Cycling a new tank with Raw Shrimp

hutchinson

hutchinson

Member
I got some raw shrimp from my restraunt. Im starting a 55 gallong tank with 45lbns of live rock and shrimp. How many peices of shrimp. And how do i know when my tank is completley cycled?
I have a testing kit i tested my water the only problem is my ph is too high everything else is perfect.........
Comments and suggestions would be wonderfull THank YOu :happyfish
 
drewissett

drewissett

Member
I heard that you shouldn't use raw shrimp, (not sure why)
My aquarium was just fine with the live rock and a pair of damsels,
it cycled within 2 weeks.
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
But you should not use live fish to cycle a tank :mad: I have cycled many tanks with raw shrimp, cycling a nana right now with one. (only need 1)
BTW, my tanks cycled in less then 2 weeks also, and didn't hurt any fish in the process
 
chipmaker

chipmaker

Active Member
Why would you want to use nasty dead raw shrimp whenuyu have live rock to initiate and cycle the tank with. Your going bassackwards by adding dead critters. No need for it, and odds zre it will create a much higher ammonia and nitrite spike and kill off a lot more critters in the rock than otherwise would happen. Live rock will do the job just fine and you will not have to contend with poluted affair and water changes like you would if you used shrimp....
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
Originally Posted by chipmaker
Why would you want to use nasty dead raw shrimp whenuyu have live rock to initiate and cycle the tank with. Your going bassackwards by adding dead critters. No need for it, and odds zre it will create a much higher ammonia and nitrite spike and kill off a lot more critters in the rock than otherwise would happen. Live rock will do the job just fine and you will not have to contend with poluted affair and water changes like you would if you used shrimp....
No problems with rotting air if you don't let it stay in the tank till it rots, just to jump start cycle faster, raw shrimp seems to make a faster cycle IMO.
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
It doesn't have to totally decay where it stinks up your house. I leave it in til I can smell the bacteria of it, and that depends on size of your tank. My 75 started smelling in afew days, took it out before it fell apart, and a week later my tank was completely through its cycle. I have a raw shrimp in my nano right now, put it in yesterday, I can already smell it when i lift the lid, not rotting smell, just a slight oceany smell, I will take it out tonight or in the morning, thats long enough for that size tank. Raw shrimp is same as phantom feeding your tank, the fish food rots as well, same dif!
 
rkmayphd

rkmayphd

Member
I clycle my 46 gallon with a raw shrimp- Just one decent size. I left in in for 2 days. The tank cycled fairly quickly and I did not see a HUGE spike in ammonia.
 
drewsta

drewsta

Active Member
Yes the dead shrimp method works but why foul up the water quality just cycle with live sand and live rock it works just as good. Plus like I have said before who knows what kind of food preservatives or others things could be on them. Just do the live rock and live sand way but hey I guess it's personal preference
 
drewsta

drewsta

Active Member
Your PH shouldn't flux that much try to keep your PH (8.2) and ALKALINITY (10-12) by using kent alk buffer it works great
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
Originally Posted by Drewsta
Yes the dead shrimp method works but why foul up the water quality just cycle with live sand and live rock it works just as good. Plus like I have said before who knows what kind of food preservatives or others things could be on them. Just do the live rock and live sand way but hey I guess it's personal preference

The point I was making to the poster is if you want to cycle your tank, use raw shrimp NOT damsels like another poster had suggested instead of using a shrimp. You are right, it is a personal preference, and either way works better then harming a poor fish, we can agree on that right?
 
W

winstew

Guest
+1 on raw shrimp... works great
+1 on not using damsels
after levels stabilize give it 2 days test again. Ensure ammonia/trites are zero. You probably will have some trates, do a 20% water change and you will be good to go. Dependign on salt and water used you might need to adjust cal and Alk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top