Am I doing to right thing?

[B216adkins]

Well Im still working on my nitrogen cycle. I have had a cocktail shrimp in my tank for 6 days. The smell was so unbearable that it was coming through the house. So my mom made me take it out. When I took It out i went out and purchase this Nutrafin Cycle Product. I have been reading that this works and its quick. So now Im in my 4th day of using this product. The only thing it did was clear the water and got rid of the fish smell. So is that a good thing? Also while I was at the petstore I bought a mini ammonia test kit. This test kit is garbage and I will be getting my money back. Was it right to add the bacteria and shrimp together? Does this product really work in 1 week?

[BowieReefer84]

Have you done any water changes? You need to.

 

How much rock is in your tank? Was it already cured/alive or dead base rock?

[B216adkins]

Have you done any water changes? You need to.

 

How much rock is in your tank? Was it already cured/alive or dead base rock?

 

no I havent done any water changes. I thought you were supposed to wait until you tank finished cycling to start the change. And I have 10lb or live rock and 10lb of live sand

[BowieReefer84]

no I havent done any water changes. I thought you were supposed to wait until you tank finished cycling to start the change. And I have 10lb or live rock and 10lb of live sand

Yea, you are right. BUT, if your entire house smells. . . .I would do one like 10%. If the smell is gone, I would just let it be.

 

 

 

[onux20]

Dude, Sorry you stunk up the house enough to get your mom mad! Anyway, you are going to have to learn patience in this hobby. It has only been a week. You can go ahead and check your levels for ammonia and nitrite. That will let you know if you are heading in the right direction. OR just check nitrates...I would say if it reads zero then you are not there yet.

 

Do you have a protein skimmer? If so, is it producing anything?

 

Patience Brandon. I have spent twice as much as I should have on the tank all because I lacked the patience it took to let the tank mature at its own pace.

 

Ron

[Origami]

LOL. Just how big was this tank that you left a cocktail shrimp in for nearly a week? You probably could have taken it out much earlier.... Ah, live and learn.

 

We've been getting a lot of questions about cycling recently.

 

Remember, cycling is all about breeding and establishing a large enough population of bacteria that is capable of processing nitrogenous waste that comes from your other livestock (when you add it). Bacteria are alive. They need to be fed. That's what the shrimp was for. You needn't wait for the whole thing to rot, fall apart, and disappear. In a small system, a cocktail shrimp would probably get mighty unsavory in a short time. When starting cycling, start out having a test kit on hand and using it. Don't go out after the ammonia smell knocks you over.

 

Watch your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels go through the cycle and begin to add a little livestock if everything looks good. Add a little at a time so your bacterial population can build up and adjust to the bioload of the new livestock. Take your time.

 

Good luck.

[Jan]

There's no need to change the water

Is there circulation? How big is your set up?

All you needed to do was take the shrimp out and maybe put a smaller piece in. You do not need a skimmer at this point.

Lights, water, sand, rock, circulation and something to produce ammonia (you can even use a little ammonia) is all you need at this stage.

 

Follow the guidlines posted in your first post on this subject and you'll be alright.

http://www.wamas.org..._1entry334313

 

Most importantly be patience. Starting a cycle from scratch like this takes a long time. The best way to kick start/shorten a cycle is to get live sand, live rock and water from an already established tank. I can give you a cup of live sand, if you'd like.

Edited September 17, 2010 by Jan

[Coral Hind]

Was it right to add the bacteria and shrimp together? Does this product really work in 1 week?

 

Yes, it was fine to add both as the bacteria needed something to feed on. Products like Cycle work great and it allows for adding fish immediately, no need to wait for weeks or months. You just have to do it slowly, a fish or two at a time. As long as you have some live rock and a skimmer working you can add a hardy fish. Just keep checking the parameters.

[B216adkins]

There's no need to change the water

Is there circulation? How big is your set up?

All you needed to do was take the shrimp out and maybe put a smaller piece in. You do not need a skimmer at this point.

Lights, water, sand, rock, circulation and something to produce ammonia (you can even use a little ammonia) is all you need at this stage.

 

Follow the guidlines posted in your first post on this subject and you'll be alright.

http://www.wamas.org..._1entry334313

 

Most importantly be patience. Starting a cycle from scratch like this takes a long time. The best way to kick start/shorten a cycle is to get live sand, live rock and water from an already established tank. I can give you a cup of live sand, if you'd like.

 

ok that would be great! Please message me where you are located

[B216adkins]

Thanks everybody for the advice. Also this tank was used before and the last owner stopped using the tank for 2 months. There is a lot of old bacteria around the tank. He told me that this will help as well. I just Love marine life so much!!! I dont want to wait..but I have too :( While the tank is cycling I will just find something else to do like swim.

 

Thanks Again

[Jan]

I'm in Falls Church, Va. I wont be available until Sunday. I'll PM you my information.

 

ok that would be great! Please message me where you are located

[zygote2k]

Here's the best advice that anyone should have given you-

go buy a comprehensive reef book that tells you how to do most things.

Anything by Martin Moe or Delbeek and Sprung will get you started.