Just added my live rock

kdc527 · 03/17/2008, 03:49 PM

Hey everyone i just added my live rock to my tank before i added the rock i had a small i guess mini cycle?? So when i added the rock the person who i got the rock from said to add a shrimp to help it cycle again i put a small raw shrimp in the tank. question is should i let it totally rot in there or should I take it out iin aday or two. I did my tests today Ammonia .25mg/l Ph of 8.3 nitrates undetecable and trites at .25mg/l using api test kit

seapug · 03/17/2008, 04:08 PM

the shrimp trick works but isn't necessary. I'd go ahead and remove the carcass and let the cycle proceed without it.

kdc527 · 03/17/2008, 04:28 PM

Seapug will the shrimp speed up the cylce i want to put a fish in the tank son once i got started i am physced about getting some fish in there i will be patient though if it won't help

AngeloM3 · 03/17/2008, 04:37 PM

To my knowledge there is nothing to "speed up" a cycle process. It is a natural process that needs to run its course at its own pace.

The only thing a piece of shrimp is doing is helping the cycle get started... I'd never used that method because the cycle will start with or without a piece of shrimp.... but I'd just leave it in there a week and then take it out.

Also once you get to the point where your tests are coming out 0... I'd still test for another week or two after that. It's not uncommon that tests will read 0 and then a week later you get a major/minor spike. Just remember... this is the stage a lot of people go wrong by trying to rush the process.

djc1026 · 03/17/2008, 04:45 PM

Since you're using LR, I'd take out the shrimp, it's not necessary. How much rock did you add to the tank? Most of all, try to contain your excitement by focusing on research and reading. We were all excited when we started out wanting to add those first fish. Please resist this, and be thoroughly patient, it will payoff down the road. No one here who started their first tank from scratch, got to where they are today overnight or even within a month for that matter if I were a betting man

.

Dave

03/17/2008, 03:49 PM	#1
kdc527 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Boyertown, PA Posts: 333	Just added my live rock Hey everyone i just added my live rock to my tank before i added the rock i had a small i guess mini cycle?? So when i added the rock the person who i got the rock from said to add a shrimp to help it cycle again i put a small raw shrimp in the tank. question is should i let it totally rot in there or should I take it out iin aday or two. I did my tests today Ammonia .25mg/l Ph of 8.3 nitrates undetecable and trites at .25mg/l using api test kit __________________ she thinks the fish are pretty Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef 29 gallon sump 2 korlia 2's mag5 return current 48"pc light

03/17/2008, 04:08 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	the shrimp trick works but isn't necessary. I'd go ahead and remove the carcass and let the cycle proceed without it. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/17/2008, 04:28 PM	#3
kdc527 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Boyertown, PA Posts: 333	Seapug will the shrimp speed up the cylce i want to put a fish in the tank son once i got started i am physced about getting some fish in there i will be patient though if it won't help __________________ she thinks the fish are pretty Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef 29 gallon sump 2 korlia 2's mag5 return current 48"pc light

03/17/2008, 04:37 PM	#4
AngeloM3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,016	To my knowledge there is nothing to "speed up" a cycle process. It is a natural process that needs to run its course at its own pace. The only thing a piece of shrimp is doing is helping the cycle get started... I'd never used that method because the cycle will start with or without a piece of shrimp.... but I'd just leave it in there a week and then take it out. Also once you get to the point where your tests are coming out 0... I'd still test for another week or two after that. It's not uncommon that tests will read 0 and then a week later you get a major/minor spike. Just remember... this is the stage a lot of people go wrong by trying to rush the process. __________________ "I'm sick of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where their going and catch up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg R.I.P

03/17/2008, 04:45 PM	#5
djc1026 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lawton Posts: 1,061	Since you're using LR, I'd take out the shrimp, it's not necessary. How much rock did you add to the tank? Most of all, try to contain your excitement by focusing on research and reading. We were all excited when we started out wanting to add those first fish. Please resist this, and be thoroughly patient, it will payoff down the road. No one here who started their first tank from scratch, got to where they are today overnight or even within a month for that matter if I were a betting man . Dave __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 150 gallon FOWLR -- 29 Gal Misc