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- Thread starter grant778
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grant778
Member
3/4/13
4 days after insertion. Ammonia still reads 0.25 ppm. I took out the shrimp today it fell apart when touched which I assume means it was decomposing fairly enough. I am wondering if perhaps the cycle was already completed but my water quality isn't pristine? Leaving shrimp in a closed environment for a few days I'm sure will effect it no matter what. I will still continue to test daily for the next few days anyway. So about these nitrites. Am I correct in thinking that the nitrite levels should not normally be up, only after the ammonia spike? If the nitrites are up that means the cycle is nearing completion, so if they are down I presume that means the cycle has not begun or was already finished. I will definitely test nitrites tomorrow to see what is happening with them. Anyway those are just some thoughts that are going through my mind right now. Of course testing will continue to see if an ammonia or nitrite spike occurs.
4 days after insertion. Ammonia still reads 0.25 ppm. I took out the shrimp today it fell apart when touched which I assume means it was decomposing fairly enough. I am wondering if perhaps the cycle was already completed but my water quality isn't pristine? Leaving shrimp in a closed environment for a few days I'm sure will effect it no matter what. I will still continue to test daily for the next few days anyway. So about these nitrites. Am I correct in thinking that the nitrite levels should not normally be up, only after the ammonia spike? If the nitrites are up that means the cycle is nearing completion, so if they are down I presume that means the cycle has not begun or was already finished. I will definitely test nitrites tomorrow to see what is happening with them. Anyway those are just some thoughts that are going through my mind right now. Of course testing will continue to see if an ammonia or nitrite spike occurs.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
I think jay0705 has the sequence reversed a bit. Ammonia is converted to nitrite in the presence of oxygen, and the resulting nitrite is then converted to nitrate. Finally, in the presence of very low oxygen (as might be found in the crevasses of live rock) the nitrate is converted into nitrogen gas, which is vented off. This last step is very slow, so normally there will be a gradual accumulation of nitrates in the water. In a cycled tank there should be no ammonia or nitrite detectable, but nitrates are commonly measurable (depending on the set up). If you are planning a FOWLR, then some nitrate is OK (fish tolerate nitrate, just not a lot), but if a reef tank is your goal then you will have to get rid of the nitrate by water changes, or through biological means (macro algae, algae scrubber) or a reactor, all coupled with careful feeding.
tthemadd1
Active Member
The cycle could take a week two weeks or four. Taking the shrimp out I feel will stop the cycle.
Bilogical waste goes into water.
Bacteria grows to break down biological waste
Bacteria produces Ammonia
Ammonia eating bacteria breaks down into Nitrites
Nitrites are broken into Nitrates
Nitrates break down into Nitrogen
Nitrogen is part of our atmosphere.
Your cycle work so that once your ammonia level goes up and down back to zero
Nitrites go up and then back down to zero
Finally nitrates go up and back down to low levels.
At the end of the cycle you should have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and almost no Nitrates.
Taking out the shrimp doesn't shorten the cycle it stops it so there is not enough bacteria to deal with your animal waste.
Bilogical waste goes into water.
Bacteria grows to break down biological waste
Bacteria produces Ammonia
Ammonia eating bacteria breaks down into Nitrites
Nitrites are broken into Nitrates
Nitrates break down into Nitrogen
Nitrogen is part of our atmosphere.
Your cycle work so that once your ammonia level goes up and down back to zero
Nitrites go up and then back down to zero
Finally nitrates go up and back down to low levels.
At the end of the cycle you should have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and almost no Nitrates.
Taking out the shrimp doesn't shorten the cycle it stops it so there is not enough bacteria to deal with your animal waste.
grant778
Member
Oh D: Well some of the shrimp broke off so I'm sure there are still some small fragments in the tank, but I took most out with the skimmer D: I guess it is sort of hard for me to purposely make my tank dirty 
Nitrates right now are .5 so they obviously haven't gone through a spike yet. To me it looks like I'm at the nitrite spike stage right now though ammonia had a very little increase.
Nitrates right now are .5 so they obviously haven't gone through a spike yet. To me it looks like I'm at the nitrite spike stage right now though ammonia had a very little increase.
tthemadd1
Active Member
You may want to get some of the books listed in the first thread on the forum. They will help with this and many other issues to understand the "behind the scenes" stuff when it come to tanks. The way I look at it is I am created a biosphere on the edge of collapse. The chemistry needs to be maintained not just started. If the system doesn't work the pleasure will collapse as well.
tthemadd1
Active Member
Maybe someone else will chime in but if your tank has cycled I would think that even with another piece of shrimp your ammonia should stay at 0. I could be wrong but with a fully cycled tank there should be enough bacteria to decomp the ammonia into nitrite.
If you put a small piece back in the tank you will either have ammonia or not. That would determine f you have left it in long enough to finish the true cycling project.
If you put a small piece back in the tank you will either have ammonia or not. That would determine f you have left it in long enough to finish the true cycling project.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
Your tank is almost cycled - there is still the matter of the nitrites, which should fall soon, and then your tank is fully cycled. Then, add fish s-l-o-w-l-y. I know it is exciting, and all you want to do is see lots of fishy friends swimming in the tank, but the tank has to accommodate its bacterial to the increasing load, so give it time (weeks) between additions. Remember, nothing, absolutely nothing, good happens quickly in this hobby.