Proper cycling
- Thread starter bjtrapjr
- Start date
StartrTank
New member
You should start testing the water. Once you see your ammonia up around 2 ppm you can take the shrimp out, or like some people (myself include) just leave the shrimp in there. Eventually it will be completely consumed by the bacteria. Just keep testing your water, once your ammonia peaks it will start to drop and you will start seeing your nitrites come in. Again, nothing to do but keep testing the water. When your nitrites have peaked and begin to drop your nitrates will come in. Once your nitrates peak, start doing waste changes to bring them down. When you get your nitrates down to around 2ppm or so you can add your clean up crew.
As StartrTank said once you see a spike in ammonia you can take it out. I personally would remove it then and not leave in the tank.
Using a pure ammonia source, as link from Hummer4 suggested is also a great way to cycle.
Glad to see you didn't get discouraged from responses in the other thread you started.
Using a pure ammonia source, as link from Hummer4 suggested is also a great way to cycle.
Glad to see you didn't get discouraged from responses in the other thread you started.
If you do use household ammonia you have to be careful to get the stuff with no dyes, fragrances, or surfactants (soap). If you shake the bottle and it bubbles up it is no good. The only one i could find locally was ACE Janitorial Strength Ammonia for ACE hardware.
jlpropst00
New member
I didn't want to start a new thread for a similar question... I have 10g cycling with a raw shrimp. I tested ammonia and its as high as the API test could show. The tank is starting to smell a little. With ammonia that high should I go ahead and take out the shrimp? or maybe the question is CAN I please take the shrimp out!?
bjtrapjr
New member
From what I learned from this thread yes then you just have to wait for the ammonia to drop the Nitrites to raise and then fall and then when the Nitrites fall the nitrates will rise and then you do a water change. The last half from what I understand can take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month
gone fishin
New member
Take the shrimp out when ammonia rises, I prefer 3-4 ppm. Once that is done get a book and wait. good luck
Fallling
New member
If the ammonia gets too high (greater than 4 ppm for myself), then a water change should be done to bring it back down a bit. Too high ammonia spike can inhibit the cycle. I'd take that shrimp out.
jlpropst00
New member
Thanks for the quick reply folks! The shrimp has been removed.
Fallling
New member
If the ammonia gets too high during cycle, such as > 5pm (my personal benchmark is 4pm if using live rock), it can prolong the cycle. About 8pm or so, it can actually stall the cycle. Typically, water changes aren't necessary during the cycle unless those high levels of ammonia are reached. Not sure what your ammonia is, but it sounds like it is very high. That shrimp may have been left in there too long from the sound of it, especially with a small tank like that. 2 - 3ppm would have been a good point to pull the shrimp out. That's why I'm mentioning a water change might be a good idea.
If the ammonia is less than 4, let it ride out with no water change. If it's off the chart, water change should be probably be done at that point.
If the ammonia is less than 4, let it ride out with no water change. If it's off the chart, water change should be probably be done at that point.
shesacharmer
New member
Don't do a big water change, just try to bring the ammonia down to a measurable level...4-5 ppm is plenty.
Fallling
New member
Once the water change is done, the ammonia will drop... maybe let things settle and test 30 min - 1 hour later. It might take a few water changes, but once it's at a good level, you can stop water changes and just let rest of the cycle do its thing. In such a small tank, leaving the shrimp in for too long was probably not the best, but it'll eventually work itself out once you get the ammonia bit more under control.
