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If I have a planted and cycled tank and I take out the fish but add a smidge of fishfood like there was fish in the tank, and do the standard weekly wc, will the tank stay cycled?

should, or yo could add straight ammonia... that would take away the eed for as frequent water changes or the messyness of decomposing food... but theoretically yes... if you do add food try putting one or two mystery snails in there to keep ontop of te decaying plant matter and the fish food eating... then their ammoinia would be used n the nitrogen cycle... or add a cople rams horn snails and allow then to keep the cycle going with the small amount of food... ammonia or snails and food are the best bets... the straight food would be messy and not as rewarding... (ammonia would be a cheaper alternative as well as scott how he performed his cycle with ammonia and then keep the same doses continuously...

hopefully all goes well with the fishless tank...

PS why the need for a fishless tank? future home for corries or just want t acool aquascape that will stay as it is?

good luck,
branodn

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

I thought it might be good as a hospital tank, fry tank, breeding tank pretty much everything tank.

if it is to be a fry or breedig tank, consider keeping snails in there to keep the waste removal up to par and also to keep up with the removal of deceased fry should it occur. a smal healthy colony of rams or apple snails would keep it up and running and all they would need is some algae or other wafers every day or a cople ties a week... if the lighting is sufficient for plant growth and you dont lind growing algae on the back and sides then those could be excellent fod sources, but not everyone loves snails as much as me... so it is up to you...

sounds liek your tank idea is a great idea... have you found any homes for the cory fry yet?

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Hi,
A planted tank is great as a QT tank, but not the best
choice for a Hospital tank. The gravel and plants can
cause problems for the medications and the medications
can cause problems for the the gravel and plants.

The best bet for a hospital tank is a completely bare tank
with a flower pot or two for the "sick" to hide in, and
yet, still be easily observed by the owner.
Use a heater as well as many times a part of the
treatment is to elevate the temperature.
Use a Sponge filter in the corner if it is a small tank
or one of these if it is a larger one:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=3578+3579+3584

The sponge filters are easy to clean, efficient, and can
be sterilized or disposed of after a treatment.

Place a black piece of construction paper or something
similar under the tank to prevent the occupants from
seeing themselves in the glass. It adds to their stress
if they can as they "think" there is another fish a
possible predator under them.

The cycle in QT tanks is kept active by placing a couple
(depending upon the size of the tank) of platies or some
other live bearer in the tank. Any fry can remain as
additional food for them or can be netted off into the main
tanks.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I'd say that it sounds like the ideal tank to QT new arrivals, but I'd be hesitant as a hospital tank because of the plants, substrate, etc. If you get some sort of disease or creeping crud in there, it'll be tougher to knock out with plants, gravel, etc.

And well, if your new arrivals we QT'd in that tank for a week or two prior to joining their final home and they did have a disease of some sort, you'd still have to get that disease outta the QT tank.

If it were me, I dont know if I could stand to see an empty cycled tank without something in it. I'd at least go for some snails and maybe ghost shrimp...