I read about it awhile ago but need a refresher. Basically you throw two raw jumbo shrimp in a 90 gallon tank wait for them to disappear. I'll be adding the filter media from my 5 gal tank and a lava rock covered in java moss to jump start it after the water has gotten done gasing off. Does this sound right?
Cycling with jumbo shrimp
- Thread starter Knoxx
- Start date
well, there's more to it than just "waiting for the shrimp to disappear". The goal is for the shrimp to decay, creating ammonia. when the bacteria have established themselves in the filtration and substrate, they will turn that ammonia into nitrites, and then into nitrates. So when you test your water every day/every other day, your tank will be ready when it tests 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and has measurable nitrates, WHILE there is a source of ammonia in the tank.
that could come well before the shrimp "disappear", esp if you're seeding the tank with bacteria.
that could come well before the shrimp "disappear", esp if you're seeding the tank with bacteria.
Yeah I did this technique when I did mine and I did not have to wait for the shrimp to dissapear. Just put them in a pantyhose, tie it shut and test the water levels until you read 0,0, and a nitrate reading. Take the pantyhose out and straight to trash then due a very large water change (as much as you can get out) and add fish.