you dont wanna kill the little shrimp do u? just jk.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Just Kidding" class="inlineimg" /> but if you add shrimp during the cycle it is not likely to survive. you need to wait until nh3/4 no2/3 are all at 0 before that you shouldnt add anything. patience is essential at this stage because the shrimp has to be fed you are adding nutrients to the tank when they are unable to handle them and by they i mean the bacteria.
Are you talking about a live marine shrimp or a frozen shrimp to start the cycle?
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
Yeah, pure ammonia is a very good method, but be sure to measure the correct doses every day and don't miss one time.
Another method of cycling tanks is to use one of the many commercial starter cultures availabe.
Ex: Biospira by Marineland Labs is supposed to cycle it in "just 3 days" but still a good place to start.
I don't think the sand has to be alive for the bacteria to colonize. I believe the sand is just a medium for the colonization. Kind of like a place to live and grow. Therefore, rthe crushed coral may be ok. Am I right here guys?
I agree - bacteria need surface area to colonize otherwise they get suspended in the water and you'll end up with one enormous foggy tank. Also, kudos to you for going with thte table shrimp to start the cycle as opposed to some little critter like a damsel. I am happy to see people moving away from this practice.
I honestly haven't heard of peeps cycling their tanks with live fish in a long time.... it is still common practice? I deal more with a seahorse forum and wasn't sure if the fishless cycle was more prominent in these specific tanks.
Yes, sadly enough, it is still practiced. I heard an LFS moron promoting the blue damsels as the "BEST cycle fish, bullet proof etc." just the other day.
Sad stuff eh!? When I hear that, I sometimes offer to go visit and show them alternative solutions to starting the cycle...one of which (if they get "uppidy") includes the use of ammonia, but I'm NOT going to divulge the source
one of which (if they get "uppidy") includes the use of ammonia, but I'm NOT going to divulge the source
*trieds to get the image out of her head*
I'm on too many meds so I had to go BUY mine. Finding pure ammonia can be a very difficult task. But if anyone's ever looking for some, put a shout out to your area and I bet someone will know where to find it.
Strange, I was just at my LFS (the one that I hate, if you've seen my other posts) to get a cleanup crew for my tank, since its just finishing its cycle (YAY!), and the dude there asked what I had in the tank to cycle it, and told him about my dead coral that came on the LR (it was uncured, apprently...) and the dead shrimp, and he told me that I needed a live fish to cycle the tank, and that my tank hadn't cycled yet. Of course, I've been testing for the last month, and the cycle has gone through nicely... this guy was a moron. He told me to get a few blue damsels to cycle the tank, and, since the cycles done anyway and they're cute, I decided to get them. Still... its frusterating having conversations with people like that.
icon under there name and give them Reputation points
USA 
