Do i need to cycle my shrimp tank?

[SwimsWithFish]

Hey all! Soon I'll have an empty ten gallon and I would live to make it a shrimp tank. Do I need to cycle it? Or do shrimp not have much of a bioload? I'll have about 20 shrimp.

 

[jetajockey]

I would, they do much better in a well established tank. If not, at least stuff it with plants.

 

[SwimsWithFish]

But once it cycles they will hardly have a bioload and won't the tank "uncylce" because there's not a big ammonia source?

 

[SwimsWithFish]

Maybe I could keep a couple small fish in there to keep the cycle?

 

[gabysapha]

They will keep a cycle anyway. I kept 20 in a 10g and it remained established. If youre worried you can add some harmless snails like ramshorns. Fish are ok if you dont mind shrimplets getting eaten

 

[SwimsWithFish]

Well this will be for breeding and selling so no fish. So an apple snail with 20 shrimp will do?

 

[00youknowit00]

But once it cycles they will hardly have a bioload and won't the tank "uncylce" because there's not a big ammonia source?

The colony will adjust to the bioload with the shrimp in there. And if you're fishless cycling you don't need to go all the way too 4ppm.

 

[gabysapha]

Well this will be for breeding and selling so no fish. So an apple snail with 20 shrimp will do?

If i put one of my mysteries in there, i would expect it to eat adults! I wouldnt suggest it

 

[SwimsWithFish]

I have a mystery in my 10g community with 1 rcs and 5 ghosts.

 

[jetajockey]

As gaby said, you aren't going to 'lose' a cycle, the bacteria will adjust to the bioload. I'm not sure why everyone thinks that a tank will un-cycle if it doesn't have a big ammonia source, I can only speculate that it may be because of the ppm #'s thrown around during a fishless cycle. Either way, it'll be fine, just let it get established, the more stable the parameters the better.

When I first started my shrimp tank(s) I tossed shrimp in with plants, and they did o.k., but others did not. It was pretty hit and miss, but I did notice after a few months the tanks all did well, so take it for what it's worth.