Market prawn to kick start nitrogen cycle

[sam_always]

Hi,

Using a prawn to kick start nitrogen cycle on my new 2.5ft tank. Detected a amonia spike. When can i remove the prawn?

[Tanzy]

How big is the piece of prawn?

[sam_always]

normal medium size. finger size.

[Tanzy]

Quite big for a small tank. When it's all gooey and covered with white stuff, take it out. Watch the smell though!

[Achilles Tang]

As long as you detect a high enough ammonia spike, the prawn has done its work.

You can remove it if its too large and threatens to crash the tank... or though I highly doubt it. It may get eaten by bristleworms or crabs if they are present.

I heard of a story where a reefer put half a barramundi fish inside his tank to kickstart the cycle... needless to say, his house stank and his tank crashed.

[hamannbmw]

I heard of a story where a reefer put half a barramundi fish inside his tank to kickstart the cycle... needless to say, his house stank and his tank crashed.

if i know him.. i would suggest a big piece of stingray meat ..

[sam_always]

took the prawn out... orghhhhhhh..... damn smelly... almost wanted to vomit.... THanks bro

[fooyl]

Hi,

I am doing my cycling too. Please advice how many days before remove? My prawn was in my tank for 2 days. It all covered with white stuff. No smell. Ammonia only 0.5.

I have use half 2/3 salt mixed water and 1/3 water from my old tank. used all old LR from existing tank.

Please advice.

regards-fooyl

[ajeb]

When i was cycling my tank last time the shimp simply gone when i finished the cycling process. Basically u can take out the shimp when the cycling process finished ... so do the necessary test to determine whether ur cycling process is over or not.

[nim75sg]

Fooyl: You can remove the prawn as the tank as this was what I did for my 4ft quarantine tank.

The "good stuff" from your old LR from an established tank are doing their job.

[fooyl]

Thanks bro!!

regards-fooyl