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Questions about cycling with a piece of shrimp

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by danmgray, Feb 13, 2014.

  1. Feb 13, 2014 #1
    danmgray Sioux City, IA

    danmgray Well-Known ReefKeeper

    307
    Sioux City, IA
    Ratings:
    +26 / 0 / -0

    I’m just beginning a (fishless) tank cycle and I’m planning to use a piece of shrimp to get things started. When using a piece of shrimp:


    • Should I use cooked or raw?
    • Does it matter what size it is or do I need to put in a piece proportional to the water volume (ex. 50 gallons)?
    • How can I minimize the stink (I want to keep the family happy)…any suggestions for water temp, circulation, carbon, etc?
    • I will put the shrimp in a media bag so its easier to clean, but do you have any other tips?




    I considered cycling with amonia or fish food, but I wanted somthing I could drop in and forget. I'm not in a rush, so I'll seed with sand and LR from one of my other tanks. I do not plan to put in any bacteral additives just for the sake of speeding things up. I will check amonia, nitrite and nitrate, but only enough to gauge the progress of the cycle. Thanks.
     
  2. Feb 13, 2014 #2
    daalbers

    daalbers Well-Known ReefKeeper

    562
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    +24 / 3 / -0
    Raw shrimp I would put in a couple
     
  3. Feb 13, 2014 #3
    Sponge Marshalltown, IA

    Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    3,347
    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0

    Raw shrimp is what I've always used to cycle my tanks Dan. I use a medium/large piece(or 2) and let it totally disintegrate :0) I keep the tank about 80 degrees to speed up the process when in a hurry; otherwise 78 is fine. No carbon is necessary but use flow :0) Shouldn't have a problem with smell as I never did :0) No lights are needed during the cycling process either ;0)
     
  4. Feb 14, 2014 #4
    Fence13 Des Moines

    Fence13 Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,226
    Des Moines
    Ratings:
    +300 / 1 / -0
    I've used a shrimp before and had no issues. When I used it it was with dead rock and dead sand. In the two tanks I've set up since I personally prefer to just add a piece of already live rock and let it carryover and turn the other rock live and let it cycle from that.

    Either way you should be good to go once the cycle ends. Most of the time the end result is the same /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
     
  5. Feb 14, 2014 #5
    HarleyHawk

    HarleyHawk Well-Known ReefKeeper

    558
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    +13 / 0 / -0

    This is very good information thanks guys and girls. I am ready to add water to my 120. will use this before I add this to my 90


    Thanks
     

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