keeping a quarantine tank cycled

[dkdiskin]

I'd like to keep my 50 gallon quarantine tank cycled.
How much and how often should I add raw shrimp to the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'd like to keep my 50 gallon quarantine tank cycled.
How much and how often should I add raw shrimp to the tank?

its generally not typical to cycle a QT tank but some are comfortable doing such. The method you mentioned is typical for cycling a regular tank. It is described for you here. The purpose of a cycle is to create bacteria that will be consuming ammonia and nitrite from your livestock, but you have to get the bacteria from somewhere initially. Why is it called a cycle? Because the tank will go through three phases: ammonia will rise and fall, then nitrite will rise and fall even quicker, and lastly nitrate will rise and fall. Once Ammonia and Nitrite read 0 and Nitrate is less than 20ppm, the cycle is complete and livestock can gradually be introduced. The bacteria population will increase with the new bioload, processing waste and converting it to nitrate rapidly. However, it is important to note that overloading the aquarium with too many fish initially can exceed what the bacteria can handle. This is why it is best to add new fish slowly over the next few months. The bacterial levels will adapt if you don't overload the system with too many mouths to feed.

How long does the cycle generally last? Using the three test kits to measure results daily, you'll likely see the process takes 21 days. There are several ways to cycle a tank, but the easiest one is to run up to the supermarket, go to the seafood deli counter and ask for one large shrimp. If they sell it with the head, even better. One shrimp will cost about $1. Don't worry if they think you're crazy to buy only one; this is not the first time someone will wonder about your motivations with this hobby.
We're all crazy the day we considered getting into the saltwater hobby !!
Leave the shrimp in the tank for 72 hours. That's it. It may even visibly rot, or envelope in some type of mucous. That's what needs to happen. As the shrimp rots, ammonia is released into the water, and bacteria is growing exponentially, spreading into the substrate. The water may even look a little cloudy, which is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about. After three days, remove the shrimp and throw it away. It is no longer needed. Test for ammonia and see what it measures. It should read at the very least 1ppm, or higher.
Test the aquarium daily for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate, logging the information on graph paper or perhaps in a spreadsheet or app. The more data points you collect over time will graph the rise and fall of each of these parameters. No livestock of any kind should be placed in the aquarium as long as you have any measurable traces of ammonia or nitrite because these are toxic to fish and invertebrates. Start planning what you'll want to put in your aquarium while you have a few weeks to wait. There's no reason to rush this process. A good solid foundation will benefit your future reef and handle the bioload adequately.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'd like to keep my 50 gallon quarantine tank cycled.
How much and how often should I add raw shrimp to the tank?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Bacteria can stay alive for a surprisingly long time without food - the biomass tends to feed on itself, reaching a sort of homeostasis.

While you can use shrimp or other protein sources to feed it, I prefer to use ammonium chloride and hit it with some every week, 1 or 2 ppm….just watch the pH for a drop .

Jay