Cocktail shrimp for cycling?

[AngelThoughts]

A friend of mine told me to drop a regular cocktail shrimp in the tank to help get the cycle started. Is this true and has anyone tried that? I know about Bio Spira but I can't find it anywhere out here and I'm sketchy about ordering it online. Thanks for the answers ahead of time ;)

[ChilDawg]

Yep, it's true...the rotting of the shrimp is the start of nitrifying bacterial cultures...you have to wait for a bit, but this a good ammonia source (read up on fishless cycling to find out more about this process).

[AngelThoughts]

Yes I've read my brains out lol But I was curious about the shrimp. I would think that might smell a bit? lol :)

[carpguy]

You can just use regular ammonia. No bad smell.

Try a search for "fishless cycle".

[ChilDawg]

Yes, it most likely does...but there are other ways to gain ammonia for the tank, too...ones which carry worse stigmas than rotting shrimp flesh! :)

Glad to hear that you've read your brains out before you got the fish! I can safely say that I wish that I had learned about fishless cycling prior to stocking my first tank last year.

[AngelThoughts]

My LFS keeps pushing the fish cycle and I do not want to have certain fish they are recommending in my tank nor do I want a second tank to put them in. One is enough for now!
I always seem to read as much as I can before investing in something I'm interested in. So far the fishless cycle seems to be the way to go and since noone has bio spira around here I'll just have to be patient. I am amazed at the ignorance of a lot of fish store workers in my area. they will tell you anything to sell a fish. One store has a worker who knows a lot but she's the one pushing the fish cycle vs fishless. I'm glad I found this site!!!!

[OrionGirl]

Bottled ammonia is the best choice for a fishless cycling. You can control the amount of ammonia in the tank--with the shrimp, it's going to be a serious spike, and then diminishing amounts. It still works, but since you are not in a position to control the process, it can be frustrating. And, it does smell. Nasty!

[ChilDawg]

We're glad that you found this site, too...unfortunately, a lot of the relevant literature is still not up to speed on the possibility of fishless cycling, so even reading trade paperbacks isn't a guarantee that you'd learn about it! I know that I sure didn't before I started and I wish that I had.

[Hebdizzle]

why do most saltwater people use the shrimp? Is there any reason they don't use ammonia from the bottle?

Aaron

[OrionGirl]

Hebdizzle-ammonia works fine in SW tanks. I've never understood why there's such resistance to using it by the SW community, and have heard of many justifications (ie, the shrimp introduces the right bacteria :rolleyes: ). Wish I could explain it, but I can assure you that some SW people get almost offended at the suggestion that they use the same method as 'freshwater people'.

[Hebdizzle]

Can't we all just be friends?

All I know is, adding ammonia sure smells a heck of a lot better :)

Aaron

[drew22to375]

Originally posted by Hebdizzle
why do most saltwater people use the shrimp? Is there any reason they don't use ammonia from the bottle?

Aaron

The reason for shrimp for SW is the shrimp produces less phosphates while it decays. And I believe the reason for not usuing amonia is just that we are just a little ok alot paranoid that the amonia source might still have some small traces of other chemicals in it. When you consider most SW tanks have $2,000 + before even putting in a fish you can see why we are a little careful and anal about some stuff.

Another thing is that most people use uncured Live rock to cycle a sw tank. Since alot of the living alage ect dies off durring shipping and creates a amonia spike so no need to add amonia or a shrimp.

[carpguy]

I think it has more to do with tradition than anything else. Salties have been cycling tanks with shrimp since before the whole ammonia thing got started in FW. And a lot of them aren't going to change their way of doing things now…

Ammonia from a bottle isn't adding in phosphates. If you get straight ammonia with water (no detergents), it doesn't have anything more potentially harmful than a hunk of rotting flesh. The nitrogen-eaters aren't the only ones coming and setting up shop on that carcass. After two or three weeks, when its good and ripe, would you take it out and eat it? If not, then what did you add to the tank? Would you take a glass of that water for drinking?

It seems mighty strange to be adding ammonia to a fishtank, but it works and its safe (at the right dosage).

[caffeine]

My roomate and girlfriend both used a shrimp when starting their SW tanks, I told them both about just adding ammonia but they didn't want to listen to me. Neither one of them have very expensive setups. The decaying shrimp is one of the nastiest things I have ever witnessed.

Would bio-spira work in a SW tank?

[ChilDawg]

I could be wrong, but I think different bacteria are involved in the SW Cycle from the ones in the FW Cycle.

[demon_surfer]

wetman suggested just peein in your tank....and is probably hoping noone would bring it up again :) (no one liked the idea :D )