Lights out...hurt my inverts?

[fyrfytr]

So I had an amonia spike, killed my fish. Have 2 pepperment shrimp and 12 snails still alive in the tank.

Currently in the process of a small re-cycle. Will turning out the lights for a week or so hurt my inverts?

 

[EpicWin]

They will love it. Honestly.

 

[fyrfytr]

Will it hurt/slow my re-cycle?

 

[grumpy-crab]

Nope ive heard a lot of story's where people dont run lights at all to cycle they even cover tje tank with a blanket or some sort to completely black it out. Doing so will help the cycle process because tje algae will die off from no light and will decompose which will release ammonia which is the first stage of the cycle process! The rest is done by bacteria and it doesnt need any light at all and only needs ammonia to consume and make nitrite which other type of bacteria will grow and consumes nitrite leaving nitrate which a weekly water change will keep under control once the tank has been cycled. But after its fully cycled u need to do at least a 80% water change to drop the nitrate levels to add fish.

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[fyrfytr]

80% seems harsh...maybe I will just turn the lights off but not cover it

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[jgraz]

80% seems harsh...maybe I will just turn the lights off but not cover it

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Regardless of whether you cover the tank, don't cover, lights on, lights off, whatever. After the cycle you have to do a large water change before adding anything. Also, don't be surprised if the shrimp don't make it through a proper cycle. The snails should be fine.

 

[grumpy-crab]

Regardless of whether you cover the tank, don't cover, lights on, lights off, whatever. After the cycle you have to do a large water change before adding anything. Also, don't be surprised if the shrimp don't make it through a proper cycle. The snails should be fine.

Beat me to it... but like jgraz said regardless of how you cycle a tank your will always have to do a major water change after ward and before adding fish. I say 80% because u wanna drain it down to with in a inch or so of the sand bed.

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