Cycling Tank

[Qasimja]

Hey i hope this is the right area to post ive been in and out of the reef hobby for 15 years and ive always used a shrimp in a media bag to start the tank cycle im about to start my cycle on my newest build and im wondering do today's reefers still use this method ive been on amazon and i see instant start cycling stuff im wondering if this stuff actually works thanks for all comments

 

[EmdeReef]

Shrimp in the tank or a media bag still works very well

Bacteria in a bottle will speed up the cycle and works.

Good luck!

 

[Qasimja]

Shrimp in the tank or a media bag still works very well

Bacteria in a bottle will speed up the cycle and works.

Good luck!

yea ive been watchin youtube videos and it seems every video i find of people doing reef on youtube they arent using the shrimp method lol i guess if it aint broke dont fix it

 

[EmdeReef]

yea ive been watchin youtube videos and it seems every video i find of people doing reef on youtube they arent using the shrimp method lol i guess if it aint broke dont fix it

Takes a bit longer and it’s slightly less precise than dosing ammonia...I still like it although I’m more impatient nowadays so always add biospira.

 

[brandon429]

we like to start out by agreeing the rocks are dry and not live rocks. we still have people adding bottle bac and shrimp to full coralline real live rock, thinking all bac are gone and need help. so Id agree above, if you are on dry substrates that's the new way to go. If you are buying live rock from the pet store, then when you get home its ready, no delay required, they don't lose bacteria in the transfer.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

If you are using dry rock, the shrimp method is still used to cycle a tank. The only problem I have with the shrimp method is that you have no idea how much ammonia was added at any one time to the tank(not to mention the smell). If you dose pure ammonia to your tank, you know exactly how much ammonia your tank had in it. Then you wait a week and test ammonia and nitrite. If you dosed your tank to 2 ppm ammonia, and your ammonia is 1 ppm, then you know your tank is still building the bacteria to consume that ammonia. You also know that if you see a nitrite reading of 3 ppm after a week and then 2 ppm 2 days later, you know that the nitrite has spiked and is on its way down since you know exactly how much ammonia your tank started with. You also know that your nitrates should be 10 ppm or less once the cycle is complete because if you only added 2 ppm ammonia, then you won't have any more nitrates than that.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I still use a shrimp. You can use Ammonia and test regularly, controlling everything, or you can just use a shrimp and wait. I find it just easier to wait it out with a shrimp.

 

[Qasimja]

If you are using dry rock, the shrimp method is still used to cycle a tank. The only problem I have with the shrimp method is that you have no idea how much ammonia was added at any one time to the tank(not to mention the smell). If you dose pure ammonia to your tank, you know exactly how much ammonia your tank had in it. Then you wait a week and test ammonia and nitrite. If you dosed your tank to 2 ppm ammonia, and your ammonia is 1 ppm, then you know your tank is still building the bacteria to consume that ammonia. You also know that if you see a nitrite reading of 3 ppm after a week and then 2 ppm 2 days later, you know that the nitrite has spiked and is on its way down since you know exactly how much ammonia your tank started with. You also know that your nitrates should be 10 ppm or less once the cycle is complete because if you only added 2 ppm ammonia, then you won't have any more nitrates than that.

Yea ive always wanted to try the ammonia dose method but i always had a problem finding pure ammonia locally so i just ended up using shrimp maybe i can buy some off amazon and try that method this go round

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Yea ive always wanted to try the ammonia dose method but i always had a problem finding pure ammonia locally so i just ended up using shrimp maybe i can buy some off amazon and try that method this go round

Dr Timms sells ammonium chloride just for this purpose.

 

[brandon429]

you are using all dry rocks?

whats your plan for test kit drift/ we have several running threads right now comparing readings and they're all over the place. its neat to know your tank will still complete a cycle by a certain date, regardless of how the interim tests.

 

[Qasimja]

you are using all dry rocks?

whats your plan for test kit drift/ we have several running threads right now comparing readings and they're all over the place. its neat to know your tank will still complete a cycle by a certain date, regardless of how the interim tests.

Yea im using all dry rock

 

[Cody Paulsen]

I cycled with ammonia only and it was very easy to control. Just be sure that you're using pure ammonia, any scents or soaps and you'll ruin the tank.