Cycling question for planted shrimp tank

[KaylNeko]

I have a Fluval Spec V I'm currently cycling. It's fairly heavily planted-- did a dry start with Dwarf Hairgrass and Weeping Moss, and added c. parva, s. repens, c. undulata (yes, I know it'll outgrow the tank), Lysimachia nummularia, Microcarpae minima, and a buce species when I flooded it.

Dosing is almost an every night thing. The plants can take a 2ppm dose of ammonia and the next day it's between .25 and .5 ppm. I'm used to using plants to do what amounts to a fish-in cycle in my large tanks-- plant heavily, seed the filter with established bio-media, and stock extremely slowly. I didn't count on it happening in the 5 gallon. I'm assuming it's the stem plants that's causing the rapid consumption of ammonia.

So. Here's the question. I intend to start with 15-20 neocardina shrimp. Will that produce anywhere near 2 ppm of ammonia? Because I have a feeling that with the rapid processing of ammonia by the plants and the small number of shrimp I'm starting with, the tank is ready to go.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Can't comment for shrimp, but a moderately stocked fish tank will produce nowhere near the equivalent of 2ppm in 24 hours, more like 1ppm. I would imagine a lightly stocked shrimp tank less than that.

Try reducing ammonia dosing to 1ppm and see if its gone in 24 hours.

 

[KaylNeko]

That's a sound plan. I'll give that a shot tonight. Thanks!