Aquatic Plant Central - View Single Post - A bit confused on cycling a new shrimp tank.

Shrimp&Snails · 07-03-2006, 03:07 PM

I would go for a fishless cycle, adding a small pinch of fish food daily.

If you can get hold of some filter sponge from an established tank you can speed up or even avoid the cycling process. I filled up a 10g with 25% tank water and 75% treated water and added filter sponge from my established 10g and never had any rise in ammonia and nitrite. Your lfs will give you some sponge from one of their filters if you can't get it from anywhere else.

Grab some water testers to keep an eye on things.

Shrimp only need to be lightly fed and will scurry along the floor eating poo. Sand substrates are great because the poo stays on top rather than sinking into the gravel. When there's quite a bit of poo on the sand I use a turkey baster to remove it without any risk to my shrimplets.

Best of luck....I love setting up new tanks.

07-03-2006, 03:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shrimp&Snails Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 241 iTrader Ratings: 0 Plant Points: 7890	I would go for a fishless cycle, adding a small pinch of fish food daily. If you can get hold of some filter sponge from an established tank you can speed up or even avoid the cycling process. I filled up a 10g with 25% tank water and 75% treated water and added filter sponge from my established 10g and never had any rise in ammonia and nitrite. Your lfs will give you some sponge from one of their filters if you can't get it from anywhere else. Grab some water testers to keep an eye on things. Shrimp only need to be lightly fed and will scurry along the floor eating poo. Sand substrates are great because the poo stays on top rather than sinking into the gravel. When there's quite a bit of poo on the sand I use a turkey baster to remove it without any risk to my shrimplets. Best of luck....I love setting up new tanks.