Cycle

[gareth.hubbarde]

Probably been answered a zillion times but my 80g tank has been cycling for the last few days days now, it has a sand bed and 15kg of live rock some of it 3 years mature from my nano tank. I have had 2 frozen shrimp (defrosted) in there and ammonia level currently at 0.1ppm, nitrite also at 0.1ppm. Obviously will wait for both to read 0 before adding fish or critters but with it showing nitrite I'd like to think won't be long?
Anyway, should I remove the shrimps now or just leave them? Never used a shrimp for cycling before.
Thanks for your time.

80g juwel rio
Tmc v2skim 500 hob skimmer
15kg live rock
40kg sand

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[mcgyvr]

Please define this "live rock". Was it rock that had been in a cycled system/tank and was kept damp and sourced locally? (aka its already populated with sufficient bacteria...)
If so there is no point in adding the shrimp or trying to force a typical cycle as the rock already has been colonized by bacteria.. Adding the shrimp is just polluting the tank at this point with decaying matter that you don't need..

Are you planning on adding more rock?.. What you have is less than 50% of whats typically recommended. For an 80G tank I'd want at least 40kg of rock.

[gareth.hubbarde]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Please define this "live rock". Was it rock that had been in a cycled system/tank and was kept damp and sourced locally? (aka its already populated with sufficient bacteria...)
If so there is no point in adding the shrimp or trying to force a typical cycle as the rock already has been colonized by bacteria.. Adding the shrimp is just polluting the tank at this point with decaying matter that you don't need..

Are you planning on adding more rock?.. What you have is less than 50% of whats typically recommended. For an 80G tank I'd want at least 40kg of rock.

Most of the rock has been in my nano tank for 3 years, I bought more from Lfs that has been in their system and was out of water for half hour. I'm getting another 10kg on Monday, from a person an hours drive away, his rock has been in tank for ages too.

I'm going fowlr tank with this tank and hopefully will get upto 40kg of rock.

Should I take shrimps out then and wait for nitrite to drop then add a couple of fish? I'm starting with pair of clowns from my nano tank and Foxface.

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[mcgyvr]

Yes..Take the shrimps out.

You do not need to use them to force/kickstart a cycle as there is no need as the bacteria is already there/present.

You ONLY want to do that when you aren't starting with live rock..

[gareth.hubbarde]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Yes..Take the shrimps out.

You do not need to use them to force/kickstart a cycle as there is no need as the bacteria is already there/present.

You ONLY want to do that when you aren't starting with live rock..

So I can put fish in this weekend if levels are 0. Fab. I have 5 in total in my nano tank, too much to add them all in one hit or will the larger rank be OK? In your opinion?

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[mcgyvr]

5 small fish shouldnt cause a problem