Question on cycling

BaileyB · Nov 4, 2018

I bought a bottle of FritzZyme TurboStart 900 to speed up the cycling process, and I know the bacteria needs ammonia to feed on to start but I don't have any.

Would I be able to drop a raw shrimp or 2 in the tank to give off ammonia for the bacteria to feed on? if so how long would that process take and how long should i leave the shrimp in the tank for?

I have a 20G.

Thank you guys for the help!

dugthefish · Nov 4, 2018

You can pick up a bottle of ammonia at any hardware type store. I got one at Ace for like $3. The reason I dont like the shrimp is all the other junk it adds to the system. But yeah, a lot of people just drop in a table shrimp and let it rot.

BaileyB · Nov 4, 2018

dugthefish said:
You can pick up a bottle of ammonia at any hardware type store. I got one at Ace for like $3. The reason I dont like the shrimp is all the other junk it adds to the system. But yeah, a lot of people just drop in a table shrimp and let it rot.

I live in a small town but luckily we have an Ace, ill have to stop by tomorrow and pick up a bottle, thank you!

hdsoftail1065 · Nov 4, 2018

I used the table shrimp, as @dugthefish mentioned you can use amonnia. Either way don't rush it, let nature take it's course.

Captain Quint · Nov 4, 2018

hdsoftail1065 said:
I used the table shrimp, as @dugthefish mentioned you can use amonnia. Either way don't rush it, let nature take it's course.

+1 It will help if you place the shrimp in a cutoff pair of pantyhose tied off for easy removal when finished with it.

JasonK84 · Nov 4, 2018

If you do pick up some ammonia from the hardware store make sure the ingrediants are pure ammonia. If it says anything about surfactants it's a no go. Surfactants are soap.

Either method works. Just test your water every other day or so to keep track of the progress.

IslandLifeReef · Nov 4, 2018

Unless you are sure that the ammonia is 100% pure, I would either go with the shrimp, or order some Dr. Tims ammonia online.

Some ammonia also contains perfume and colorings.

Dr. Reef · Nov 4, 2018

A deli shrimp or piece of frozen fish in a pantyhose or media sock will be fine to start cycle.
Place it in then monitor ammonia and soon as you reach 1.5ppm pull it out and dose bacteria.
In my study of bottled bacteria turbostart 900 is really quick to cycle tanks. I would guess 3 to 4 days.
Hope it came in a cold pack and you kept it in fridge

cromag27 · Nov 4, 2018

you’ll need to dose ammonia until it reaches 2ppm. when it goes back down to 0 within 8-12 hours, your tank is cycled. does anyone know how much dead shrimp it takes to get ammonia to 2ppm? no? didn’t think so. use pure ammonia. geez.

JasonK84 · Nov 4, 2018

cromag27 said:
you’ll need to dose ammonia until it reaches 2ppm. when it goes back down to 0 within 8-12 hours, your tank is cycled. does anyone know how much dead shrimp it takes to get ammonia to 2ppm? no? didn’t think so. use pure ammonia. geez.

What are you saying geez for? No one nows how much shrimp it takes to get 2ppm but testing lets you know when you're there and you pull it out. Of course using ammonia is a more precise method but lots of tanks out there that started with shrimp rotting.

Dr. Reef · Nov 4, 2018

It's the oldest known method to kick start a cycle. Shrimp starts to decay and by testing one can tell when it reaches 1.5-2ppm.
Once there pull it and dose bacteria.
I predict 20g with turbostart will cycle in 3 to 4 days.

BaileyB · Nov 4, 2018

Dr. Reef said:
A deli shrimp or piece of frozen fish in a pantyhose or media sock will be fine to start cycle.
Place it in then monitor ammonia and soon as you reach 1.5ppm pull it out and dose bacteria.
In my study of bottled bacteria turbostart 900 is really quick to cycle tanks. I would guess 3 to 4 days.
Hope it came in a cold pack and you kept it in fridge

Yes it came with cold packs so i read the bottle and it says to keep refrigerated, so its been in the mini fridge the past couple of days until set up, thanks!