Is too small a bioload possible?

[kaden]

Recently I had to remove and euthanize all my fish due to neon tetra disease, leaving only my inverts: 2 mystery snails, 4 nerites, unknown number of baby nerites, and 6 ghost shrimp.

Is it possible to have a bioload too small, or is this sufficient? I have a lot of live plants and mosses in here and I want to keep them healthy, as well as making sure my biological filter stays healthy and alive. I can't add any more fish until I've given the tank a while without, in case there's any NTD pathogens left. I know I'll be adding more ghost shrimp, but they are such a small animal with a tiny bioload that I don't know. I know snails are pretty dirty critters though, so I'm hoping their snail poo can help keep my plants alive and my filter going.

I really don't want to add any more fish at this time until the tank has had a while to settle in case any trace of NTD remains, so that won't be a viable option. x_o Suggestions? My tank is 6 gallons, fully cycled, good parameters (0,0,5 on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate).

[Tetra1990]

So you were keeping neons in a 6 gallon? If so, that was/is way too small for them.

[Tetra1990]

Originally Posted by kaden

Recently I had to remove and euthanize all my fish due to neon tetra disease, leaving only my inverts: 2 mystery snails, 4 nerites, unknown number of baby nerites, and 6 ghost shrimp.

Is it possible to have a bioload too small, or is this sufficient? I have a lot of live plants and mosses in here and I want to keep them healthy, as well as making sure my biological filter stays healthy and alive. I can't add any more fish until I've given the tank a while without, in case there's any NTD pathogens left. I know I'll be adding more ghost shrimp, but they are such a small animal with a tiny bioload that I don't know. I know snails are pretty dirty critters though, so I'm hoping their snail poo can help keep my plants alive and my filter going.

I really don't want to add any more fish at this time until the tank has had a while to settle in case any trace of NTD remains, so that won't be a viable option. x_o Suggestions? My tank is 6 gallons, fully cycled, good parameters (0,0,5 on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate).

So you were keeping neons in a 6 gallon if so, that was/is way too small.

[MABJ]

His question was more towards his current tank..

I think you'll be good, and I'm currently keeping my cycle alive with a host of pond snails and a small slowly dying plant until I get shrimp and moss.

I'd say many people just keep small shrimp tanks cycled - so you'll be fine!