Strange A-N-N Cycle

Probably. The live sand had to help. When did you set this tank up again?

 

[quote author=GaMmA link=board=Newbie;num=1081624259;start=0#14 date=04/12/04 at 10:23:12]if i leave the shrimp in the tank.  how quickly should the shrimp be eaten for me to consider the bacteria has been established?[/quote]

It's really not a matter of the bacteria actually eating the shrimp until it is gone

Leave the shrimp in the tank and you will see another Ammonia spike and then a Nitrite spike. Once you see the Nitrite subside then add a live fish and remove the shrimp. That fish, simply by the fact that you are feeding it and it is therefore producing waste will maintain the cycle.

Just as a rough example, the bacterial population will grow and decline depending on how much food is available, that's why the " take it slow " motto is so important. It is also why you need to add a live fish fairly soon after you see the Nitrites disappear, because if you didn't then the bacteria would simply die and you would be back where you started.

HTH

John

 

John O is back in town.....

 

John,

You are exactly correct! The reasons you state are why we suggest adding fish slowly to allow the bacteria enough time to increase their population, there by increasing the denitrification capability of the tank.