Raw shrimp or pure ammonia to cycle? - Aquarium Advice

severum mama · 06-14-2007, 09:33 AM

I just got my 15 gallon nano running, and I am trying to decide how I will cycle it. For my FW tanks, I always just use old filter media to seed the new tanks, so I don't really have experience with a fishless cycle. I had planned on putting a raw shrimp in the nano to cycle it, but I am now considering the pure ammonia method because the tank is in my bedroom!

My question is, is the raw shrimp method so disgusting that you can smell it outside the tank? I have to sleep in there, you know.

Also, I've never cycled with pure ammonia- does anyone have a link that can tell me the right amount to put in the tank? I don't particularly care for guesswork. Thanks!

tecwzrd · 06-14-2007, 09:40 AM

Never cycled with pure ammonia either. IME using raw shrimp was not stinky. I'd use half a cocktail sized shrimp to cycle a 15 gal.

**roka64** · 06-14-2007, 11:00 AM

I agree, my 125 did not stink. I would go with the raw shrimp over the ammonia since I can't give any advice on how much ammonia to add. I also agree on the half shrimp in your tank. Some folks have stated they had the smell, but I didn't smell anything on mine.

severum mama · 06-14-2007, 11:01 AM

Awesome! Thanks Micah and Scott, you guys even answered the question I forgot to ask (how much shrimp to add)!!!

**roka64** · 06-14-2007, 11:04 AM

LOL! Glad we could help!

**melosu58** · 06-14-2007, 05:11 PM

Something else you could do in a tank that small would be to use a pinch of flake food. I definitely like the shrimp idea in bigger tanks but flake food will be OK in smaller tanks.

**roka64** · 06-14-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melosu58

Something else you could do in a tank that small would be to use a pinch of flake food. I definitely like the shrimp idea in bigger tanks but flake food will be OK in smaller tanks.

Actually, that is a good idea Mike.

severum mama · 06-14-2007, 08:18 PM

You know, I tried that in my pico but I found that it was really messy once I actually got enough food in there to get an ammonia reading. The raw shrimp is in already... well, about half of it, anyway.

**melosu58** · 06-14-2007, 10:20 PM

That`s fine. Not trying to say to not use shrimp but as far as the flake it really dont need that much. Just a pinch of flake and wait. But if you have the shrimp go ahead and use it. We better see some pics once this tank gets going. LOL

severum mama · 06-14-2007, 10:25 PM

You know you will, I already have pics up lol!

I didn't have that result w/ flake food in my pico, so I used nls thera a large pellets. That worked, but it was a pain to vac out of the tank, post-cycle.

06-14-2007, 09:33 AM	#1
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	Raw shrimp or pure ammonia to cycle? I just got my 15 gallon nano running, and I am trying to decide how I will cycle it. For my FW tanks, I always just use old filter media to seed the new tanks, so I don't really have experience with a fishless cycle. I had planned on putting a raw shrimp in the nano to cycle it, but I am now considering the pure ammonia method because the tank is in my bedroom! My question is, is the raw shrimp method so disgusting that you can smell it outside the tank? I have to sleep in there, you know. Also, I've never cycled with pure ammonia- does anyone have a link that can tell me the right amount to put in the tank? I don't particularly care for guesswork. Thanks! __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-14-2007, 09:40 AM	#2
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	Never cycled with pure ammonia either. IME using raw shrimp was not stinky. I'd use half a cocktail sized shrimp to cycle a 15 gal. __________________ -Micah- If you haven't figured it out yet I like to BOLD links :P Vote for AA at Aqua Rank

06-14-2007, 11:01 AM	#4
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	Awesome! Thanks Micah and Scott, you guys even answered the question I forgot to ask (how much shrimp to add)!!! __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-14-2007, 08:18 PM	#8
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	You know, I tried that in my pico but I found that it was really messy once I actually got enough food in there to get an ammonia reading. The raw shrimp is in already... well, about half of it, anyway. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-14-2007, 10:25 PM	#10
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	You know you will, I already have pics up lol! I didn't have that result w/ flake food in my pico, so I used nls thera a large pellets. That worked, but it was a pain to vac out of the tank, post-cycle. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

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