Shrimp Vs Damsels Cycle Help

[simms]

It is unethical to cycle with Damsels. I now know this. When i first cycled my tank, i didn't know it. My cycle with damsels took approx a week and all the numbers were pristine.
I cleaned the tank wrong - genocide. Starting Over.
So I am recycling (ha) now. Now that I am more educated, I am using 2 cocktail shrimp to cycle. it is now day 10 and my nitrate and nitrite levels are still grossly high (the hishest level is pink on the chart, My readings are fire engine red). Alkalinity is high. pH is 8.2. Salinity is 1.022 and Ammonia is good.
My question- every cycle is different, but does the "ethical" way normally take this slow? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[benj2112]

Well, 2 shrimp in a 65 (?) might have been a bit much. Plus, did you ever take the shrimp out or did you just let them decay entirely away?
What did you do when you were cleaning the tank?

 

[simms]

thanks for the reply benj...
The tank is a 65. So because I used too many shrimp, will my cycle be longer OR should i do a waterchange? I let them decay, I guess that was incorrect...lol.
When I cleaned my tank, there was a white cloud kicked up by the cc being moved around. I didn't realize I should have disposed of it. The fish went back in 2 hours later (cloud still there) and boom... I am an idiot. Learning, but an idiot!
I switched to sand.
Ok so the shrimp are decayed. would you reccomend a waterchange now, or ride it out and things will work out?

 

[sankysyuck]

You can cycle your tank with fish, if not with damsels then with Mollys. Mollys are a freshwater fish but are extremely hardy, they can be placed in saltwater and live a long, healthy life just fine. There also very cheap, usally about 1$ each. Cocktail shrimps are good too, I think 2 sounds about right

 

[benj2112]

I would just ride it out till the nitrite is zero. A water change might just make the cycle last longer. You will need to do some water changes to get that nitrate down after the nitrite zeros out, but just sit and wait.
Nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby (ie... a puff of white and everything dead in only two hours).

 

[acekjd83]

let 'er ride... the tankis cycling exactly as it should, and you're about halfway through. as soon as the nitrites come back down, then do a water change or protein skim to remove the nitrates and you'll be good to go!

 

[mudplayerx]

I used live rock and live sand only to cycle.

 

[simms]

Thanks folks. I will ride it out and do a partial once the nitrite is good.
Mollys? really? You can use freshwater fish in a saltwater taank?
I ill keep this thread updated!

 

[simms]

It has been about a week since my last post on the tank...
Nitrites are almost perfect.
Nirtates are cut about in half, still high.
Ugh.
Everyone says this is a slow hobby, they aren't kidding!

 

[wax32]

 

[acekjd83]

well, look at it this way... it takes about a month to establish the bacteria to cycle a tank, but it took about two billion years to establish the bacteria to cycle the ocean!