Cycling Tank

rich19020 · 11/21/2011, 03:12 PM

Ok I started the cycling process of my 72 gallon. I put in a frozen shrimp (the type humans eat). How long do I keep the shrimp in before removing it? Would 2 days be enough?

shaginwagon13 · 11/21/2011, 03:47 PM

Just leave it in there permanently. When you add your clean-up-crew after the cycle is done they will have a nice snack to feast on.

thegrun · 11/21/2011, 04:44 PM

+1, you can just leave it in there or remove it if your ammonia levels get over 2 PPM.

Jocko · 11/22/2011, 09:22 AM

How much live rock, live sand did you start with?

Personally, I'd take the shrimp out immediately and refrain from putting things in your tank that you don't intend to keep long term. Sure the shrimp will create plenty of ammonia, and that ammonia will allow a big bacteria population to grow. Then you take the shrimp out. Suddenly the food supply cuts off and your bacteria population plummets. That will results in an increase in ammonia which means the bacteria population will start to grow again. That is until the ammonia is gone. Then it will plummet again. You get the idea. It will actually take your tank longer to equalize because you'll have bacteria population swings going on for a while after that.

Better to reach zero levels sooner and then slowly start adding real livestock like a small cleanup crew. This will allow your bacteria population to equalize sooner and to slowly increase as you slow increase the bioload in the tank.

smellslikeTUNA · 11/22/2011, 12:07 PM

The girlfriend was pretty set on me taking it out after a couple weeks because it "looks gross" and was making the house smell. Definitely interesting to watch it decompose and there was definitely no smell. Regardless, I took it out

. Make sure the one you put in was grey and not pink because the pink ones are precooked and won't work.

yellowRubi · 11/22/2011, 12:12 PM

I left the Raw shrimp there, it was all gone in like 2 weeks, theres was no smell at all

nlgill13 · 11/22/2011, 05:23 PM

My shrimp (we call it shimpy) is decomposing as we speak although it went from grey to orange (cooked itself) after a day or two.....is this ok?

Ps- Rich19020, sorry if im hijacking ur post...good question by the way

rhwimmers · 12/01/2011, 11:06 PM

Yeah - its ok that it turned pink. Id offer a scientific explanation but it would be BS. I know its ok because mine did too. I really do think it like "brined" itself, I wouldn't want to eat it though - I do notice a smell on mine.
I miss the days of cycling with Damsels, there, I said it!

11/21/2011, 03:12 PM	#1
rich19020 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 389	Cycling Tank Ok I started the cycling process of my 72 gallon. I put in a frozen shrimp (the type humans eat). How long do I keep the shrimp in before removing it? Would 2 days be enough? __________________ 72 gallon bow front, 40 gallon sump, 25 gallon refugium, Reef Oct. XS200 Mix of soft coral, lps and sps. 1 clam and green tip buble anenome.

11/22/2011, 12:07 PM	#5
smellslikeTUNA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 453	The girlfriend was pretty set on me taking it out after a couple weeks because it "looks gross" and was making the house smell. Definitely interesting to watch it decompose and there was definitely no smell. Regardless, I took it out . Make sure the one you put in was grey and not pink because the pink ones are precooked and won't work. __________________ -Great minds don't think alike, they innovate!- 57g Oceanic Illuminata \| Kessil A150W 10K LED \| 1x 453nm Stunner \| Trigger Systems Sump/Refug \| Reef Octopus NWB-110 Skimmer \| RKL+ System \| 2X Evo 750gph \| BFS RO/DI

11/22/2011, 12:12 PM	#6
yellowRubi Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Streamwood,IL Posts: 677	I left the Raw shrimp there, it was all gone in like 2 weeks, theres was no smell at all __________________ 48x36x20h tank & 40x20x16h Sump - NanoSeaCreations 2x MP40 Quiet Drives, SKIMZ SM161 , Water Blaster HY-7000 Return ATI T5/LED 48"Powermodule, Apex with all the goodies,2 BRS Reactors

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11/21/2011, 03:47 PM	#2
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	Just leave it in there permanently. When you add your clean-up-crew after the cycle is done they will have a nice snack to feast on.

11/21/2011, 04:44 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, you can just leave it in there or remove it if your ammonia levels get over 2 PPM.

11/22/2011, 09:22 AM	#4
Jocko Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 595	How much live rock, live sand did you start with? Personally, I'd take the shrimp out immediately and refrain from putting things in your tank that you don't intend to keep long term. Sure the shrimp will create plenty of ammonia, and that ammonia will allow a big bacteria population to grow. Then you take the shrimp out. Suddenly the food supply cuts off and your bacteria population plummets. That will results in an increase in ammonia which means the bacteria population will start to grow again. That is until the ammonia is gone. Then it will plummet again. You get the idea. It will actually take your tank longer to equalize because you'll have bacteria population swings going on for a while after that. Better to reach zero levels sooner and then slowly start adding real livestock like a small cleanup crew. This will allow your bacteria population to equalize sooner and to slowly increase as you slow increase the bioload in the tank.

11/22/2011, 05:23 PM	#7
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	My shrimp (we call it shimpy) is decomposing as we speak although it went from grey to orange (cooked itself) after a day or two.....is this ok? Ps- Rich19020, sorry if im hijacking ur post...good question by the way

12/01/2011, 11:06 PM	#8
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	Yeah - its ok that it turned pink. Id offer a scientific explanation but it would be BS. I know its ok because mine did too. I really do think it like "brined" itself, I wouldn't want to eat it though - I do notice a smell on mine. I miss the days of cycling with Damsels, there, I said it!