Shrimp Cycle STINKS!

[saltsavage]

Need some help with this cycle. I tossed a shrimp in there two days ago and started cycling. The shrimp smell absolutely awful and my girlfriend is gonna make me dump the tank haha I took the shrimp out and did a measurement- numbers below:

7.8pH
3-4ppm ammonia
3-5ppm Nitrite
15ppm Nitrate

Is there a better way to continue this cycle without my lady moving out? Perhaps ghost feeding or something?

Also, I have a piece of seed rock in there and was going to get another piece. What are your thoughts?

 

[mkutsch]

Do you know for certain the smell is b/c of the shrimp?

 

[mkutsch]

Or because of levels?

 

[saltsavage]

It's gotta be the shrimp rotting. Not 100% sure though because it's my first ever cycle and only like day 4

 

[Brew12]

Need some help with this cycle. I tossed a shrimp in there two days ago and started cycling. The shrimp smell absolutely awful and my girlfriend is gonna make me dump the tank haha I took the shrimp out and did a measurement- numbers below:

7.8pH
3-4ppm ammonia
3-5ppm Nitrite
15ppm Nitrate

Is there a better way to continue this cycle without my lady moving out? Perhaps ghost feeding or something?

Also, I have a piece of seed rock in there and was going to get another piece. What are your thoughts?

Dump in a bottle of Biospira or other bacteria in a bottle product. That should help with the smell and really kick your cycle into gear.

Just a warning.. I doubt there are too many reef tanks out there that don't smell at least a little bit. If you've ever emptied a skimmer you know what is in the water!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's gotta be the shrimp rotting. Not 100% sure though because it's my first ever cycle and only like day 4

its the shrimp. the smell is the ammoina and well, the cycle.
fishless cycling
http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/fishless-cycling
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=fishless cycling

 

[mkutsch]

Oh, the shrimp died... sucks man. Anyway, yeah, I would cycle it by putting substrate, and whatever else, then wait for the levels to be FAIR-- ammonia at most 0.75. pH must be, stressed, MUST be almost perfect, inverts are very sensitive to that stuff. Oh, and temperature! Look, it's annoying to wait and be patient, but I lost a lot of stuff on my first tank, so if u wanna waste money, cool. Just be patient-- but is it fresh or marine?

 

[mkutsch]

Oh, and don't have any air fresheners-- causes velvet in marine tanks.

 

[Brew12]

Oh, the shrimp died... sucks man. Anyway, yeah, I would cycle it by putting substrate, and whatever else, then wait for the levels to be FAIR-- ammonia at most 0.75. pH must be, stressed, MUST be almost perfect, inverts are very sensitive to that stuff. Oh, and temperature! Look, it's annoying to wait and be patient, but I lost a lot of stuff on my first tank, so if u wanna waste money, cool. Just be patient-- but is it fresh or marine?

I'm thinking he added a dead shrimp from the grocery store to start his cycle. It wasn't a live shrimp he was trying to keep!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

causes velvet in marine tanks.

what?

ammonia at most 0.75.

you want zero Am.

 

[Brew12]

Oh, and don't have any air fresheners-- causes velvet in marine tanks.

Good advice but for the wrong reason. Velvet is a parasite so it cannot be introduced by air fresheners. Air fresheners will cause a bacteria bloom in your tank though. It can cause a clear slimy bacteria that is pretty nasty.

 

[DED65]

If you are using dry rock, the dead organics could be rotting. The smell will go away in a couple of weeks. You can always change the water to help out. You can use fish food to provide ammonia, or go to Ace Hardware and pick up the janitors strength ammonia, the only pure ammonia I was able to find.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If you are using dry rock, the dead organics could be rotting. The smell will go away in a couple of weeks. You can always change the water to help out. You can use fish food to provide ammonia, or go to Ace Hardware and pick up the janitors strength ammonia, the only pure ammonia I was able to find.

dr tims's also has it and instructions if your a big chicken like me.

 

[mkutsch]

what?
Marine velvet, right? Cause a couple years ago I lost almost everything, and i heard somewhere that aerosol could cause velvet, so I went with that. Regarding the shrimp, I thought he was talking about a live one! Hehe...

you want zero Am.

Yes, I know, but no one I know was ever patient enough, so I always tell them at their own risk, wait at least until it's under 0.75 or 0.50... neither was I, during the first time, heh. But yeah, I guess you should definitely wait!

 

[mkutsch]

Wups, I put something in the quote...

 

[saltsavage]

Took the shrimp out and going to toss a bottle bacteria in and ghost feed

 

[Brew12]

Took the shrimp out and going to toss a bottle bacteria in and ghost feed

Smart man! At the very least it will make it look like you have taken her concerns to heart!

 

[saltsavage]

Hahaha that's right! Babe the shrimp is out don't worry

 

[Zoaeasy]

Dr Tims is the bomb. This is sitting on my desk for a 60 gallon start next week
RocKs have been cooking for the past 3 weeks in a tub as well with the good doctor.
Have started at least 4 tanks with it No shrimp!

 

[Brew12]

Dr Tims is the bomb. This is sitting on my desk for a 60 gallon start next week
RocKs have been cooking for the past 3 weeks in a tub as well with the good doctor.
Have started at least 4 tanks with it No shrimp!

Great recommendation. Dr Tim also developed Biospria and since that is carried by my local pet shops it tends to be my "go to" product.