I'm cycling my first tank using a shrimp to kick off the cycle. The shrimo is in some panty hose to keep it from making too much of a mess as it decomposes. The shrimp has been in for about 2 1/2 days and ammonia is already spiking. There appears to be a large growth of white mold on the panty hose(see image below). Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Should I remove the shrimp? If I leave the shrimp in, how long should I leave it?
Shrimp Cycle and White Mold?
- Thread starter e_reef
- Start date
Bent
I got nothin'
I left mine in for almost the entire cycle and they were R.A.N.K when pulled them out.
Each system is different. But at only two days in I would probably keep them if they aren't causing too much of a stank. How big is the system?
If the nh3 is high enough you could take them out. Once everything looks cycled you could throw more in and see if the nh3 spikes out again.
Each system is different. But at only two days in I would probably keep them if they aren't causing too much of a stank. How big is the system?
If the nh3 is high enough you could take them out. Once everything looks cycled you could throw more in and see if the nh3 spikes out again.
It's a 14 gallon BC. The smell isn't too bad. I was planning to leave it in, but I didn't expect the white mold/fungus all over it. My test kit read the NH3 at .2 but that's the highest the RedSea kit indicates.
I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to worry about the white getting on my rocks, etc.
I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to worry about the white getting on my rocks, etc.
Bent
I got nothin'
Actually no they don't work as definitively or in the way you are implying.
Possibly shorten cycle time? Yes depending.
Eliminate cycle all together? Nope.
homer1475
New member
When I cycled my biocube with a shrimp, it did the same thing. I actually think its the shrimp decomposing and not mold or fungus. I would leave it in there.
FWIW I cycled my new 80G with pure ammonia, way easier as I could get an exact dosing, and it didn't stink to high heavens like a rotting shrimp.
FWIW I cycled my new 80G with pure ammonia, way easier as I could get an exact dosing, and it didn't stink to high heavens like a rotting shrimp.
I considered that too, was just wondering if others had seen similar. With all the guides out there you'd think one of them might mention a heads up that there might be large growth on the shrimp and not to freak out considering it's usually people new to the hobby reading up on how to cycle.
I ended up pulling the shrimp and am continuing with the ammonia dosing approach. Though the stink wasn't too bad, I'm certainly not going to miss it.
DavidGraves
New member
I did a shrimp cycle and the shrimp looked like that. Left it in and initial CUC made it disappear overnight.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jason2459
Well-known member
Maybe.
I do know I've been able to get an initial cycling of ammonia and nitrite to 0 with in a couple weeks with out any bacteria in a bottle several times.
Reef Bass
colors and textures
No. If you have ammonia in your urine you should see a doctor right away.
Humans excrete nitrogenous waste as urea, not ammonia.
