How to speed up tank cycle
 

Hi there,
So I started a new nano tank 14 gallon with base rock. I added a raw shrimp and a clam for ammonia to build up. I am on my 8th day. I have been testing for the trinity (ammonia,nitrite and nitrate) only ammonia is show 1.5 the other two still 0. My shrimp is almost dissolved, so I replace with a new shrimp or is good enough for ammonia? Now, do I turn on light or not? Do I turn on skimmer or not? Should I get the Microbacteria7 from britghwell (JL recommended me) but I thought to ask here before purchasing.

https://farm66.staticflickr.com/6553...a8cf2ed5_b.jpg
Shrimp on 3rd day

https://farm66.staticflickr.com/6553...8bef8883_z.jpg
Shrimp on 8th day

https://farm66.staticflickr.com/6553...a03191d4_z.jpg


Thanks

First rule of reef club; you don't want to rush. I would definitely recommend MB7 for start up. No need for lights until you have livestock, same goes for skimming. You'll be scratching your head for days and days wondering why the skimmer isn't working. Wait for that No2 and No3 spike, once No3 starts dropping below 5 - 10 and No2 is 0, you can start to slowly add fish. This can take up to a month, maybe a bit more. I wouldn't recommend adding any coral other than softies until you start to get corraline growth. Add an ammonia badge when you add fish, for safety. The first few months of a new tank are the most critical. Take your time and ask questions.

Thanks for the reply, should I remove the rotten shrimp tho? If I do, should I add another raw shrimp back?

Yeah no need for it if you're using MB7.

Good thanks, I am literally outside of jl waiting for them to open lol

J&L have great customer service, as long as you don't mention my name.

Hahahaha okay lol

YES, you need to keep adding an ammonia source for the cycle. MB7 or Seachem Stability will add and aid bacteria in processing NH3 but they need a source.

If you stop adding a source, the cycle will eventually stall and all those bacteria you helped build up will starve and die back.

Keep adding your source right up until you are ready to start adding fish. At that point remove the NH3 source and test NO3. Do as large a WC as needed to bring your NO3 down to an acceptable level.
Then when you add fish, keep adding the MB7/Stability for another week or 2 - long enough until your no longer again read NH3. Then you can stop.
And in the future when you add new fish it's a good idea to follow the liquid attitive protocol for another week again.

Hey Sean, you won't see NO3 if your chaeto are sucking them up :biggrin: