Starting the cycle

[Supramike]

I'm want to jump start the cycle using the shrimp but what one do I get? A cooked or uncooked shrimp? Or does it matter?

 

[Tahoe61]

Uncooked.

Any decaying organic matter will work even fish food.

Cured live rock will help the speed up the cycle dramatically.

Personally I do not like using shrimp or other sea foods because of possible bacterial contamination, personal choice.

 

[okayamapiper]

Regular flakes work as well. I use ammonia from the pharmacy. My friend swear by urine. All you want to do is provide food for bacteria.

 

[Supramike]

Well I have live rock and sand in. The rock I have though was pulled out a tub with alot of other rock but the water was brownish in color. So when I got it home I rinsed it in a bucket of salt water to get off all the gunk. I guess I should be asking how do I know it's cycling? I tested the water and ammonia is low nitrite is low and nitrate is about 40ppm. It is cycling right?

 

[Supramike]

Regular flakes work as well. I use ammonia from the pharmacy. My friend swear by urine. All you want to do is provide food for bacteria.

Any type of fish flakes?

 

[Supramike]

Oh and lights on or off? And what color? I have LEDs that have the white and blue on control.

 

[okayamapiper]

The cycle is an oxidative one so one type of bacteria oxidizes the ammonia into nitrite, and once there is enough nitrite in the water another bacteria can increase to oxidize the nitrite into nitrate. All you need to do is monitor nitrite levels until they become zero. Then you can add livestock, but you must add slowly as every new member creates more ammonia, so each bacteria population in the cycle will need to increase their numbers. As you probably have all the bacteria types due to the live rock, all you need to do is wait for them to increase. This is done by adding a food source, slightly raising temp, and aeration. Adding a few drops of ethanol speeds things up as well.

 

[okayamapiper]

Any type of food works. All you are doing is feeding the bacteria.

 

[okayamapiper]

Bacteria require no light. Lights off will help slow down algae growth which is a competitor to the bacteria. No lights means more food for the bacteria. Once nitrite spikes and then goes to zero, your tank is cycled. Then you can do a partial water change and add livestock..

 

[Supramike]

When adding food how often do I add it? And all I have atm is beta food lol will that be ok? Also do leave the power heads on or off?

 

[okayamapiper]

Once is enough

 

[okayamapiper]

Circulation is good as aeration

 

[Supramike]

Once is enough

How much food?

 

[glb]

I used pure ammonia because I thought it was cleaner. Your numbers look like you're well into the cycle!

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

I used pure ammonia because I thought it was cleaner. Your numbers look like you're well into the cycle!

agreed used a cap and half and shot the ammonia up to about 3-4ppm

 

[Supramike]

I used pure ammonia because I thought it was cleaner. Your numbers look like you're well into the cycle!

So should I just leave it be?

 

[glb]

If what you're doing is working I wouldn't change a thing. Just keep adding a source of ammonia to feed the bacteria. Good luck!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Throw a grocery bought shrimp into a fish net, and lay the net into the tank. The net will keep the shrimp from getting all over the tank once it starts to deteriorate.

 

[Supramike]

If what you're doing is working I wouldn't change a thing. Just keep adding a source of ammonia to feed the bacteria. Good luck!

Honestly I'm not doing anything I just put everything in and let it run that's all I'm doing. It's been 2 weeks so far.

 

[glb]

Sounds like you can leave it alone IMO.