View Full Version : Cycling with raw shrimp
SigPiPup
07-24-2007, 9:25 AM
For those of you who have cycled with raw shrimp in pantyhose, did a weird looking opaque, white sack form around the bottom of the pantyhose where the shrimp are rotting? It's really weird looking, almost alien-like. I'd post a picture but I'm at work. I'll get one up later if there is no one that knows what I'm talking about.
I just used fish food, not the raw shrimp. I was a wimp for smell. Has the shrimp produced ammonia yet? If so you can remove it.
Reefscape
07-24-2007, 9:42 AM
Yes, its all part of the decomposition process of the meat..its fine...
SigPiPup
07-24-2007, 9:43 AM
I tested yesterday (four days after I put it in) and there was a slight increase. There was also an increase in Nitrites. NitrAtes are still at 0.
Surprisingly there isn't a smell. I'm sure that if I pulled that thing out there would be a smell but so far there isn't a smell at all. I almost want it to smell so at least I'd know that something was happening correctly.
Reefscape
07-24-2007, 9:50 AM
as FYI post...when i used one last time, i never got any odour myself....
Niko
I'm a wimp when it comes to messy and smelly stuff Niko. By the way, when do you leave for NC and have you had any birthday cake yet?
Marcus Fenix
07-24-2007, 10:02 AM
cycling with raw shrimp is totally new for me.
my first SW tank was cycled with a couple of damsels.
I heard you can cycle with Black Mollies also?
SigPiPup
07-24-2007, 10:07 AM
cycling with raw shrimp is totally new for me.
my first SW tank was cycled with a couple of damsels.
I heard you can cycle with Black Mollies also?
Yeah, I cycled with damsels the first time I tried SW. What a pain in the arse that was.
I'm new to the raw shrimp thing too.
You could cycle with mollies as well, but why torture them. The raw shrimp is already dead. Plus, IMO, mollies look weird in a marine aquarium.
Marcus Fenix
07-24-2007, 10:12 AM
Yeah, I cycled with damsels the first time I tried SW. What a pain in the arse that was.
I'm new to the raw shrimp thing too.
You could cycle with mollies as well, but why torture them. The raw shrimp is already dead. Plus, IMO, mollies look weird in a marine aquarium.
yeppp, they'd look really weird in SW tank...lol
and besides, trying to get them out without removing some rocks is not my idea of fun.
think I'll try that raw shrimp
Grins
07-24-2007, 10:17 AM
Yes, many have stopped using fish to cycle and gone fishless with an ammonia source such as fish food or raw shrimp.
Marcus Fenix
07-24-2007, 10:19 AM
what would be recommended as fish food to start cycling? any food or some things are better?
Reefscape
07-24-2007, 10:27 AM
I'm a wimp when it comes to messy and smelly stuff Niko. By the way, when do you leave for NC and have you had any birthday cake yet?
I know your a wimp...its ok...we are all friends here...
I fly out to North Carolina this friday morning(27th)..and with the time zone change occuring, it will be about 2:00pm EST when i land at Raleigh Durham Airport...
Reefscape
07-24-2007, 10:29 AM
what would be recommended as fish food to start cycling? any food or some things are better?
Hiya Marcus...Yes, any meat based marine food..All your after achieving is for something meaty to rot and generate ammonia which will kick start the nitrogen cycle. Obviously, a lot of people used to use the good old damsels and use their excrement to produce that ammonia source...
Hope that helps
Niko
Grins
07-24-2007, 10:30 AM
I know your a wimp...its ok...we are all friends here...
I fly out to North Carolina this friday morning(27th)..and with the time zone change occuring, it will be about 2:00pm EST when i land at Raleigh Durham Airport...
Wish you were flying into Charlotte so I could harass you in person. :lipssealedsmilie:
Reefscape
07-24-2007, 10:33 AM
Wish you were flying into Charlotte so I could harass you in person. :lipssealedsmilie:
and now you can see why i purposly AVOIDED Charlotte airport... :silly:
Grins
07-24-2007, 10:36 AM
Oh hush, you know you love me.
Marcus Fenix
07-24-2007, 10:47 AM
Hiya Marcus...Yes, any meat based marine food..All your after achieving is for something meaty to rot and generate ammonia which will kick start the nitrogen cycle. Obviously, a lot of people used to use the good old damsels and use their excrement to produce that ammonia source...
Hope that helps
Niko
yeppp, thanx :)
SigPiPup
07-25-2007, 4:38 PM
How do I know when my ammonia has peaked? I tested today and ammonia and nitrItes are at .25ppm and .1ppm respectively. The only thing that has changed is my NitrAtes. They were at 2.5ppm two days ago. Today nitrAtes are at 0ppm.
When should I remove the rotting shrimp?
Has that been the highest you've seen the ammonia?
SigPiPup
07-25-2007, 7:25 PM
So far it has been. Even the first time I cycled the tank I only saw readings as high as .25ppm.
I thought that I might get higher readings since i have a larger ammonia source.
What puzzles me the most is my NitrAtes. Why would they drop to zero? Aren't they supposed to increase as the cycle progresses?
emonemo420
07-25-2007, 7:39 PM
in regards to types of cycling i used pure ammonia from wal-mart it was less then a dollar and when i was done (had AAALLLOOTTT left) i dumped it into the toilet to help remove stains (i live in dorms) and it worked....only problem was i was adding everyday for two weeks and i didnt have nething like in my tank to really get the cycle going or help it go fast enough that by the time i got my rock i had to much but its cheap, easy, dosent stink, and u dont have to stare at a rotting shrimp or harm a poor fish
(:topic: what type of dog is that sig...its really cute(yes i did say that lol))
SigPiPup
07-25-2007, 8:57 PM
(:topic: what type of dog is that sig...its really cute(yes i did say that lol))
It's my Pug, Rocco. :)