Cycle question

[fyrfytr]

So I'm probably 5ish weeks into my raw shrimp tank cycle.

Never really saw an ammonia spike...nitrites are starting to fall, nitrates on the rise. All is going well, right?

Before the tank crash I had a Lee's skimmer running, at what point should I turn it back on?

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[tidus10]

So I'm probably 5ish weeks into my raw shrimp tank cycle.

Never really saw an ammonia spike...nitrites are starting to fall, nitrates on the rise. All is going well, right?

Before the tank crash I had a Lee's skimmer running, at what point should I turn it back on?

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I've had my skimmer running since day 1?

 

[mike007]

Keep that skimmer running. May want to do a water change. Need to get that nitrate down so you can start adding stuff. What is the level and do you still have shrimp in tank? Do you have live rock?

 

[fyrfytr]

Level for what? Nitrate or nitrite?

Rock and sand in the tank, shrimp is still in there decaying away.

 

[Beariedog]

I also run a skimmer from day 1

 

[darkblack]

You can add some live bacteria to lower your nitrate and help your cycle

 

[2dmax]

What water are you using to top off? Also you should be running the skimmer 24/7 from day1.

Whats the size of your tank? And how much lr do you have?

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[fyrfytr]

36gal bowfront...not sure how much rock, orderes 80 lbs (for my yet to be built 55gal and this 36 gal) and put in some, guessing in the area of 30lbs. Same with sand, guessing about 35lbs of sand.

I have not toppes off yet, although I need a gal or two. The water is RO water from the store, couldn't swing an RO/DI unit from the wife. Tested yesterday, ammonia 0...nitrites 0...nitrates 50-80. Concern is that I never saw an ammonia spike, but I watched the nitrites come down and the nitrates go up

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[BPBELL]

I agree with the live bacteria you can almost avoid a cycle period by adding a quality product
I added turbo start to my 220g when I started and never seen the spikes in any levels literally the tank cycled in 24 hours .... Hard to believe I know


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[fyrfytr]

I had a bad experience with the bio spira in the past

 

[fyrfytr]

Just tested again....ammonia is almost 0, nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are still high. How can I get them down so I can start stocking the tank?

And for those that cycled using the dead shrimp method, at what point do I take it out??

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[beaslbob]

Add macro algae.

my .02