Waiting for a spike!

[Frankie Marble]

What's up everyone. So it's been about 10 days since I added some live rock & a shrimp to the tank. I've tested the water 3 times since & still no spike in ammonia at all. What's the deal? I thought the shrimp would def create some ammonia levels. What about the rock? Am I just being crazy? Should it take this long to spike?

 

[Coral Theory]

Did you add a raw shrimp or pre-cooked?

Are you starting to see any fuzzies on the shrimp? What test kit are you using? Properly following instructions?

For the shrimp to become an ammonia source it has to start rotting.

 

[Frankie Marble]

I used raw shrimp in the shell. Can't tell what it looks like cause its in a stocking. Lol

 

[NYreefNoob]

10 days isnt enough, realistically takes around 30 days, you will basically start to see the shrimp disolve

 

[Frankie Marble]

I don't care how long it takes just wanna know I'm not wasting time.... If there is something else I could be doing I would wanna know

 

[beastium]

Get filter gunk from established tank

 

[NYreefNoob]

just leave the tank alone and after 30 days start to check everything, dont rush the process

 

[Frankie Marble]

Believe me I'm in no rush at all. I've been building this system since January..... I'm just afraid I'm gonna miss the ammonia spike. But I would know when the water is ready once I have Nitrates, no?

 

[NYreefNoob]

dont worry about the ammonia spike, once you start to see nitrite and nitrate is when it is on the downward cycle

 

[jaBX1]

dont worry about the ammonia spike, once you start to see nitrite and nitrate is when it is on the downward cycle

+1

i have used ammonium chloride to do a fishless cycle. you add your own ammonia spike and test to see how far along the bacteria are.

personally i never liked the raw shrimp technique because i never watned a piece of stinking rotting fish in my tank lol.


good luck, patience is key!!