Cycling a 20gal with plants & a snail?

[joel.uejio]

Hello all,

I’ve started up a new aquarium (based on some good advice from another post), but I think I may be combining different approaches for cycling together and creating a big mess. I’m open to doing frequent water changes if necessary, though, so I’m hopeful with good advice I can move forward towards success.

Here’s what I have:
20 gal long
AC 50 gal hob filter
~1.5” pool filter sand for substrate
1 new java fern, 3 new anubia plants
1 piece of driftwood from LFS
1 ~mystery~ snail

My tests (API master test kit) so far have given me the following readings (assuming I did them correctly):
Temp ~= 70C
pH = 8.0 (maybe a testing error…?)
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrites = 0 ppm
Nitrates = 5 ppm (feel like this has to be a testing error)

I was worried about starving seed bacteria on the wood and plants so this morning I added 5 drops on ammonia. I plan to test tonight to see where the levels are at (and hopefully find a happy, living snail).

So, any advice on how to proceed? Should I keep adding ammonia and testing or just test and let nature run its course?

Thanks for the help!
Joel

 

[rocker92]

i wouldnt add ammo. if you have a snail or any other animals in the tank.

 

[bushwhacker]

since you already have the snail in there add 5 or 6 zebra danios and do a fish in cycle,, just watch your parameters and be ready to do water changes as needed

 

[andyjs]

Yep, you can't do the fishless, bottled ammonia cycle if you already have a snail in there. It will probably kill him

 

[lateinningmagic]

Do a large WC since you already added a snail. Add zebra Danios if you want to do a fish cycle. They are very hardy and very active. Just watch those parameters to keep them alive.

 

[joel.uejio]

Ah, ok, message received: [Fishless Cycle] + [Snail] <> [Fishless Cycle]
Hopefully my mistake won't damage my little snail too much...I put in a piece of green pepper yesterday and he went nuts on it! It was really fun to see him cruising around and munching away.

So, next move will be to check tank conditions, do WC to clear out the bad stuff, then add 5 or so zebra danios. After that will shoot for 2-3 tests and changes per day.

One question though:
If I get home and find that my snail has sadly perished should I still add the ZD's and do a fishy cycle?

Thanks all for the help.
Joel

 

[abarilot]

After that will shoot for 2-3 tests and changes per day.

^^ Not sure what you mean by this

Before you do your WC check out ammonia levels, imo if it is 1ppm or under I wouldnt worry about the WC. If the snail is dead make sure you check the water parameters and do a WC before adding the danios. Good Luck!

 

[snoopy65]

How long has the tank been set up? According to your test readings, your tank is cycled. I would take more readings this evening and post. If the test results are accurate and your tank is cycled, I would add livestock slowly to allow the bacteria to catch up as you add. If the readings are off and the snail is still alive, add the fish and proceed with a fishy cycle. If the readings are off and the snail is dead, remove the dead snail, add ammonia and proceed with a non fishy cycle. Hope this helps.

 

[JimL]

After that will shoot for 2-3 tests and changes per day.

No need to test that often, and changing water that often will delay your tank cycle. Relax, have an M&M or two, test your water every other day and change 25% weekly (unless your ammonia, or nitrite are off the chart.) The longer you can delay WC (water changes) the faster your tank will cycle. Yes add the 5 or 6 ZD's (Danio's) they are strong enough to handle higher Ammonia & Nitrite levels.

 

[joel.uejio]

Relax, have an M&M or two

Yes, good advice

Got home, saw my snail hanging out on the filter tube (I assume a dead snail would fall off...?) I then tested and found 0 ammo, 0 nitrite and ~7 nitrate. Based on these results I picked up 5 ZD's and introduced them.

After about 2 hours I did another set of tests and got the same results -- maybe a little bit higher nitrate. Also read a pH of about 8.0 (which has been the level since I first tested).

So, I think things are under control -- will get a good night's rest and test again tomorrow after work. Also hope to pick up some latex gloves -- the test kit is burning the skin off my hands !!

Thanks all for the help -- please let me know if you have any other comments or suggestions.

Thanks!
Joel