Question about shrimp cycling

[itz frank]

So, I've read through the newbie stuff and something has me hung up.

In the non-shrimp methods of cycling, when you dose ammonia you raise it to 2-3ppm and then stop and let it fall off to zero.

Do you do the same with shrimp? Or leave the shrimp in the entire time?

 

[Xxero]

You do the same with shrimp. Let it decompose a little to bring your ammonia level up, and then you can take it out.

You can leave it in there if you want to, but then you might have to deal with huge ammonia/nitrite levels.

 

[rags111875]

Remove the shell though to save you from needing to retrieve it later

 

[rjjr1963]

I took the shrimp out after one day. I dosed ammonia twice and 21 days later my ammonia is 0, nitrites are .5 and nitrates are 50.


Detailed record of my cycle. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2565444

 

[scooter31707]

I didn't dose with ammonia while using the shrimp method. For my 120 gallon, I put 2 raw shrimp with the shells still on inside a mesh bag and just dropped them in the tank. I let them stay in the tank until the ammonia gets to 2ppm and then I take them out.

 

[itz frank]

I didn't dose with ammonia while using the shrimp method. For my 120 gallon, I put 2 raw shrimp with the shells still on inside a mesh bag and just dropped them in the tank. I let them stay in the tank until the ammonia gets to 2ppm and then I take them out.

That's what I did. I guess my question was about the cycling.

Do I continue to do this until my 2ppm ammonia becomes 0ppm over night.

 

[scooter31707]

No. once it hit 2ppm I took them out and ghost feed the tank. Once the I saw the nirates rise and fall, I tested the cycle by then using the ammonia up to 2ppm and it went to 0ppm in 24 hours. So, that moment I knew my tank was good for livestock.

 

[itz frank]

Ah. I think I understand.