Cycle question?

[bduni50]

Ok folks have had dead shrimp in my tank since Tuesday. So going on four days. Can I take out the shrimp yet?

 

[cfosgate]

Nope. Leave it in the tank until you're tank has finished cycling. Ammonia and nitrites will be zero and nitrates will be through the roof.

 

[bduni50]

Ok I did not realize that. Will get water tested tomorrow.

 

[Dav3]

It will take closer to 4 weeks to cycle not 4 days. Leave it in till cycle is complete.

 

[bduni50]

Ok got it

 

[Macscale]

What?
I've never heard of anyone keeping the shrimp inside the tank for the entire cycle. Do you realize that the ammonia will just be fueling the entire time and it will never go down. You should take the shrimp out once the ammonia reaches what you think is high enough. The "standard" number is 4ppm. Let the bacteria go through that, then add another shrimp and if it all goes down within 24 hours, you're cycled.

 

[Crazyhermitcrab]

I never have used shrimp. I always In-tank-cycle

 

[bald57]

I just finished cycling a tank and mine took 27 days

 

[bduni50]

Ok so I'm confused now. I've always thought to leave the shrimp in 4-5 days. Then wait till ammonia goes down. Water change and your good to go. But after the first two post I figured I read or mis understood. Then another post close to what I was thinking...guess I will have to google and I tube more?????

 

[Crazyhermitcrab]

Take it out once ammonia is being convereted to nitrite.

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

What?
I've never heard of anyone keeping the shrimp inside the tank for the entire cycle. Do you realize that the ammonia will just be fueling the entire time and it will never go down. You should take the shrimp out once the ammonia reaches what you think is high enough. The "standard" number is 4ppm. Let the bacteria go through that, then add another shrimp and if it all goes down within 24 hours, you're cycled.

+1. Just do that, works every time

 

[jwh0818]

I would leave it until it reaches 2ppm ammonia. 4ppm is a lot and can cause unwanted cycle stalling. 2ppm is more then enough to handle a big bioload.

 

[bduni50]

I would leave it until it reaches 2ppm ammonia. 4ppm is a lot and can cause unwanted cycle stalling. 2ppm is more then enough to handle a big bioload.

Ok, got it. At this point it's just ammonia that counts??????