Using a shrimp to help cycle

[jh1929]

I'm starting my first tank, 65g, ~1lb lr/gallon, 40lb ls (too little?) I've seen a lot of posts mentioning throwing in a storebought shrimp to help the cycle, is this done immediately, after a few weeks, etc? Just throw one in? if there's nothing to eat it, wont it just sit there? Also, how long should it take for nitrogen compounds to begin to rise?
Thanks,
Jayme

 

[crazyelvis]

Yes... Just toss it in now... You will see it start to rot away in a few days ...
I have a 55 I just set up last week, the shrimp is already gone ...
Your live rock will help too...
Also live sand if you have it...

 

[bosco0633]

i put the shrimp in the same day. the amonia spiked withing three days. It works great and I recommend it to anyone. I also added 75lbs of live rock. If i were you I would at least double what you said you wanted to put in for live rock.

 

[irishstout]

I only added a 2" sand base when I first started my 55 in september. Do yourself a favor and add the DSB now. I am beginning the painfully slow process of building it up to 4-5" this week. He's right DO IT NOW!!!!

 

[jh1929]

Done, thanks all