Feeding the tank

[Pinkheine]

When to start feeding the tank? How much? How often?

So we have established a diatom bloom, are slowly going to add the clean up crew. For now we have 15 astraeas (going to leave them have at it for a week or so before getting the full crew) Now my question is do we do anything to keep the good bacteria up at this point in time?

By now if this was going to be fish only we'd have added something because everything is good to go. No more ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Doing a ten gallon water change once a week.

I can offer todays parameters this afternoon when I test. (If it helps)
Just don't want to end up going backwards at this point since things are going so well.

TIA for your input

 

[Deanos]

Tanks don't eat.

 

[Pinkheine]

Tanks don't eat.

:lol: I guess this is a dumb ass noob question. Just want the tank to maintain.. but if there is no waste, how will the bacteria stay and us not end up with a spike when something finally goes in?

I thought for sure when I saw your name there was going to be a kick ass link I want to pick your brain in the art of search... I am terrible at it. One words, multiple, key phrases etc, nothing comes up.

 

[Deanos]

The bacteria will feed on the snails' waste at this point.

 

[tommy818]

anyone having any problems should ask deanos!

 

[basiab]

I like the question better than the answer. It is a new tank and there may not be much for those snails to eat so there will be little waste to keep the bacteria population up. But there is a chance some snails will die because they do not have enough to eat and then there will be plenty for the bacteria to feed on.
In any case it takes months for a tank to mature so whenever you add to the bio load it will take time for the bacteria to catch up. And that is why it is usually suggested to add things slowly. That way the bacteria does not get too far behind the bio load.

 

[Deanos]

The first few months of a tank setup usually provide plenty of algae blooms for the snail's to feed on.