How long

[carter3]

Ok I've just set up my tank. 55g wet/dry and skimmer. 20 lbs live rock 20lb sand & 20lbs of ls. started cycle couple of days ago, just put in peel shrimp. How long do I leave it in? I know I need more lr will add later. I haven't check for ammonia yet don't have kit will get next week. So far this is what I have.
temp 80
ph - 8.4
nitrate - 20
nitrite - 0
alkalinity over 300
didn't do ammonia yet (i'll get it before add any fish )
salt -1.025
am I for getting anything
When do i remove the shrimp?
Am I forgetting anything?

 

[big911dog]

you kind of need the ammonia test now so you can see the ammonia spike and know where your cycle is.

 

[d0 thy d3w]

ur temp is kinda high....but toher than that ill just leave u with this...most tanks will cycle in about 4-6 weeks...sumtimes shorter..sometimes longer...the only way to know when ur done is just keep testing ur water..when everything reads o it will be done..its always good to "test" ur tank when u think the cycle is complete..u can do this simply by introducing food to the tank over a couple days to try to create ammonia..if u see no spikes than ur good to add fish!

 

[carter3]

I know I have a while to go for cycle. I want to know how long do I leave the shrimp in, right now its kind of fuzzy.

 

[geridoc]

The problem is that in order to know when to remove the fish you have to know the ammonia levels. When the levels reach 1.0 you should remove the shrimp.