[prow]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

I would say that the shrimp cycle theory is pure myth.The problem with it is that it has been a myth for so long that it gets creedance from longevity,not from basis in fact.If this was such a great thing to do for a tank and its cycle I feel it would be more widely known and mentioned in every article concerning the cycle.If anyone has any evidence aricles,data anything I would love to read it.

huh? anything organic that is dead and has started to decay will release ammonia, including a deli how is that myth?

here is qoute from here; Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is introduced into the aquarium in a variety of ways. Here are the three major contributors of nitrogen:

Introduced organisms. Every living organisms, from fish to algae, all have great quantities of assimilated nitrogen in their tissues. Remember that nitrogen is a fundamental ingredient for the formation of proteins and nucleic acids. Every time you introduce fishes, corals, live rocks, shrimps, crabs, worms, macroalgae, etc., you introduce nitrogen into your system.

Food inputs. Foods are merely an extension of item #1. Dead or alive, they are organic masses, and possess the same nitrogenous attributes as the decorative living organisms you introduce.

Inorganic inputs. There are two major sources for inorganic nitrogen: the atmosphere and introduced water. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is incorporated into our aquarium water via nitrogen fixation by bacteria and cyanobacteria as ammonia (NH3). Inorganic nitrogenous compounds from our municipal water system enter our aquarium. Even after employing extensive filtering systems such as reverse osmosis and deionization, trace quantities of nitrogen is still imported into our aquariums, and accumulate over time. The most common compounds are the ammonias and its oxides: NO2 & NO3..