MANY questions.

[MrCory]

So how often should I put cuttlebone in my tank and how long do I keep it in for and when should I take it out.Also is my stocking ok for my 10 gallon? 5 Amano shrimp 1 mystery snail. 6 neon tetra.and also what is a cheap easy way too fishless cycle a shrimp tank.

 

[MrCory]

I was told there would be no shortage of answers and this thread hasen't gotten one.

 

[Leeatl]

I would like to know about the cuttle bone too . As far as your stocking , I would say you are ok , but we need more info...type of filter for example . Go to AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor and it will give you a ballpark % of stocking . I always use Ace Hardware PURE ammonia to cycle my new tanks . I use a syringe and the ammonia calculator at the bottom of this page...
Calculator . Hope this helps and we both get an answer the cuttle bone question...lol

 

[erla]

I would like to know about the cuttle bone too . As far as your stocking , I would say you are ok , but we need more info...type of filter for example . Go to AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor and it will give you a ballpark % of stocking . I always use Ace Hardware PURE ammonia to cycle my new tanks . I use a syringe and the ammonia calculator at the bottom of this page...

Calculator . Hope this helps and we both get an answer the cuttle bone question...lol

Agree with all that advice. Another way to quickly cycle a tank is if you can get any filter media or other matter (decorations, substrate, etc.) that has been in a cycled tank - if you have enough, you can get an almost instant cycle.

As for cuttlebone, I just break off a small piece and leave it in the tank. It will dissolve/get nibbled on over time, and you can add more. You can also put a piece in your filter. As far as I know, there is no need to remove it.

 

[Carriwin]

Another alternative I have seen to fishless cycling is by putting gravel from an existing tank in a NEW nylon or knee high... (no detergent or fabric softener that way, that will poison your fish) and then keep that in the new tank for a few days. That way the bacteria will leech from the gravel in the nylon to the new tank.

 

[MrCory]

Ok thanks also the reason I take cuttlebone out is I have shrimp and I read too much calcium can kill them by crushing their insides.

 

[erla]

Ok thanks also the reason I take cuttlebone out is I have shrimp and I read too much calcium can kill them by crushing their insides.

Interesting. I don't know anything about that. But I think a small piece of cuttlebone in the tank wouldn't be enough to raise the calcium too much - it hasn't seem to have hurt my shrimp (or snails).