i got my butt in a sling

[dea_mt]

ok here's the sitiation...i started a new tank like literally 3 days ago and being the noob i am i bought 2 peppermint shrimp and 2 snails...after this i learned about cycling a tank...1 of my shrimp(which i'm using to cycle the tank) died but everything else is still alive...so here's the question...by feeding that shrimp will my tank never get a chance to cycle because of the leftover food...u know what i mean will the nitrate be able to catch up to the ammonia? if not i'm about to like send these inverts to a buddy...:happyfish

 

[bigarn]

Just the opposite....the leftover food will help the tank cycle. It will decompose and produce ammonia. Keep feeding them the same amount or more until you see an ammonia spike.

 

[dea_mt]

k thanks

 

[dea_mt]

sry one more question do i have to quit feeding him when i see the ammonia spike in order for the ammonia to get a chance to all get transfered into nitrite?

 

[bigarn]

Yep.... Once the ammonia spikes it will go to 0. Then you'll see the nitrites spike and go to 0. Once this happens, do a 10% waterchange and double check for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

 

[dea_mt]

so ur saying yes i need to stop feeding my pep. shrimp after the ammonia spike or yes i can continue to feed him after the spike and it won't effect the cycle? :notsure:

 

[bigarn]

You can continue to feed him.

 

[dea_mt]

ok sorry i just wasn't totally sure (i'm one of those people that needs to be reassured often)...thanks again...once i get some stuff in this thing i'm gonna get some sweet pics!!!

 

[firedad720]

the shrimp will not last through the cycle. please take him to your friends tank, or back to lfs.
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