How long for frozen shrimp???

bdg7884

Member
When I buy the shrimp to help cycle the tank, how long does it have to be in there? Do I take it out, when the cycle is done? Do I just go to the seafood section and ask for a piece of shrimp? How big? Can someone explain this a little more??? Thanks in advance!
 

salty cheese

Active Member
Are you adding any uncured lr? If you are you can use that to start the cycle.
I've read that you can remove it after you see an ammonia spike.
Read this thread
 

rjmang

Member
My experience with my 29 was to rubber band a 3 inch long piece of shrimp to a small rock, then wait until it nearly falls apart. After that you will have about another 1-2 weeks. Make sure to add good bacteria to the tank.
While you are at it, set up a 10 gallon QT in your basement. And leave fish in at least 3 weeks.
 
T

tuningvis

Guest
read a book... look it up on the net... about.com has a lot of info on it....
 

acez28

Member
I would go with the LR if you still are undeciding.....the shrimp is going to stink.....it stunk up my whole living room. I wonder why noone mentions that :rolleyes:
 

salty cheese

Active Member

Originally posted by AceZ28
I would go with the LR if you still are undeciding.....the shrimp is going to stink.....it stunk up my whole living room. I wonder why noone mentions that :rolleyes:

Because I used lr.:)
 

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by COWFISHRULE
instead of the shrimp, try "feeding the invisible fish in your tank"
 

salty cheese

Active Member
I think it was once a day until you see your ammonia rise to .25. Not sure but I doubt you could do any damage by feeding it more.
 

squidd

Active Member
Just a "pinch" between the cheek and gum...:eek: ...I mean between the thumb and fore finger...
Just like you would if you had one or two "small" fish in there...
Once a day would be fine...
By adding a small amount of "food" (organics) each day, it will decompose and turn to a "small" amount of ammonia...
Which will in turn "feed" a small but growing population of bacteria that convert it to nitrIte...
The NitrIte level rises "slowly" will in turn "feed" a small but growing population of a different bacteria that will convert it to NitrAte...
At the end of (for example) 6 weeks you will have added 1 oz. of food gradually and the ammonia would have risen "gradually" (rather than "spike") NitrIte in turn would rise gradualy...,bacteria,...convert to nitrAte...etc...Levels never would have risen to "killing" levels (over .5 ) and LR will retain more Life...
In contrast if you put a 1 oz shrimp in there ammonia will "spike" to killing levels because of the "overabundance" of food (organic) and then "when" the bacteria did catch up it would produce an "overabundance" of NitrIte (another spike) and then to nitrAte...
In the end (after six weeks) you would end up with the same "cycled" level of life sustaining bacteria, but not have put your tank/LR through the "killing" peaks of a "shrimp" cycle...:yes:
 

klongo

Member
so, what you're saying is that I can order my live rock right now, put it in my brand new tank and just feed the tank daily - and will end up with same results as I did when I cycled my tank last year? (I cycled with 1 shrimp - took about a month, then added cured LR and waited for it to cycle - about two weeks - and then added my first inverts and fish?)
 

salty cheese

Active Member
All I used to cycle my new tank was the 50#of semi-cured lr. By semi-cured I mean it was cured by SWF but in the process of shipping there was/will be some die off. If you are getting a fare amount of lr rock IMO you do not need to "feed" the tank.
 

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by klongo
so, what you're saying is that I can order my live rock right now, put it in my brand new tank and just feed the tank daily - and will end up with same results as I did when I cycled my tank last year?

Nope. Your results will be better. Because of the lower Ammonia levels more critters will live through the cycle and add to your tank diversity. More diversity = healthier live rock = healthier tank.
 
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