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Kids got the itch back...
- Thread starter NJ Strong88
- Start date
Thanks!!! Im doing my best to be patient
Yeah I know it's hard. But if you rush it your just throwing $$$$$$ away.
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Plan on going to trop to add another piece of live rock. I'm not going to go crazy testing everyday. I'd say maybe twice a week. Hoping to see the levels go down these next few weeks
Waiting waiting waiting. Been doing some reading online. Some have had great results with dr. tims...others not so much. Just wanted to ask if anyone has had any experience using this stuff. Gave the heater a boost to about 86 tonight. Not running the lights. Filter still running with sponge and carbon.
Keep going slow.
You have started your cycle with dead shrimp. The decaying shrimp is not something you can easily undo now.
Had you not gone the shrimp route, instant cycle products like Dr. Tim's might have been something you could move forward with quickly, but I would not advise that at this stage. You would need to remove the shrimp, drain the tank, fill it up again, add the Dr. Tim's, and test to be sure your levels were good, and it still could backfire on you.
Be patient.
You should wait at least 3-4 weeks before you add livestock.
Question- why did you bump your temp up to 86? If you had livestock in there, you would have made it tough for it to survive. I'd get it back down to 76-82, sometimes the rock from Trop has cool hitchhikers on it and if you leave the temp at 86 you won't ever get to find out.
I have a piece from trop with bivalves on it (had it for 3 years and they REALLY help with the water quality in the 12g), another piece with a nice feather duster, a piece with pineapple sponge, cool macro algae, porcelain crabs, and I once got a piece with a hitchhiker christmas tree worm- all from Trop. Most of this stuff is still alive- the only thing I lost was the christmas tree worm.
You have started your cycle with dead shrimp. The decaying shrimp is not something you can easily undo now.
Had you not gone the shrimp route, instant cycle products like Dr. Tim's might have been something you could move forward with quickly, but I would not advise that at this stage. You would need to remove the shrimp, drain the tank, fill it up again, add the Dr. Tim's, and test to be sure your levels were good, and it still could backfire on you.
Be patient.
You should wait at least 3-4 weeks before you add livestock.
Question- why did you bump your temp up to 86? If you had livestock in there, you would have made it tough for it to survive. I'd get it back down to 76-82, sometimes the rock from Trop has cool hitchhikers on it and if you leave the temp at 86 you won't ever get to find out.
I have a piece from trop with bivalves on it (had it for 3 years and they REALLY help with the water quality in the 12g), another piece with a nice feather duster, a piece with pineapple sponge, cool macro algae, porcelain crabs, and I once got a piece with a hitchhiker christmas tree worm- all from Trop. Most of this stuff is still alive- the only thing I lost was the christmas tree worm.
Nothing for nothing...but seeing that I shouldn't habe done the shrimp and the dr. tims at the same time is like a slapnin the face. How many views did this topic get and no one cared to reach out to someone who is just getting back into the hobby. I understand I habe to make my own mistakes...but if the tables were turned and I knew better, I'd probably advisee someone not to do what I did. But I guess that's neither here nor tbere at tbis point. Now I have to wait and keep testing. When I first jumped on here a fee years ago. ..people did a lot better of a job to reach out and help the newbies. I guess times change. Temp on the tank is a crisp 82 btw.
No one here steered you wrong. Read this
[/URL]http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/how-to-start[/URL]
The shrimp you added has added ammonia to start the cycle. You will find out in this hobby there are many vetting opinions on different topics. This doesn't mean one of the other is wrong just different. Doing your own research and drawing your own opinions is definitely indispensable in this hobby. I'm not saying it doesn't hurt to ask questions but I advise researching things.
[/URL]http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/how-to-start[/URL]
The shrimp you added has added ammonia to start the cycle. You will find out in this hobby there are many vetting opinions on different topics. This doesn't mean one of the other is wrong just different. Doing your own research and drawing your own opinions is definitely indispensable in this hobby. I'm not saying it doesn't hurt to ask questions but I advise researching things.
X2. Dr. Tims is a bacteria product that requires ammonia to survive. I don't see why you cant put Dr. Tims in there & let the bacteria population get nice & strong with the ammonia from the dead shrimp. Most people & the bottle of Dr. Tim's say "you have to put fish in immediately(aka a few hours) of putting in Dr. Tims for it to survive". So chemically & biologically it should be the same as adding a big fish into your newly instant cycled tank since he's just pumping out the ammonia needed for the bacteria to thrive. no? I mean he'll have to wait a few days to get the levels down & then a water change at the nitrate stage, but I probably wouldn't tell you that you have to wait 3-4 weeks. but this is just my (possibly flawed) logic on how this all works.
Now if your goal was instant cycle then yea, should have just used Dr. Tims.
As it is now you'll have to wait a few days for the bacteria to eat all of the ammonia, nitrites, & nitrates from the water. Put it in, pull the shrimp, keep testing & you should be down to normal levels in a few days/a week.
again this is just IMO so take it was what it's worth.
Now if your goal was instant cycle then yea, should have just used Dr. Tims.
As it is now you'll have to wait a few days for the bacteria to eat all of the ammonia, nitrites, & nitrates from the water. Put it in, pull the shrimp, keep testing & you should be down to normal levels in a few days/a week.
again this is just IMO so take it was what it's worth.
Wow.
Mike (MNAT) is my husband.
He has been responding to you since you started this thread.
Just my opinion, but I thought we were trying to help you.
My point is that it would have been nice to know that the shrimp wasn't the best option. I tested ammonia again last night...still very high. Again I'm just in the waiting process...of course it takes time.The tank is what it is at this point and ill just see how long the cycling takes. Let me make.it extremely clear about how much I do appreciate the advice...this is my main deciding place and I value each and every opinion.
Fact of the matter is that cycling with decaying material (a shrimp) is probably your best, and most surefire option to cycle a tank. Especially if there is no other ldead matter to cause ammonia. While these miracle in a bottle things work. They are not guaranteed or they would stand by their products instead of a results may vary. So yes you did go through the best method by assuring you will have a very complete and solid cycle.
Headed to trop tomorrow for another small piece of branch rock. That should cover me on live rock.My only issue is if adding more rock would interrupt the cycle?
In my option the shrimp is the best option, people that provided that advice did not steer you wrong at all. However, talking down to people that have been helping is not a good way to get advice in the future. Adding more rock will not interrupt your cycle, but it will add more ammonia from die off, so it might prolong it.
Who's talking down to people? I judged my response off of nikkis response. Before I posted that Jose was my main contributor and he's been a fantastic help....as everyone has. Again, my point is that all of a sudden I made a decision and I received criticism for it. I'd like to move past this. I came home tonight...flipped the night lights on and the tank looks more clear than it ever did!! Very happy about that. Salt...soo would it be possible to add the rock after the cycle? or maybe it would be smarter to add it now and be set.
If you add it after the cycle to might have a small ammonia spike. In our aquarium the ammonia is broken down into nitrite then nitrate by the bacteria in the tank. I would add it now so when you add your fish later you do not have to worry about an ammonia spike.
Cool great...makes sense. Another cool note...I moved the powerhead a little further down in the tank and when I came home the sand was moved...I'm going to the rock.and test tomorrow night.
Been browsing the fish on liveaquaria...I def want a clown fish...prob the percula. One of my favs also.is a midas blenny. Again I'm in the beginning stages of looking and I know right now I can't fit much. Any suggestions?
tank with new rock. 
ammonia is going down!