Cycling

IamELMO · 10-08-2009, 07:19 PM

So I put a deli shrimp in the tank to kick of the cycle. But this lead me to my question. How long do I leave it in there? Just to start the cycle? Or right up to the finish of it? Or leaev it in there til I put fish in? Hmmmmmm

BLAKEJOHN · 10-08-2009, 07:28 PM

You can leave it in there till the ammonia spikes. And when the ammonia starts to come down you can remove it. I hope you put in a nylon bag, they will becomes like mush and stink like he!!.

IamELMO · 10-08-2009, 08:46 PM

Oh, well I didn't. Hmmm, maybe the bugs will put paid to it then. It does explain the odour though.........

chipmunkofdoom2 · 10-08-2009, 08:50 PM

Kudos to you, obviously you've been reading

I think the shrimp method is my favorite next to uncured rock.

Really, you just need to have it in there to get some ammonia going. Some people leave it in until it's completely dissolved, and while that's fool-proofly thorough, I think it's a little much. I recommend testing for ammonia often, and pulling the shrimp out after the ammonia goes off the charts. I think that if the ammonia exceeds testable ranges, then it should be plenty to start the cycle. Of course, continue to monitor the tank to make sure the nitrites and nitrates spike as well, so you can be sure the ammonia test wasn't faulty.

IamELMO · 10-08-2009, 09:55 PM

Cool, I'll test when I get home

was 2mg/l (? from memory) before I put it in

10-08-2009, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
IamELMO Limpet Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 139 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cycling So I put a deli shrimp in the tank to kick of the cycle. But this lead me to my question. How long do I leave it in there? Just to start the cycle? Or right up to the finish of it? Or leaev it in there til I put fish in? Hmmmmmm __________________ I'm not scared of cheese

10-08-2009, 07:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
BLAKEJOHN Addict... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: KINGSTON, I.L. Posts: 1,705 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cycling You can leave it in there till the ammonia spikes. And when the ammonia starts to come down you can remove it. I hope you put in a nylon bag, they will becomes like mush and stink like he!!. __________________ 110 gallon acrylic 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Blue Tang, 2 Eng Gobies, 1 Six Line Wrasse, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lion fish, 1 Huma Trigger RBTA, 12 mexican turbos, 10 florida ceriths Red Monti, Purple Rim Monti, Leathers, Elegence, Yellow Polyps, various Zoa's, FrogSpawn, Ricordias, Greenbirdsnest, Pink Milli, Blue Milli, Bonzai, unknown Acropora's, Purple Digi, GSP, Bubble Coral, Staghorn, Sun Coral (orange), Favia

10-08-2009, 08:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
IamELMO Limpet Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 139 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cycling Oh, well I didn't. Hmmm, maybe the bugs will put paid to it then. It does explain the odour though......... __________________ I'm not scared of cheese

10-08-2009, 08:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
chipmunkofdoom2 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,699 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cycling Kudos to you, obviously you've been reading I think the shrimp method is my favorite next to uncured rock. Really, you just need to have it in there to get some ammonia going. Some people leave it in until it's completely dissolved, and while that's fool-proofly thorough, I think it's a little much. I recommend testing for ammonia often, and pulling the shrimp out after the ammonia goes off the charts. I think that if the ammonia exceeds testable ranges, then it should be plenty to start the cycle. Of course, continue to monitor the tank to make sure the nitrites and nitrates spike as well, so you can be sure the ammonia test wasn't faulty. __________________ DIY LED Retro I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other.

10-08-2009, 09:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
IamELMO Limpet Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 139 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cycling Cool, I'll test when I get home was 2mg/l (? from memory) before I put it in __________________ I'm not scared of cheese

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