Fishless cycle with dead shrimp

[cerhob]

Hi all,

As the title says, I'm in the process of doing a fishless cycle with a dead shrimp. (And some used filter media...and some fish food)

Anyway, I did my reading today and here is where I'm at.

Ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 1 ppm
Nitrate 10 ppm

So what should I do? There is still a bit of shrimp left. The ammonia being at 0 kinda worries me. The cycle isn't complete until I have nitrite at 0 correct?

Whats my next step?

*I moved this from the "Planted tank" area. sorry about any confusion*

[steveywinet]

You're getting close and are correct that you want the nitrites a 0 ppm.

[cerhob]

So do I just wait? Without ammonia will the bacteria die off?

[colinsk]

I think it would be helpful to have an ammonia source. I don't see any reason not to add another shrimp.

[bitbot]

The 0 ammonia reading doesn't necessarily mean no ammonia is being produced - it could well mean that the ammonia is being taken up immediately by the bacteria that convert it to nitrate.

This is what happens in a cycled tank.

[Rbishop]

I would at least add a small bit.

[7itanium]

add a bit more shrimp.. or some chemical ammonia

the fact that your nitrite is 1 means that bacteria have started forming.. and soon the nitrate will spike and the other levels will hit 0

[Jag1980]

I heard that a old dead rat works better? :evil_lol:

[jpappy789]

I would at least add a small bit.

I agree, keep adding an ammonia source for now.