Cycling a tank with snails?

[Daniel Morrow]

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See subject. Would it be possible to cycle a tank with snails? I
understand that different types of snails can have different types of
breathing methods (i.e. oxygen intake, as in gills/lungs). If
possible and practical maybe it would be great to grow a population
of pond snails for example in a cycling tank so that when the snails
reproduce significantly the tank is then cycled (tested to have
cycled, of coarse don't trust the population explosion identified
visibly). I wonder if snails are tougher when it comes to
ammonia/nitrite compared to most fish? I am not sure how practical
this idea is since maybe pond snails might still be non-reproductive
enough to do it faster than decent starter fish? Of course I am
talking about pond snails (the guppies of the snail population) so I
guess they would be perfect for the job and might get the job done
quicker than starter fish, with less waste and no to few deaths? Any
comments are welcome. I never even considered this before today. Good
luck and later!

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[Justice]

glenner003 wrote:
> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> ...
>
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>>See subject. Would it be possible to cycle a tank with snails? I
>>understand that different types of snails can have different types of
>>breathing methods (i.e. oxygen intake, as in gills/lungs). If
>>possible and practical maybe it would be great to grow a population
>>of pond snails for example in a cycling tank so that when the snails
>>reproduce significantly the tank is then cycled (tested to have
>>cycled, of coarse don't trust the population explosion identified
>>visibly). I wonder if snails are tougher when it comes to
>>ammonia/nitrite compared to most fish? I am not sure how practical
>>this idea is since maybe pond snails might still be non-reproductive
>>enough to do it faster than decent starter fish? Of course I am
>>talking about pond snails (the guppies of the snail population) so I
>>guess they would be perfect for the job and might get the job done
>>quicker than starter fish, with less waste and no to few deaths? Any
>>comments are welcome. I never even considered this before today. Good
>>luck and later!
>>
>
>
> I have done that twice now and it worked out just fine for me. But I used
> Malaysian trumpet snails. These snails breeth trough gills and not on the
> surface like the most pond snails do. Snails are much tougher than any fish
> I would know. And as surplus, when you are aiming the al low hardness, the
> snails use up much of the calcium and they may keep the algea bloom down (a
> little).
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Glenner003
>
>
>
That sounds like a good way to set up a loach tank, I like them loaches
so cute and cuddly. ok well not really cuddly espeshily the botia :p

[Koi-lo]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
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> See subject. Would it be possible to cycle a tank with snails?
================
Why use snails? There was a time a few years back when people were using
plain cheap ammonia from the grocery store. There was nothing alive to mess
with they said, and very effective. Also, a good seasoned sponge or other
filter material from an established tank should do the trick.
--
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