cycle question

[mdk16]

Started the cycle on saturaday with a couple of raw shrimp, added some stability and prime on wednesday night, all levels are beginning to resemble a cycled tank.
Can I clean/replace the filter floss on the wet dry because it appears real dirty.
Do you recommend cleaning the floss pad in a bucket of salt water taken from the tank or should I remove and replace?
Also, I removed the shrimp and it caused a mess, shrimp particles everywhere. The filter cleaned up a lot, however a lot settled I"m sure. Should I stir up the tank to get this particles out.
Thank You.

 

[earlybird]

Sure you can change out your filters and pads as frequent as you like. For sponges I suggest rinsing/squeezing them clean in salt water but for cut filters and the like it's just too cheap to not replace them.

 

[donald]

Patience is the one thing in this hobby that you cannot buy. I have never heard of a cycle only taking 6 days. Give it time. I would not stir up the tank, leave it be, this is why you cycle in the first place, to let all the wonderfull little "bugs" and other things gain a foot hold in your tank and make it clean and safe. I would just wait, at least wait another week and then retest.

 

[mdk16]

ok, so I will change the pad, clean the sponge and wait.
Thank you for the quick response.

 

[scsinet]

When you added prime you neutralized all of the ammonia. That's why it appears your levels have settled.
All you should need to complete a cycle is shrimp and salty water. Avoid adding any additives, conditioners, etc and things will continue along. You should see an ammonia spike again once the prime's effectiveness wears off.

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
When you added prime you neutralized all of the ammonia. That's why it appears your levels have settled.
All you should need to complete a cycle is shrimp and salty water. Avoid adding any additives, conditioners, etc and things will continue along. You should see an ammonia spike again once the prime's effectiveness wears off.
I am on coming up on the end of my week 2, my ammonia spiked and is down to .25, should be zero any day now.....my trites are off the chart and I do see some trates....patience....I have blocked off 6 weeks in my calendar...I know it will take some time for it to cycle. This allows me to research and see where my first order will be from. As SCSInet said, raw shrimp and saltwater, I have not added a single additive to my tank. I am just riding it out....good luck on the cycle mdk.....

 

[mdk16]

It's funny, everyone I talk with gives me different advice, I value the advice on this site because I know you're not tring to sell me anything.
I added the shrimp as I mentioned to start the cycle. LFS told me to remove the shrimp (I removed after 4 days) and start adding the prime and stability for one week, after the week to test again and add a hardy fish.
At this point I'm confused as to what to do. Do I continue to add the supplements or sit back and wait? I visited 4 of the most reputable LFS in south florida and they all suggest using store bought bacteria. Again, I realize that this is a business.
Will I do harm if I continue to add the supplements? I'm in no real hurry, I want to do whats right for the long hall.
Thanks again.

 

[scsinet]

The best advice I can give you is be careful how heavily you weigh the advice of those who are trying to sell you stuff.
You can add store bought bacteria if you want to, but that stuff just dumps bacteria into the water (if, and that's a big IF, the bacteria you are dumping in is actually live viable bacteria. The claims of most manufactuerers are stretched to say the least). What you want is bacteria populating your rock, your substrate, etc. That takes time, and time only.
Prime and other water conditioners will tend to negate or set back the action of the cycle because by neutalizing the ammonia, they only cut off the food supply of the very bacteria you are attempting to breed.
One could argue that the fish stores know this, and are telling you to add prime so that you'll think the bacteria products they are also telling you to dump in are working.

 

[1journeyman]

Also, do not rinse your filter pads in fresh water. This can kill the bacteria living in them. Rinse them in SW.
The next time a fish store tries to sell you a "hardy" fish for cycling your tank, ask them how the Damsel's gills are immune to Ammonia....

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by mdk16
I value the advice on this site because I know you're not tring to sell me anything.
I'm in no real hurry, I want to do whats right for the long hall.
Thanks again.
MDK, I have not been in the hobby long (about a year and a half).....when I first started out, I bought into the advice and bought all sorts of bacteria this, prime that, amquel plus this, etc, etc, etc.
Being new, and most people do this first time around, I wanted fish now...so I tried to speed up the process...big mistake...
You hit it directly on the head. We are NOT trying to sell you anything, just giving you some advice that has been tried time and time again. You can take it for what it is worth. You had a shrimp decomposing in your tank, that created ammonia, the rest will take care of itself. If you truly are in no hurry....Let it ride out. You will be happy you did.....
By the way....my first tank I mentioned...CRASHED AND BURNED pretty badly...my fault. In part by listening to those with vested interest in my purchasing "their" products, and the other by not doing my "homework" so to speak....
Wait it out bud....

Good luck

 

[mdk16]

Ok, so here's the plan:
1. Clean sponge block in salt water
2. replace filter pad on wet dry
3. Discontinue the prime and stability
4. Wait it out
Thank you all again.

 

[tolboy]

There are no shortcuts in this hobby, I know it sucks waiting for your tank to cycle.I'm cycling one myself right now but patients is the best thing you can put into your tank.It seems more rewarding

and exciting also when you've waited it out and that day finally comes when you can begin stocking ahhhh.... I love that feeling

 

[tinmanny]

Mdk we all had to do the same thing. I remember the time it took for mine but everyone told me to just keep the filter system up and let the tank do the job itself you will have lots of conversations on here with others about what you will do when it is done and you will learn a lot in the process so relax sit back and lets chat
maby about what you plan to put in the tank in 2 years it seams like a long time but we

ginners tend to fil the tank up with items we thought we liked then when we know what we want the tank is over full take this time to think about that
Good luck and have fun
Manny

just being patient