Cycle question

[111]

I started my cycle with a large shrimp from the grocery store. My cycle is on week two and is well underway. I still have ammonia, but also have nitrite and nitrates. My question is, do I leave the shrimp in, or do I take the remains out at this point?

 

[CastAway]

Leave it in, even after you have no ammonia or nitrite, as the bacteria in your system will still be feeding off the ammonia being produced. It's not a "cycle" in that it ends, it never ends, it just finds an equilibrium. As the shrimp decay away, literally, you'll need an alternative source of ammonia, i.e. fish.

And, welcome to the site!