Here We Go!!

[ryan_ferguson25]

Finally got everything plumbed and water filled today.

My SG sitting nicely at 1.025.... not bad for a first try... lol

I waited for my water to clear up from the initial fill and I added 1 whole shrimp on one of my rocks to start my cycle..... Wish me luck!!!

I was going to wait around 24 hrs before trying my first ammonia test... thoughts?

 

[gone fishin]

Good luck, you can wait a day or so before checking the ammonia. Before it gets to late I would suggest putting the shrimp in a piece of pantyhose or similar. If you ultimately need to remove the shrimp this will make it much easier, since it will be all rotted and falling apart.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Welcome to the addiction!

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Thanks, I got excited this morning thinking i'd have ammonia already... lol... with no such luck.

i'll put the shrimp in something... thanks... makes sense.

Shud I leave the shrimp in until I get to 2ppm?

I've read or watched about that number... just making sure!

 

[johnike]

Good advice Tony, and welcome Ryan.

For the record, there is no picture anywhere on the internet of a shrimp in pantyhose, so don't bother.

 

[gone fishin]

Good advice Tony, and welcome Ryan.

For the record, there is no picture anywhere on the internet of a shrimp in pantyhose, so don't bother.

:lolspin: I had to try.

 

[gone fishin]

Thanks, I got excited this morning thinking i'd have ammonia already... lol... with no such luck.

i'll put the shrimp in something... thanks... makes sense.

Shud I leave the shrimp in until I get to 2ppm?

I've read or watched about that number... just making sure!

when I would use a shrimp for cycling I would pull it once the ammonia hit 2-3ppm.

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Cheers thx!

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Will a single shrimp get me to 2ppm? Or should I add another?

 

[reef thief]

Just ignore these creative ideas and take a wizz in your sump. That's the easy way.

 

[CindyK]

Good advice Tony, and welcome Ryan.

For the record, there is no picture anywhere on the internet of a shrimp in pantyhose, so don't bother.

It is really difficult to find pantyhose small enough to fit :spin3:

Ok, enough already!

Not intending to hijack, but how long should it take to get to 2 ppm? I waited 4 days after throwing the shrimp in (sans pantyhose) before I tested and was at 1 and headed down. I don't know if I got to 2 in those 4 days or not. And I don't know if it even matters, because I don't know where the "2 ppm" rule that I see ppl quoting came from?

JW.

TIA. And again, I'm sorry if this is a hijack, but seems pertinent to the OP's question...

 

[gone fishin]

It is really difficult to find pantyhose small enough to fit :spin3:

Ok, enough already!

Not intending to hijack, but how long should it take to get to 2 ppm? I waited 4 days after throwing the shrimp in (sans pantyhose) before I tested and was at 1 and headed down. I don't know if I got to 2 in those 4 days or not. And I don't know if it even matters, because I don't know where the "2 ppm" rule that I see ppl quoting came from?

JW.

TIA. And again, I'm sorry if this is a hijack, but seems pertinent to the OP's question...

I don't know exactly where the 2ppm number came from. I suspect it seemed to be a number that worked for a robust cycle. FWIW I have always shot for 2-3ppm. I kind off got away from using a shrimp for the reasons you mentioned. I have had cycles where the level hit the magic number and stayed for a bit. Other times I just assumed it came and went real fast. The last couple of cycles I have used straight ammonia. I know that the level got to where I wanted.

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

So I'm going on 36 hrs with a single shrimp and I'm still reading 0ppm for ammonia.

PH seems low at around 7.8
SG -1.026
Temp - 77°

It's an 80 gal tank with sump, it took 65 gallons to fill including sump. 85lbs of dry rock and about 1 inch of sand/gravel.

Not trying to be a ram-rod but I thought I'd be seeing a little ammonia by now. Thinking of chopping and adding a second shrimp tonight before bed.

Thoughts?

 

[gone fishin]

Does it look like the shrimp is breaking down?

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Not really

I added about 5 small cut up pieces last night...Gonna test today around 4pm to see.

 

[jd371]

I used pure ammonia to get me started. Not so much because I couldn't wait for the shrimp to break down and for the ammonia to rise, it was the smell! The tank is right near the den and while watching TV I would get a wiff of the tank.
I dosed some Bio Spira and then some ammonia to 2ppm. Each day I would check the ammonia and raise it to 2ppm until the ammonia would go from 2ppm to 0 in 24hours at that point I added the CUC, and the first fish a few weeks after that.

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

I was basically waiting for my ammonia to get to 2ppm with the shrimp then add my Seachem Stability. About to test now...hopefully I get something.

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Still no ammonia...patience is a b word!!

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

I used pure ammonia to get me started. Not so much because I couldn't wait for the shrimp to break down and for the ammonia to rise, it was the smell! The tank is right near the den and while watching TV I would get a wiff of the tank.
I dosed some Bio Spira and then some ammonia to 2ppm. Each day I would check the ammonia and raise it to 2ppm until the ammonia would go from 2ppm to 0 in 24hours at that point I added the CUC, and the first fish a few weeks after that.

If I was to pull the plug on the shrimp and add pure ammonia how much did u dosend each tI'm? Tea spoon??

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Wow autospell really took over there..

Dose each time is what that's supposed to say