Cycling Shrimp tank (Sort of)

[Pandicorn]

Hello everyone! I posted this before in the invert forum, but I think it belongs more in this one. So I have a 10 gallon tank currently hosting nothing but plants, and has only had plants in it for maybe... a year now? Before it had quite a few fish, I think 8 neons or so. However, those have since been moved to a bigger tank, but the tank was fully cycled beforehand. I am thinking about making the tank into a shrimp tank, but I would replace the white sand with black sand.
My questions are:

Is the tank currently ready to house shrimp? With no other cycling?

I am thinking about buying maybe 10-15 shrimp to the tank and letting them breed. Is this a good plan?

This is my first shrimp tank, so go easy guys!

 

[Mebbid]

I would say, just ot be safe that your tank needs to be recycled. I would suggest taking a look here at how to properly cycle a tank (this is assuming I read this properly in that the only living things for a long period of time in this tank is plants)

 

[jessipanda]

Yeah, most likely it needs to be recycled. Just take the filter and add it to your larger tank for a few weeks, then put it back in the 10g a day or two before you get the shrimp.

Oh, and in the meantime, run a small airstone or sponge filter in the 10g to keep circulation since you have plants in there. Good luck!

 

[Pandicorn]

Yeah, most likely it needs to be recycled. Just take the filter and add it to your larger tank for a few weeks, then put it back in the 10g a day or two before you get the shrimp.

Oh, and in the meantime, run a small airstone or sponge filter in the 10g to keep circulation since you have plants in there. Good luck!

This is a really good idea!! I have the filter in my larger tank now. Would this method work for cycling other filters? I recently got a new 20 long that hasn't been cycled yet. Thanks!

 

[Mebbid]

This is a really good idea!! I have the filter in my larger tank now. Would this method work for cycling other filters? I recently got a new 20 long that hasn't been cycled yet. Thanks!

That method will help, but it wont support large bio loads right out of rhe gate.

 

[Pandicorn]

That method will help, but it wont support large bio loads right out of rhe gate.

I currently have a double sponge filter in the 45 gal, and it has been inside for almost a year and a half. When the time comes could I take that out and use it as a filter for the 10g(Shrimp tank)? Or would it not be enough/ take too many bacteria out of the 45?

 

[Mebbid]

For the shrimp it should be fine.

You will always have to check for a mini cycle when you remove filter media, but i doubt it will be enough to make a difference in your display tank.