new tank shrimp

[naothan]

hi my name is nathan just started a new tank 1st time noob here done alot of reaserch .. i thought
i have a flex 15 gal flex with black hawian carbi sand 13 lbs of marco rock
heater ect ect so i threw the pice of shrimp in and it has a huge semi transparent membrain over it it has been in there for 2 days all i have is test strips. for ammonia. strip ony turs grren after sitting out for a hour says to wait 60 sec

is this normal is ther hope ? lol should i leave it in there ?
thanks for the help to anyone that responds

 

[naothan]

 

[mcgyvr]

It can take a few days for the decomposition process to really get going.
Typically the initial cycling process can take 2-4 weeks or more (usually 4+ weeks) to go through its phases.
You should start seeing ammonia in the next couple of days for sure..

Give it some time and you will see those ammonia levels increase and then nitrite and finally nitrate levels.
When nitrite and ammonia levels both fall back to zero the cycling process is basically over and you can start to SLOWLY stock the tank.

Your tank will go through "ugly stages" that are periods of diatom growth then green film/hair algae and sometimes even cyanobacteria. Sometime those phases can be quite brutal so its best to wait for those to pass before attempting corals or more delicate animals.

Usually starting with a "Clean up crew" of snails,etc.. and some fish is fine but remember "Nothing Good Happens Fast" in this hobby.. Patience is key..

 

[naothan]

my tank thanks

my tank thanks

thanks for the help should i leave the pice of shrimp in there till it dissapears or just till ammonia spike

 

[mcgyvr]

You can just leave it in there

Its best to leave the lights off for the first few days as the bacteria we are trying to encourage is effected by light early on in its development.

After a week or so turn the light back on

 

[reefinJ]

Looks like you are on the right track. Control the light as suggested and see the progress.

 

[naothan]

i just got my refract in the mail today. used a cheep plastic one setting up tank says the water is 1.028 witch in my understanding a little high should i try to correct this now in the cycle process or just wait ??

 

[mcgyvr]

You can correct it now if you wish... The minor change wont effect anything

 

[naothan]

my tank

my tank

update..
15 gal flex 20lb Hawaiian sand 13 lb macro rock .jpv110 power head 150w heater

added pice of shrimp jan 24th

Feb 1st ph 7.5/ nitrite 1ppm/ nitrate-/ ammonia 1.5 / temp 77.9

/ sel 1.026

Feb 5th added power head ph 7.5/ nitrite 10ppm /nitrate 80ppm
ammonia - temp 79 / sel 1.026

have heater cranked way down. to big for tank ? also about flow its curved glass in front. is that a good spot for the power head? as it makes the water swoop down a crossed substrate ..any ideas, concerns, or tips, suggestions, welcome. thanks nathan

 

[mcgyvr]

The heater is oversized so be careful..
I'm not sure where you put it but don't submerge anything but the glass.. Keep the controls/head above the water and most certainly if you don't have an external controller for it..

They can and WILL fail and a heater that size can cook your tank..

Typically 3-5x gallons to watts is sufficient for a heater in a normal controlled home ambient.
A 50W or 75W heater would be better/safer.
Adding something like an inkbird blue temperature controller can help prevent cooking the tank if/when the heater controls stick on..
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Electronic-Temperature-Germination-Controlling/dp/B07QWTJNX2