"Shrimp Cycling" - Page 3

Goldndoodle · 01/28/2015, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishri

Good luck with your shrimp. I'm not sure why people do it this way these days.

Started out trying to put shrimp in, and ghost feed, the tank to start my cycle. Someone early in this thread pointed out the Dr Tim's Fishless Cycle method dosing ammonia to start the denitrifying bacteria growth. I quickly switched from "rotting food" method to the Ammonia Dosing method - it fit my degreed scientist mentality much better. No guessing - it's a matter of dosing, then letting the bacteria take their course, then test to ensure the bacteria is doing it's job.

Goldndoodle · 01/30/2015, 10:25 AM

Test results this morning -

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - < 0.05mg/L (Red Sea was not completely clear, but not as pink as the 0.05 range)
Nitrate - < 2 mg/L (Red Sea was not completely clear, but not as pink as the 2 range)

Proceeding to the next step of the Dr Tim's Fishless Cycle procedure - testing that the denitrifying bacterias are in sufficient supply to remove 2 - 3 mg/L of ammonia within 24 hours. Dosing ammonia now, will test tomorrow morning to see where ammonia and nitrite levels are.

Also dropping tank temp from 79.5, down to 78.0 degrees.

gone fishin · 01/30/2015, 11:07 AM

Sounds like you are just about there.

Goldndoodle · 01/30/2015, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

Sounds like you are just about there.

Goldndoodle · 01/31/2015, 11:44 AM

Not done cycling yet.

This morning's tests -

Ammonia - 0.8 mg/L
Nitrite - 0.1 mg/L
Nitrate - < 2 mg/L

The system did not completely process the 2 mg/L of Ammonia I dosed yesterday morning. Need to wait for the Ammonia and Nitrite to both be under 0.2 mg/L again, then retest.

Still cycling.

gone fishin · 01/31/2015, 02:38 PM

Your very close, I would not be surprised if you was not ready by next weekend.

Goldndoodle · 01/31/2015, 06:58 PM

Went up to my some fish stores this afternoon in Metro Detroit - one of the really good guys I like to talk to up there told me to kill the lights. He said bacteria likes to multiple in the dark - to which I replied "bow chicka bow wow ..."

We went over the test numbers I'm getting, he said I was really close, and thought if I killed the lights he would expect the cycle to be complete by mid-week. At which point, I took out my iPhone, hit APEX Fusion, and turned off the lights!

Goldndoodle · 02/02/2015, 09:11 AM

Tests this morning -

Ammonia - 0.2 mg/L
Nitrite - 0.1 mg/L
Nitrate - 2 mg/L

It took 72 hours to reduce Ammonia from 2 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L with the last test.

Dosed Ammonia back up to 2 mg/L this morning to test how quickly it can be reduced. Here's hoping the bacteria are really multiplying away at this point ...

gone fishin · 02/02/2015, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldndoodle

01/30/2015, 10:25 AM	#52
Goldndoodle Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monroe MI Posts: 576	Test results this morning - Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - < 0.05mg/L (Red Sea was not completely clear, but not as pink as the 0.05 range) Nitrate - < 2 mg/L (Red Sea was not completely clear, but not as pink as the 2 range) Proceeding to the next step of the Dr Tim's Fishless Cycle procedure - testing that the denitrifying bacterias are in sufficient supply to remove 2 - 3 mg/L of ammonia within 24 hours. Dosing ammonia now, will test tomorrow morning to see where ammonia and nitrite levels are. Also dropping tank temp from 79.5, down to 78.0 degrees. __________________ I don't want an "instant reef" ... I want a successful reef! 120G DT: dual Jebao WP25s, (3) 48" BML LED fixtures, APEX controller 50G sump: Jebao DC9000, Finnex 300 heaters, SCA Skimmer, fuge Last edited by Goldndoodle; 01/30/2015 at 10:37 AM.

01/30/2015, 11:07 AM	#53
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Sounds like you are just about there. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/31/2015, 11:44 AM	#55
Goldndoodle Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monroe MI Posts: 576	Not done cycling yet. This morning's tests - Ammonia - 0.8 mg/L Nitrite - 0.1 mg/L Nitrate - < 2 mg/L The system did not completely process the 2 mg/L of Ammonia I dosed yesterday morning. Need to wait for the Ammonia and Nitrite to both be under 0.2 mg/L again, then retest. Still cycling. __________________ I don't want an "instant reef" ... I want a successful reef! 120G DT: dual Jebao WP25s, (3) 48" BML LED fixtures, APEX controller 50G sump: Jebao DC9000, Finnex 300 heaters, SCA Skimmer, fuge

01/31/2015, 02:38 PM	#56
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Your very close, I would not be surprised if you was not ready by next weekend. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/31/2015, 06:58 PM	#57
Goldndoodle Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monroe MI Posts: 576	Went up to my some fish stores this afternoon in Metro Detroit - one of the really good guys I like to talk to up there told me to kill the lights. He said bacteria likes to multiple in the dark - to which I replied "bow chicka bow wow ..." We went over the test numbers I'm getting, he said I was really close, and thought if I killed the lights he would expect the cycle to be complete by mid-week. At which point, I took out my iPhone, hit APEX Fusion, and turned off the lights! __________________ I don't want an "instant reef" ... I want a successful reef! 120G DT: dual Jebao WP25s, (3) 48" BML LED fixtures, APEX controller 50G sump: Jebao DC9000, Finnex 300 heaters, SCA Skimmer, fuge

02/02/2015, 09:11 AM	#58
Goldndoodle Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monroe MI Posts: 576	Tests this morning - Ammonia - 0.2 mg/L Nitrite - 0.1 mg/L Nitrate - 2 mg/L It took 72 hours to reduce Ammonia from 2 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L with the last test. Dosed Ammonia back up to 2 mg/L this morning to test how quickly it can be reduced. Here's hoping the bacteria are really multiplying away at this point ... __________________ I don't want an "instant reef" ... I want a successful reef! 120G DT: dual Jebao WP25s, (3) 48" BML LED fixtures, APEX controller 50G sump: Jebao DC9000, Finnex 300 heaters, SCA Skimmer, fuge