View Full Version : Where's the Ammonia?
OregonReefer
08/16/2011, 10:15 AM
I've been floating a pair of dead shrimp in my new 120g setup now for almost 2 weeks. I tested this weekend and there was barely any detectable ammonia at all.... Less than .25 with an API test.
The pair of shrimp are floating in a nylon with some holes cut in it... There's a nasty film growing on it but I'm not seeing a rise in levels.
Do I just need to wait longer or could the small amount of bacteria on my Pukani rock be taking care of it?
evsalty
08/16/2011, 10:19 AM
If that rock was healthy rock then you probably already have a good start on your cycle. The fact that you are seeing ANY ammonia says the shrimp are breaking down but the low number probably means you have started into the next stages. Have you tested nitrItes and nitrAtes yet?
OregonReefer
08/16/2011, 10:21 AM
I did, both are reading zero
evsalty
08/16/2011, 10:25 AM
Was the rock well established rock?
OregonReefer
08/16/2011, 06:37 PM
It's dry rock... though it was moist on arrival and hasn't ever really dried out with the cure time and all
bertoni
08/16/2011, 11:09 PM
I suspect that the tank is fine unless you want to add a number of large fish in one shot. I'd remove the shrimp and work from there.
reefgeezer
08/17/2011, 03:22 PM
I know the smelly shrimp method is popular, but what is the potential ammonium elevation when 2 shrimp decompose slowly in a 120? Might it be a better option to artificially elevate the ammonium level rather than waiting for nature to take it's course?
I'm putting this in question form because, even though I've done it a few times to cycle my own tanks, I really don't know the consequences of adding something like ammonium chloride to the tank.
HighlandReefer
08/17/2011, 03:57 PM
I like to add fish food to get the different types of bacterial populations needed to handle ammonia, nitrite, nitrate & phosphate going in a reef aquarium. If you just add ammonia, there may not be enough other nutrients necessary for bacterial growth. ;)
Adding dead shrimp should provide a complete diet as well for bacterial populatons. Perhaps the bacteria could be isolated on the dead shrimp, but many of the nutrients released from decay of the shrimp should spread throughout the tank water. You could always add a little fish food and see where that takes you in your cycle. :)
elijaher
08/17/2011, 04:10 PM
Why not chop down the shrimp to give the bacteria more surface to populate?
OregonReefer
08/17/2011, 07:32 PM
Why not chop down the shrimp to give the bacteria more surface to populate?
Before the shrimp I dumped 4 cubes of blood worms in the tank with no reaction.
I did cut the shrimp in half and shelled them for more surface area. The nylon also has many holes cut in it for circulation.
The film/bacteria growing on the nylon does come off in small "flakes" and there are many floating around in the tank... I've even gone as far as rubbing the stuff off and squeezing the nylon a couple times... with a glove of course.
I'm at a loss... I can't imagine I'd have virtually no cycle on one hand... On the other I'm not seeing the typical reaction to a pretty fair sized piece of dead rotting matter in my tank
bertoni
08/17/2011, 10:46 PM
If you want to spike the tank, you could get some new shrimp and put it through the blender. That should break down rapidly.
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