method with Dr. Tim's One and Only bacteria and dosed ammonia. As the cycle is done and I have a diatom bloom and some green hair algae, I just added a couple of snails as a clean-up crew. However, I don't plan to add any fish for a couple of weeks.

Does anyone know how I should maintain the bacteria population during this period? I assume the three snails I have in there won't produce sufficient ammonia to keep the cycle going. Should I continue to dose small amounts of ammonia? I would prefer not to ghost feed with flakes, but will if necessary.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Parameters:
PH - 8.0
Temp - 78 F
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate 10ppm

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Interesting question. I don't think most people think about the time between establishing the cycle and adding fish. I think I'd go with some super low amounts of ammonia while you're waiting to add your fish, but I'm not even sure you have to do that.

 

[thegrun]

The bacteria will live a year or more without food, adding food will only increase your nitrates and feed the hair algae.

 

[Rover88]

I ghost fed flakes until I had my first fish in. Not many. I mean the snails will go over them if they find them, too. I also had hermit crabs, so that helped. I was worried about my cleanup crew not having enough to eat or churning through what was there, so I wasn't as concerned about 'ghost' feeding the fish, cause I was feeding them.

 

[kevin21]

No need. Do not dose ammonia when you have livestock in the tank. It is poison. The fact you are seeing hair algae means your cycle is complete. Monitor your snails. If they live for a couple of weeks, you can add your first fish. Being it is a 10g, I am sure you are only adding 1-2 fish. A clown pair would be nice for that setup. In short, you do not need to do anything to keep your cycle going as it has already run its course. The snails add enough to continue to feed the bacteria.

 

[sde1500]

Welcome! As some of the others have said, you don't need to feed the bacteria for a long time. Snails still will make waste, after eating algae and what not, this will be enough to feed bacteria.

 

[Rutvij]

Thanks for all of the helpful replies! Per the group consensus, I'll hold off on dosing ammonia and let the snails keep the cycle going.

 

[kevin21]

Rutvij, your cycle is complete. If you haven't already, make sure you have test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity (dkh). During the cycle, you would of seen your ammonia levels rise and drop, followed by a rise in nitrite. When this drops, your nitrate starts to rise. If you test now, and your levels show nothing except some nitrate, you can do a water change and get things started. You added a small clean up crew which is a good start. Wait a couple weeks, and then you can add your fish or a nice easy soft coral. You do not need to do anything more to "keep the cycle going".

 

[Rutvij]

Thanks Kevin, got it. Yes, I have tested my water parameters and after seeing the ammonia and nitrite speaks, they now read zero. Nitrates are at around 10ppm. I did a 50% water change before I added the clean-up crew and per your advice will wait a bit before adding a fish.