cocktail shrimp

B

bksmith

AC Members
Mar 31, 2003
22
0
0
Fairfield, New Jersey
Visit site
I started cycling my 54G sump with 2 cocktail shrimp almost two weeks ago. However, I think I goofed and the shrimp were already cooked at the Supermarket. There is still hardly any degradation of the shrimp and I took my first readings last night and didn't get much. Did I screw up or will it be fine?

Thanks.
 
I really can't say for sure, but I think the cycle will still be initiated with the cooked shrimp, it will just take longer for the bacteria to break them down. You might want to add a raw one or two, just to be on the safe side.
 
Yeah, add a raw shrimp or two. The cooked shrimp's cellular enzymes have been denatured by the cooking process (i.e. intense heat) and therefore require more effort on the part of the bacteria to break them down. Raw shrimp will rot very quickly, producing a putrid, ammonia soaked sump nearly overnight! ;)
 
Originally posted by kreblak
Yeah, add a raw shrimp or two. The cooked shrimp's cellular enzymes have been denatured by the cooking process (i.e. intense heat) and therefore require more effort on the part of the bacteria to break them down. Raw shrimp will rot very quickly, producing a putrid, ammonia soaked sump nearly overnight! ;)
Click to expand...

And, that, unfortunately, is what we call a good thing when fishlessly cycling...yuck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom