Using cocktail shrimp to get the cycle going

Yash

Yash

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Nov 2, 2006
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Knoxville, TN
I'm going to be starting up a 36gal tank in the next few weeks or so and I'm trying to gather up as much information on what I need as far as equipment goes as well as procedures on cycling etc...

At the moment I'm planning on a FOWLR tank, probably starting up with some sand and about 20 lbs of cured LR, getting it up to hopefully 40 lbs in due course.

To get the tank cycle going, I've seen it being mentioned that a cocktail shrimp or two could be used? How does this work exactly. Once I have my tank setup and filled with water, do I just throw in the shrimp and let it decompose to create the ammonia? When do I remove the shrimp, or does it get consumed completely?

I would appreciate it if someone could give me a more detailed explanantion of how that works - or possibly point me to a website or article talking about cycling. I've gone through the sticky talking about SW cycling but haven't found any detailed info. anywhere.

Thanks!
Yash
 
The Shrimp

Hiya Yash,

I am have just started up my new marine tank and am using the shrimp/prawn method to get the cycle going...

Just throw the meat in thereand leave it..Have had a couple of mixed quotes as to whether it should be left in there..

1) Just leave it in there to completly de-compose
2) Take the carcass out when the ammonia has spiked..

Either way will do really, from what i have been advised anyway.

Hope this helps...My shrimp had been in there for 7 days now and it just looks like a white blob now...will leave it there and take out when my ammonia has spiked..

Niko
 
Thanks for the info. atnixon. As another option, I read in a few places that instead of the shrimp. that I could use perfume and color free ammonia by itself? Basically involved adding 4-5 drops of the NH3 per 10 gallons on a daily basis until the NH3 levels peaked at 5 ppm and then to reduce the amount of NH3 added to about 2-3 drops daily until both NH3 and NO2 level came out to be at 0 ppm?

I've heard that this method is often quicker than the shrimp method? Has anyone else used this method to cycle? If so, what are the advantages/drawbacks of doing it this way?

If I choose to go with the pure ammonia method, can I still keep the LR in the tank or does that create a conflict or is the LR affected in any way?

Thanks again!
Yash
 
I would not let the ammonia level go past 1ppm. At 5ppm you will be killing some of the life that is on you LR. It is your choice and I have seen other people do this to save from doing water changes and/or speed up the cycle and or allow a larger inital bio-load. But you nees to remember the golden rule "TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO IT RIGHT". If you don't you will be disapointed.
 
Thanks Jojo ... I absolutely want to do this the right way, including the least loss of life, be it fish or even the growth/critters on the LR. That's why I'm doing all the research I can now before I take the dive :)

Talking about supporting the bioload though, so in your opinion, doing the "shrimp cycle" versus the "ammonia cycle" there is no difference in the bioload that I will eventually be able to sustain? I realize that using the shrimp method, I probably will have to add livestock at a slower pace than the ammonia method, since the tank won't be able to support as much in one go. Is that correct?

Thanks!
Yash
 
Suppose really, whether you choose to cycle your fish tank with a shrimp to start off the ammonia or just let it run its own course, fih should only be introduced at a very slow pace to that the biological system can compensate for what you have introduced..

Its always the same advise when starting, " Take it slow and easy "

Niko
 
Sort of as a followup question ... even using the "shrimp cycling" method, don't you need to let the ammonia top off at 5 ppm in any case? I'm all confused now!
 
Just leave the shrimp in there untill your ammonia has peaked, then take it out..When the Ammonia plummets down, that means that the nitrite bacteria are starting to take hold. Your nitrite levels levels will jump sky high next and continue to rise as the ammonia is converted into Nitrite. Once Nitrate bacteria take hold, nitrite levels will fall, nitrate levels will rise..Then you will be as good as done with the cycling process..this could take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, dependant on the live rock, live sand etc etc..

If i am wrong on my understanding of this cycle, i hope some-one will shout up and put me right please...
 
THANKS! That makes sense and is sort of what I thought the cycle would end up being like. My only question is ... when you say ammonia has peaked, is there a certain ppm level that you would look for before removing the shrimp?
 
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