Just Started Fish Less Shrimp Cycle

[Xavier10]

Just started the shrimp fish less cycle just wanna make sure I'm doing it right. My plan is I have 2 medium sized shrimp in a pantyhose in my tank my temp is at about 92 degrees. I have a 50 gallon tank with a Penguin power filter 350 with bio wheels for 70 gallon tank. Couple of air stones and 2 small live plants and some fake plants. Going to add one more live plant. Small pebbles as my bedding.
So from what I read is let the shrimp sit there for a day test water should have ammonia spike then test again a few days later should have nitrite spike then test again a few days later should have nitrate spike and ammonia and nitrite should go down. Test again a few days later should have no ammonia or nitrite test everyday for a week should have no ammonia or nitrite small amount of nitrate. Take shrimp out do a pretty big water change with water that has been sitting and conditioned wait a week test water for 0 ammonia and 0nitrite low nitrate level. Then finally be able to add fish. Is this correct?

 

[Essjay]

I have never done a fishless ccyle with a shrimp but one or two things spring to mind.

It will probably take more than a few days for nitrite then nitrate to appear - most cycles take several weeks. Don't be surprised if nothing happens for a couple of weeks.

Secondly, with cycling taking a few weeks, the shrimp may well have reached a disgusting state before it finishes, you might well have to use a few shrimps. I've always understood that's why you use pantyhose - to make it easier to remove the decomposing shrimp.

Someone who uses this method will be able to advise you better.

 

[Aquascaper]

Not quite....

Firstly, could you not use ammonia solution (household cleaner)? This would be a lot easier to control the dose and monitor the results. Also, getting hold of mature filter media from your LFS or a friends tank would be an excellent headstart.

If not then the idea is sound but it will not be a few days between each stage, it will take a lot longer.

Stages:
1) Ammonia is produced and in time bacteria grow to convert this to Nitrites
2) In time bacteria grow to convert the Nitrites to Nitrates
3) Eventually Ammonia and Nitrites will not be detect as they will be constantly converted to the end product, Nitrates

Results:
1) Ammonia rises
2) Ammonia starts to fall and Nitrites rise (you need to be adding Ammonia at this point to keep the cycle going)
3) Nitrates start to rise
4) Ammonia and Nitrites virtually disappear with Nitrates rising all the time.

There are some great pinned threads explaining this in more detail in the beginners section.

The only problem with the shrimp method is you don't know how much Ammonia you are 'feeding' the tank or when it has run out.

 

[4seasons]

Sounds like you have the idea, but I would suggest a few tweaks to your plan.
1. Why use shrimp? I'm sure they will break down into ammonia but the rate and how much ammonia is released is hard to control. Bottled ammonia can be found at Ace Hardware and some other places that will give you much better control. Just make sure your ammonia contains no surfactants. I have also used fish food as an ammonia source so it can work but it is more troublesome.
2. 92 degrees is about 10 degrees to hot. 82-84 is ideal for growing the bacteria you need.
3. What test kit are you using? Most of us use the API master freshwater kit. Just make sure it is a liquid based test kit and not test strips and do your own test rather than running to a fish store to get water tested.
4. You said couple of days when it is more like a couple of months. Unless you have a mature media donation it takes between 5-9 weeks to get a good size colony of bacteria grown.
5. You didn't mention dechlorinator. If you don't use a dechlorinated water you won't grow the good bacteria you need.

 

[Aquascaper]

Take shrimp out do a pretty big water change with water that has been sitting and conditioned wait a week test water for 0 ammonia and 0nitrite low nitrate level. Then finally be able to add fish. Is this correct?

If you remove the Ammonia source for a week the cycle will break down and the beneficial bacteria will die off meaning you need to start all over again. You should add fish as soon as the cycle completes if you are not 'feeding' the tank with Ammonia (either with dead shrimp or Ammonia solution).

 

[Xavier10]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it. I went with the shrimp method because from others people experience the shrimp one has had the best success. So I wanted to give it a shot.

 

[Aquascaper]

It has the best success maybe of the random ammonia level methods. Majority of people use ammonia solution which is why there's an ammonia calculator on the forum to accurately dose the tank. But if you want to go the shrimp route then best of luck