13.5 Fluval starter tank

[ecophilia]

Hi! First off, I want to state clearly and unequivocally that I am a complete newb. I know that I don't know a lot, but I suspect I may have covered the basics in terms of research. Time will tell.

On Thursday, I received my Fluval 13.5g. On Friday, I mixed marine salt and distilled water from the grocery store (distilled, not tap and not spring) and filled up the tank. I also convinced my the restaurant where I got my takeout from to give me a fresh scampi which I cut in half and put in the tank.

This morning I visited my LFS. It was wonderful!!! The employees are incredibly sweet and helpful. I got some live sand from them and they told me the shrimp method is "old school". Hhehhe! I told them I was ok with the cycle taking its sweet time.

Now I'm wondering if I should 1, take the shrimp out? & 2, buy some live rock instead? & 3, will the shrimp hurt my sand flora?

Nice to meet you all! Thank you for your help

 

[mcgyvr]

Add the sand.. Buy some live or dry rock and add it..
Leave the shrimp for a week or so then remove it. Cycle for a month..
Keep it simple..
Enjoy your new tank.. Have fun!!

 

[ecophilia]

Thank for your reply, mcgyvr!

 

[RobZilla04]

Get the rock and substrate you want in there now while it cycles. Adding it later can cause some issues. Get your aquascape set up now as well.

 

[ecophilia]

Thanks, RobZilla04!

Should I install the filtration, or keep it off until my parameters are stable?

 

[RobZilla04]

Doesn't hurt to get the filtration and plumbing up and running now as well. Everything will settle at the same time essentially.

 

[ecophilia]

Ok, sounds good, thank you! Do you have any opinions on how high my ammonia should be to start the cycle? It's at 1.0 ppm now.

Do you have an opinion on the bacteria-in-a-bottle option? The shrimp is getting quite ripe, I may be chickening out in terms of keeping it in the tank and am thinking I could grab a bottle of bacteria tomorrow at my LFS when I pick up some LR.