Should I add a 2nd shrimp to Cycling Tank?

Hi I have had my tank up since the 18th, and added a whole shrimp to the system to begin the cycle. The cycle started and what was shrimp has all but disintegrated, all that was left was the shell. I have removed the shell, and took water parameters. Looking at my log I don't think that Ive cycled or even peaked yet. I've attached a copy of my tank log.

I've read here that you should not remove the shrimp used for cycling until you are ready to add fish. I do not plan on adding fish, if the tank is ready, until after thanks giving.

My question is, should I add another shrimp to create more ammonia and continue the cycle, or will or continue on its own?

DarkHorseMBA

 

No need to add another shrimp. The cycle will continue on it's own.

 

There was no need to even add the 1st shrimp. Some believe adding shrimp, small fish, peeing in the tank, etc. does the job. Personally I've never added anything to my tanks to start a cycle, it will cycle with or without anything.

 

I started mine on the 9th...bout a week ahead of you. My Ammonia has reached 0 as of Monday, and my Nitrites are starting to lower as of my test this morning. One shrimp is fine. It will take a little more time for you. Waiting until after thanksgiving should be great for your first addition...ample time to let stabilize.

 

So if the cycle completes before I'm ready to add fish should I feed the tank somehow to keep bacteria going?

 

Interesting...I am doing the same right now.

My 30 gal, I added a shrimp on the 9th, and live rock the following weekend.

My 84 gal, I added live rock on the same weekend as the 30, but never added a shrimp. I have ammonia and nitrite in the 84 (no nitrates as of today)...without shrimp, damsel, urine, etc. Just live rock. The 84 gal I am waiting until after new years to do anything with (other than CuC)...the 30 will get a fish or two in the coming weeks.

 

My tank 75G was all dry rock and some live sand, that was on sale, mixed with dry sand.

 

will you be adding a CUC prior to Thanksgiving?

as this will ensure that there are more nutrients in order to ensure the bacteria population increases rather than diminishes between now and the introduction of the fish

otherwise there may be a small and short term spike in the ammonia and Nitrite depending on the size of the fish added and the amount of waste said fish contributes to bioload

bacteria does increase rapidly so its not normally an issue - but a few snails to monitor also gives you a chance to ascertain the readyness of your aquarium for the 1stfish stocking

Steve

 

I have not thought about that until now, there is no algae or even signs of it yet for the CUC. I could do a CUC it will be low maintenance, or just a small CUC. My reason is that we'll be out of town, only 4 days, and I would not want to burden the house sitter with new tank with CUC if it too much work for them. They already have to watch the dog, a FW tank nad a frog tank . We'll be home until spring, and once it's established the sitter should have no problem.

Would a CUC need a lot of work while I'm gone?

 

Not enough info here. How much live rock/sand? What other (if any)filtration? You aren't doing any water changes I hope? If you could answer these questions it will help us/me to advise more wisely.
"Stay thirsty my friend..........."