Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so

travis127 · 04-07-2008, 05:59 PM

She claims that With my live rock in there (around 65 pounds in my 42 gal) that its not enough to help start my cycle and that I need to put some damsels in there but I not trying to kill fish and I also don't wanna think about trying to get those little devils out in the near future.

So I told her the whole deli shrimp thing and she never heard of it and thought it was not a good idea... but I think its better then the damsels I would assume!
so then if I use the deli shrimp how long does it stay in there? until its totally cycled? or just a day or 2 or week or until ammonia and nitrites drop.....sorry if this is a stupid thread but I just wondering....

boozeman · 04-07-2008, 06:12 PM

she doesnt make any money from the deli shrimp

...... till the amonia and nitrite peaksand then drop to zero signaling the end of the cycle

tbittner · 04-07-2008, 06:12 PM

Truthfully, the rock will cycle all by itself IF it is truly live rock. There will be some die off of things that were on the rock where it was plucked from the ocean, shipped around the world, and eventually landed in your tank, all in anywhere from a few days to a week or two.

But adding a deli shrimp really gives the bacteria something to sink it's teeth in too, so to speak.

Then when you eventually add a fish, it won't be much of a shock to your system because the bacteria will have been populated to a healthy level so it is ready to process the waste that a fish brings with it.

BEELZEBOB · 04-07-2008, 06:17 PM

that lady's a dumbass.

buy fish to kill them, thumbs up on that one homegirl.

i think witty said is first, "Never trust the opinion of those who will only benifit from your faliures"

reefer4200 · 04-07-2008, 06:26 PM

lmfao

vdituri · 04-07-2008, 06:38 PM

Sounds like your LFS lady may be kickin' it old school.
That was once widely held belief and people still do it today,
BUT, <- Insert Big Butt here.

there is a better way. Get a deli shrimp, cocktail shrimp, prawn whatever you want to call it from the grocery store and throw one in.

It will help your cycle along nicely without sentencing fish to hard time without the possibility of parole. Hope this helps a little.

nikkipigtails · 04-07-2008, 06:52 PM

yeah, we were told when we started our tank 3 years ago to use damsels...I would NEVER do that again. We went through 14 fish before our tank was cycled, not only did it waste and stress out fish unnecessarily, a deli shrimp is MUCH cheaper.

lcstorc · 04-07-2008, 06:53 PM

Congrats on seeking a second opinion and not dooming the damsels.

Tru2nr · 04-07-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcstorc

Congrats on seeking a second opinion and not dooming the damsels.

+1 this ones on me

travis127 · 04-07-2008, 08:12 PM

haha thanks guys for the quick input.... do you just put the shrimp right in the tank of do you put it in something like a nylon bag or some sort of storage with holes?

tbittner · 04-07-2008, 08:21 PM

This is where I do it differently from everyone else. I just throw it in and let the CUC clean it up later. Most recommend putting it in a panty hose or something fine meshed like that so you can remove the remains.

SaltwaterGeek · 04-07-2008, 08:39 PM

Heres a question I have.... Do you only put 1 shrimp in, no matter of tank size? Or do you use more than 1 on bigger tanks?

Newbie · 04-07-2008, 08:45 PM

I LOVE Beezelbobs answer!!!
I would second that one.
I think usually most people will use just one shrimp.

cracker · 04-07-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivingTheDream

Heres a question I have.... Do you only put 1 shrimp in, no matter of tank size? Or do you use more than 1 on bigger tanks?

Consider going a light on the shrimp. A little goes a long way & too much can stink up the house!

tbittner · 04-07-2008, 09:05 PM

And whats wrong with a stinky house? Come on, a person has to have SOME fun. And it keeps visitors from staying for very long.

04-07-2008, 05:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
travis127 Serpent Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so She claims that With my live rock in there (around 65 pounds in my 42 gal) that its not enough to help start my cycle and that I need to put some damsels in there but I not trying to kill fish and I also don't wanna think about trying to get those little devils out in the near future. So I told her the whole deli shrimp thing and she never heard of it and thought it was not a good idea... but I think its better then the damsels I would assume! so then if I use the deli shrimp how long does it stay in there? until its totally cycled? or just a day or 2 or week or until ammonia and nitrites drop.....sorry if this is a stupid thread but I just wondering....

04-07-2008, 06:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so she doesnt make any money from the deli shrimp ...... till the amonia and nitrite peaksand then drop to zero signaling the end of the cycle __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

04-07-2008, 06:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so Truthfully, the rock will cycle all by itself IF it is truly live rock. There will be some die off of things that were on the rock where it was plucked from the ocean, shipped around the world, and eventually landed in your tank, all in anywhere from a few days to a week or two. But adding a deli shrimp really gives the bacteria something to sink it's teeth in too, so to speak. Then when you eventually add a fish, it won't be much of a shock to your system because the bacteria will have been populated to a healthy level so it is ready to process the waste that a fish brings with it. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

04-07-2008, 06:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
reefer4200 Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so lmfao

04-07-2008, 06:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,772 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so Sounds like your LFS lady may be kickin' it old school. That was once widely held belief and people still do it today, BUT, <- Insert Big Butt here. there is a better way. Get a deli shrimp, cocktail shrimp, prawn whatever you want to call it from the grocery store and throw one in. It will help your cycle along nicely without sentencing fish to hard time without the possibility of parole. Hope this helps a little. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

04-07-2008, 06:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Golden Moray Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hillbilly Hell, AL Posts: 2,819 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so yeah, we were told when we started our tank 3 years ago to use damsels...I would NEVER do that again. We went through 14 fish before our tank was cycled, not only did it waste and stress out fish unnecessarily, a deli shrimp is MUCH cheaper. __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

04-07-2008, 06:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,982 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so Congrats on seeking a second opinion and not dooming the damsels. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

04-07-2008, 08:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
travis127 Serpent Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so haha thanks guys for the quick input.... do you just put the shrimp right in the tank of do you put it in something like a nylon bag or some sort of storage with holes?

04-07-2008, 08:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so This is where I do it differently from everyone else. I just throw it in and let the CUC clean it up later. Most recommend putting it in a panty hose or something fine meshed like that so you can remove the remains. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

04-07-2008, 08:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
SaltwaterGeek Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 402 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so Heres a question I have.... Do you only put 1 shrimp in, no matter of tank size? Or do you use more than 1 on bigger tanks? __________________ Thanks for the help, My 150g Envision Acrylic Chronicle

04-07-2008, 08:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Newbie Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 121 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so I LOVE Beezelbobs answer!!! I would second that one. I think usually most people will use just one shrimp. __________________ --------------------------------------------------- 55 gallon corner tank, 2 clowns, Blue tang, Christmas wrasse, Blue spotted Hawaiin puffer, Large Foxface, Red spotted blennie, Sand sifting Starfish, sea urchin and 4 turbo snails. --------------------------------------------------- Nikki

04-07-2008, 09:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is the lady at the LFS wrong, I think so And whats wrong with a stinky house? Come on, a person has to have SOME fun. And it keeps visitors from staying for very long. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

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