Cycling with shrimp...

[dgonci]

When you cycle with a shrimp or two, how long until you should expect to see a jump in ammonia? I am running a 40gal breeder with 40lbs LR. I also have 1 Gal of Caribsea Mineral Mud if that might make a difference. Ive had mine in for over a week. The shrimp is at a point where if I touch it with anything it just breaks apart.

 

[sprinter144]

I cycled my last tank in about 4 weeks without adding anything but live rock. My LFS was really against putting anything in the tank dead or alive. Adding dead material doesn't cycle it any faster and adding living animals isn't humane. The live rock was cured. Rather than sample every day he suggested watching the algae that appears. Once brown algae appears wait a few days and clean off a small spot. from the glass/acrylic Once it stops re-appearing sample for ammonia and nitrites. Sure enough it worked. By the way the tank had everything running just like it would be once fish and coral were introduced this included lighting and filtration. Add livestock slowly to prevent any spikes and give your bacteria a chance to catch up.

 

[dgonci]

Hmmm.... Well I have brown algea covering the LR, and I noticed a small patch of red slime Algea (I think), starting to grow on one of the rocks. This is why I was wondering If maybe I should pull out the shrimp since I am assuming that there are surplus nutrients in the tank.

 

[chilwil84]

using just live rock works but it doesnt build up as much bacteria as ghost feeding and using a shrimp. the use of a food source during the cycle is like being able to add a fish or two during the cycle and starting the build of your bacteria to be able to handle a larger bioload than rock alone without injuring or killing a live animal. i wouldnt pull the shrimp let it go and after its gone add some flake or other food to help maintain the bacteria level. once you only get nitrates on your tests you can start adding fish. remember to start with your peaceful smaller fish and work up from there.

 

[robdog696]

Originally Posted by sprinter144
http:///forum/post/2649538
Adding dead material doesn't cycle it any faster

This is false. Adding "dead material" (aka ammonia) to your tank feeds the beneficial bacteria on your live rock. As a result, the bacteria can multiply and spread more quickly.
As for the ammonia spike, have you noticed any difference?
Red slime is a form of cyanobacteria. Growth factors include, light, nitrogen-nitrate, dissolved organic carbon, and CO2. All of these factors are basically interchangeable, meaning that one or two factors can be limited, but it won’t stop the algae-bacteria from utilizing the remaining factors, nor will it stun their growth.
Dissolved organic carbon is an immediate result of anything organic that has died off and gets decomposed by bacteria. Dissolved organics are a food source of the bacterial side of the bacteria-algae. Sources of dissolved carbon include, fish slime, algae, bacteria, digested/uneaten food, metabolic waste, live food, some aquarium additives etc.
In short, remove the shrimp, cut back your lighting, increase your water flow, and do a water change. Otherwise you will be dealing with a much larger outbreak of red slime. Assuming that's what it is.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by sprinter144
http:///forum/post/2649538
I cycled my last tank in about 4 weeks without adding anything but live rock. My LFS was really against putting anything in the tank dead or alive. Adding dead material doesn't cycle it any faster and adding living animals isn't humane. The live rock was cured. Rather than sample every day he suggested watching the algae that appears. Once brown algae appears wait a few days and clean off a small spot. from the glass/acrylic Once it stops re-appearing sample for ammonia and nitrites. Sure enough it worked. By the way the tank had everything running just like it would be once fish and coral were introduced this included lighting and filtration. Add livestock slowly to prevent any spikes and give your bacteria a chance to catch up.
I very much agree here

The only thing that I do not agree with is the testing. The "watch and wait" method does not always work. Sometimes new rock has die off, even if it is claimed to be cured. Testing daily is a must for new systems. If the ammonia spikes too high then you will lose some of the life on your rocks.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by dgonci
http:///forum/post/2649504
When you cycle with a shrimp or two, how long until you should expect to see a jump in ammonia? I am running a 40gal breeder with 40lbs LR. I also have 1 Gal of Caribsea Mineral Mud if that might make a difference. Ive had mine in for over a week. The shrimp is at a point where if I touch it with anything it just breaks apart.
You don't need anything but your rock to cycle the tank. Get the shrimp out of there and let it all cycle through.

 

[sprinter144]

I'll check with my lfs on the testing because it's always possible I misunderstood or have forgotten something. I've setup two other tanks sucessfully and I'm going to setup a 90 gallon soon so this post was interesting to me as well. My lfs is a little more experienced than most so I trust him as he has an 11,000 gallon coral farm distributing to all over the midwest.
I think the original question had to do with how long before the ammonia spiked or went up since the shrimp was decomposing.

 

[aquaguy24]

i started a 90g a little over a month ago..took ammonia two days to go up and 4 more days for my ammonia to go down...i tested my water everyday...my cycle was done less then two weeks..i used all of my live rock (30lbs) and about three cup of my live sand from my old 24g....

 

[chilwil84]

my only worry to recomend not feeding the cycle is that as the rock cures the bacteria level drops to match the dieoff from the rock. so in the end you have a cycled tank but run the risk of an amonia spike when you add your 1st fish. while start small might be an easy thing to say many people dont have small fish in there tanks and dont plan to. they see that big yellow tang or hippo tang in there lfs and cant wait to put it in there tank. both fish produce lots of waste and an amonia spike can easily happen. then we end up with the thread why did my fish die.

 

[spanko]

If you are talking about the Trop as your LFS you are right on. They are giving you good information. From your description I think you may have missed the ammonia spike as you now have the diatoms and cyano bloom. I would test the water for another week or so and see if there are any changes. I think I would also pull the shrimp as it appears it has done it's job.
JMO

 

[prime311]

I agree with Spanko. You probably missed the spike and should ge tthe shrimp out.

 

[morval]

i agree that if you are at the algae stage then u may have missthe spike or it did not get real high do to good LR. get a CUC in there and they will eat the shrimp or you can remove it.

 

[dgonci]

Thanks for the answers. I got the shrimp out and went to the LFS and picked up some snails and a few crabs. Time to let them do there thing for a bit.

 

[prime311]

You shouldnt add invertebrates yet. They are sensitive to Nitrates and could be harmed by the cycle. CUC should be added after the cycle is done and there is no Ammonnia, Nitrite, or Nitrate.

 

[aquaguy24]

did u do a water change before u added ur cuc..

 

[aztec reef]

did u checked Nitrites before adding cuc?