Fishless Cycle

theevoys

theevoys

SW Newbie
Apr 9, 2004
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Prescott, AZ
www.streamline-webdesign.com
I started my fishless cycle with 2 cocktail shrimp 1 week ago today. I have all parameters correct (pH, alkalinity, salinity, etc...). Now of course my ammonia is high and nitrites are showing up pretty good now. But, it stinks to high heaven in the house. I do have my 2 Emperor 400s on low to not stir up the smell too much like it did with them on all the way. But, it still REEKS!
Normally it would be 'ok', but my wife is in her first trimester of pregnancy and does not like the smell one bit. Is there another way to cycle the tank fishless besides rotten shrimp? Could someone detail it for me?
There is a good amount of goo and slime on the bottom right now, is that enough to do the cycle? Would adding a damsel or two be a really bad idea?
Jason
 
Pure ammonia should do the job. Make sure to get the kind with no detergents or smelly stuff added.
 
What is your ammonia level? If it's above about 3, you can remove the dead shrimp and the tank will still cycle, there just won't be as large a bacteria colony, so you'll want to go slowly on adding fish.

Of course, you can purchase pure ammonia, and dose with it instead of the shrimp. It's fine, and won't smell. The point is to have about 5ppm of ammonia to feed the bacteria, so you'll add as needed, tracking how much you add. Once it starts dropping, you'll dose to get it back up to 5 ppm, until you are dosing an amount that is consumed in 24 hours. While this happens, the nitrites start showing up, and you continue feeding the tank until nitrites are 0 as well. Do a water change to reduce nitrates if needed, and keep feeding until you stock with fish.

Adding damsels--especially at this point, when there is ahuge amount of ammonia in there--will kill them. Quickly. Not pleasant-the fish basically suffocate as their gills are burned by the ammonia. And, even if you manage to have them survive, they will still be seriously injured by the process, and are a HUGE pain to remove--you'll likely end up tearing the tank apart to get them out, sooner or later.
 
test your ammonia first, it shouldnt be more than a day or two after it stinks, for the ammonia to shoot up.
 
Can't really say, since it will depend on what concentration of ammonia you use. Testing will be your safest bet.
 
I drove to Home Depot, Tru Value, Wal Mart, K Mart, Safeway, Albertson's, & Fry's to find pure ammonia with nothing added. Not one place had pure ammonia. Wal Mart was the closest. So, I bought it for 97 cents just in case it might be ok. The only added substance 'Chelating Agent'. What the heck is that? From what I can glean on the internet it seems to mean an agent that combines with metal ions to remove them? I'm not sure if I should use it. I won't unless you all think it's ok. Thanks!
 
It is probably ammonium citratate or EDTA. That won't hurt anything. In fact many dechlorinators have chelators in them as well, those ones that remove heavy metals.
 
Well you could do a partial water change to lower your amonia level if it worries you. It will just make your cycle take a little longer if you leave it. From looking at your tank specs you don't seem to have any l.r. or l.s. if you add a little it will help speed up your cycle some.
hth
Chris
 
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