Cycling w/ Shrimp... am I correct here?

[GovernorG]

Recently reset up my old tank...

75G RR tank w/ eShoppes RS-100 sump.

I am using dry rock (old live rock that I put through the bleach process) along with live sand, and a small piece (less than 2lbs.) of live rock from a friends system.

As of an hour ago my tests are showing 0.00ppm across the board for Nitrates, Nitrites, and Ammonia. After testing, I dropped in 2 raw frozen shrimp to begin the cycling process.

Am I on the correct path here? I have read so much information my head is about to explode.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[Tooboot]

That should start it. Not 100% certain but you may not have needed the shrimp, the LR may have been enough to seed it.

 

[GovernorG]

@tooboot thanks for the response, I did not know if only 2lbs of LR would start it, so I added the shrimp.

I have heard that I should see the ammonia spike in the next 72hrs? Followed by Nitrites spike, than Nitrates spike?

 

[bcb577]

I've started two tanks using raw shrimp,some don't like the idea due to it causing extra nutrients in the tank.Having said that my two tanks were successful with that method.

 

[GovernorG]

ty bcb577

 

[LX20000]

Just get ammonia from Ace Hardware.... dose it with that

 

[juanmanuelsanch]

Oh my god.. I dont know why people cant give an straigh answer.

Yes, you are doing it right. The shrimp will decompose causing ammonia. Usually it takes about a month to cycle, but since you have live rtock and sand it may be shorter.

It was the method I used and worked.

IF you want to accelerate the process you can buy bottled bacteria. The general rule is not to rush things up in this hobby.

And since you are starting, avoid the frustation and buy a quarantine system. You NEED to quarantine everything if you want to avoid death in your sytem. I learned the hard way.

 

[JUNBUG361]

Oh my god.. I dont know why people cant give an straigh answer.

Yes, you are doing it right.


Lol

 

[scooter31707]

along with the shrimp, I dose Stability to get some bacteria going in there to eat up the ammonia.

 

[homer1475]

Your doing it absolutely correct.

With that said, the shrimp method takes a bit longer as you have to wait for the raw shrimp to start to decay before you see any ammonia.

Me personally I like to cycle using pure ammonia. It speeds things up quite a bit.

Either way works perfectly fine.

Sent from my STV100-1 using Tapatalk

 

[GovernorG]

I appreciate all the feedback and responses...

I prefer not to add any additives to the tank and let it happen naturally, so I will just wait for the process to occur. In addition, I already have a QT which I will be setting up, so hopefully that process goes smooth.

Thank you again RC members!

 

[juanmanuelsanch]

I appreciate all the feedback and responses...

I prefer not to add any additives to the tank and let it happen naturally, so I will just wait for the process to occur. In addition, I already have a QT which I will be setting up, so hopefully that process goes smooth.

Thank you again RC members!

You will need 2 QT containers (one with fish) which you can treat with copper, and other one for corals.

Now I know this is controversial, for example I dont have the second container for corals, but I will be getting one. I already invested way to much on my freaking tank to see it how down the drain again.

 

[Reef_World]

I use bacteria in bottles from my LFS and raw shrimp... works perfectly for me all the time

 

[Tooboot]

You will need 2 QT containers (one with fish) which you can treat with copper, and other one for corals.

Now I know this is controversial, for example I dont have the second container for corals, but I will be getting one. I already invested way to much on my freaking tank to see it how down the drain again.

I think the controversial part is the use of the word need

 

[DSMpunk]

IMO, you dont need a shrimp, fish, ammonia or anything else to get started. The small live rock you got from your friend's tank will provide plenty of decaying stuff to start the process.