Fishless Cycling for Dummies? (Question)

[Chele&Luke]

Hi there,

Thanks to all that helped out the first time I did this. Unfortunately I just got my small tank cycled and ready to go and the Landlord sold my house!!

So back to square one - all media is well and truly dry by now :1zhelp:

I would rather not go the ammonia dosing route again if I can avoid it and am interested in that whole 'drop a dead shrimp in' idea.

Could somebody please give me the step-by-step guide for total dummies on how to do this??

Also is it ok to drop in something other than a shrimp?

This is the larger 15 US gallon tank. (Once this one is sorted I'm going to use media from this tank to 'cycle' the 10 gallon beta tank)

Any and all help would be really appreciated

Many thanks,

Chele & Baby Luke.

 

[soccerkidbs]

basical anything that will decompose will create ammonia. shrimp seems to be the best thing and most popular. place several raw shrimp in a filter media bag or something like that and hang it on the side then you wait.

 

[Chele&Luke]

Okay - with you so far

Having hung my shrimps on the side, how long do I need to keep them there before taking them out? And how much/long are they going to smell for?!

And exactly what am I waiting for? High Ammonia levels? Told you it was for "total dummies' *sheepish grin*

Thanks,

Chele & Baby Luke

 

[soccerkidbs]

lol ok well you test your water and your ammo. should reach about 4ppm and after a few days to a week they will start to die down as they are converted to nitrates and nitrites. some one else can break it down further but it is a simple thing to do and it will smell as long as they are in there lol cant help it

 

[Rbishop]

Take a look at....

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

Basically, instead of ammonia, you will be using raw shrimp to create the ammonia (and the smell) but the steps that will be followed or result, are the same. The shrimp will decompose, ammonia will go up, nitrites will form then nitrates. The shrimp will remain in the tank provided it doesn't go over about 5 ppm.

 

[southpaw]

To me the adding ammonia route would be better (how I did it) since you can keep a more stable ammonia level in the tank. With using a shrimp it seems to me you would have to wait a few days for it to start to decompose and then test every day to see when ammonia gets to around 5ppm and then take it out.....then once you take it out and ammonia level starts dropping you would have to put another in to get some more ammonia back in the tank and that could take more time waiting on it to decompose...by then it looks like some of the bacteria would starve off waiting on a new supply of ammonia to feed on.

I may be wrong about this since I have never tried the shrimp method....but adding alittle pure ammonia here and there and keeping it at a stable level seems way easier than fooling with shrimp plus I hear the smell can get pretty bad.

 

[soccerkidbs]

true but i leave the shrimp in and it usually dosent get over 5ppm depends on how many you use for the size of tank

 

[Chele&Luke]

Many thanks for answering!

Committed myself to the 'shrimp' technique, decomposing quietly as I type

One more quick question to clarify, I leave the shrimp in until the ammonia reaches 5ppm and remove if it looks like going over? If it DOES go over and then drops what are acceptable drops and can I just put in some fish flakes if I need to top up, or do I need to 'sacrifice' another shrimp?

Gotta tell y'all, you started to get me real worried about the smell!! lol

Just thought of a 'new' question!! At what point do I start doing the water changes and how much? Please remember you talking to a 'total dummy' here, I've only ever cycled before and had to move before I got completely finished!

Thank you for all and any advice,

Pagan & Baby Luke