tank left fishless....keep it cycled??

[Kasakato]

RTR as a point, it will smell for sure. Liquid ammoina dosent smell as much, and its eaiser to controll.

 

[ashdavid]

But rotting shrimp, or rotting anything for that matter, can stink. I tried that technique once and ended it abruptly from the smell. Not in my fish tanks.

And yes, you can quantitate the required ammonia - a properly stocked tank will generate between 1 and 2 ppm ammonia per day. Loading ammonia to 3ppm on alternate days will keep a matgin of safety in your nitrification bacterial colonies. Alternating days with prepared fish food will do the same for the heterotrophic bacteria. Neither will smell up the room.

I have done it many times and while it is in water the water the tank should not stink , especially if the bacteria is doing its job and you don't stir the water around the shrimp. Essentialy fish waste is roting digested food and if you have ever taken some vacumm water and let it sit for few days, I have and it absolutely stinks. I agree that nitrogen input can be measured and so can how much nitrogen fish are consumming, butr again we are talking about the method which is cheapest and easiest and Ime this is it. Imo I think your method is fine too.

 

[Matak]

True AshD, but pure using pure ammonia doesn't carry any pollution risks like a smelly prawn might.

Ya pelican.

 

[Kasakato]

Do birds work too