I'm just putting this here to create a log and to see if any of this info could be useful in someones shrimp keeping. Or possible alternative for starting the nitrogen cycle.
I am trying to cycle a 10G tank using only ghost shrimp (10 of them). I am aware that they tend to be very sensitive to ammonia spikes and whatnot but I needed something that wasn't going to be a fish and something faster than fishless cycling. I had to do a 30% water change due to a necessary change in substrate (don't ask). I considered it necessary, that is all you need to know.
My latest test read:
PH- 7.8
Ammonia - 1PPM
Nitrates - 0PPm
Nitrites - 0PPm
So far my shrimp have gone from completely clear to gaining some color. (red stripes and red claws) One of my females has already shown readiness to breed. I have literally done everything not to do with these shrimp and they still aren't dead. (They ate my snail.... ) I just need to keep them alive long enough to finish the cycle... Mind you these shrimp were sold as feeders so I am pretty sure they can survive harsher treatment than I have given them.
I am pretty sure that every website has lied to me about the hardiness of ghost shrimp.
Sorry for the rambling. Will keep updates posted hopefully my semi-fishless cycle will help someone.
If anyone has tried this before input would be nice otherwise, sit back, relax and lets see how long before this whole thing falls apart.
I am trying to cycle a 10G tank using only ghost shrimp (10 of them). I am aware that they tend to be very sensitive to ammonia spikes and whatnot but I needed something that wasn't going to be a fish and something faster than fishless cycling. I had to do a 30% water change due to a necessary change in substrate (don't ask). I considered it necessary, that is all you need to know.
My latest test read:
PH- 7.8
Ammonia - 1PPM
Nitrates - 0PPm
Nitrites - 0PPm
So far my shrimp have gone from completely clear to gaining some color. (red stripes and red claws) One of my females has already shown readiness to breed. I have literally done everything not to do with these shrimp and they still aren't dead. (They ate my snail.... ) I just need to keep them alive long enough to finish the cycle... Mind you these shrimp were sold as feeders so I am pretty sure they can survive harsher treatment than I have given them.
I am pretty sure that every website has lied to me about the hardiness of ghost shrimp.
Sorry for the rambling. Will keep updates posted hopefully my semi-fishless cycle will help someone.
If anyone has tried this before input would be nice otherwise, sit back, relax and lets see how long before this whole thing falls apart.