using shrimp to cycle

If you use a shrimp to cycle your tank should you keep it in the tank through out the entire cycle?
I'm thinking that you should,but would like to hear an opinion of someone who has done this,or has more actual experience in cycling tanks.
The reason I'm asking is because the shrimp is looking pretty funky after 4 days in the tank, but it is working.Prior to the shrimp,I was trying to cycle with one fish,I donated it to a friend for the time being,and before with the fish in there I could only get the ammonia to around .25ppm and 0 nitrite.Now Ammonia is 2ppm and nitrite is about 1.0ppm.,so I think this is working much better.

 

When you say 'funky' could you describe what you mean?

 

UMMMM.........It has fuzz around it.....would be the best way to decribe it.....not really fuzz though.....more like a clear film that has developed on top of the actual shrimp, making it look bigger I guess.....like when pellet food sits on the bottom of a tank for too long I guess?????

 

Ohh I thought you meant live shrimp to cycle the tank. The white fuzz happens in uncycled or cycled tanks as things breakdown. It happens with fish, inverts, vegetables, insects, etc.

 

Thanks,but I knew that....lol......You should leave the DEAD shrimp in the tank throughout the cycle.........right??

 

and another thing if I may....chief waterchanger,or anyone, my levels before and after the fish cycle versus the fishless cycle are normal....correct?I know I'm probally being a nervous nelly,but I've had these tanks set up before I knew about the nitrogen cycle,years ago,and never did cycle,so this time 'round I thought I would do it the right way,and I am getting very impatient.So my water readings are O.K. aren't they?.And I just need to learn some patients?

 

You should leave the DEAD shrimp in the tank throughout the cycle.........right??

Yes; you need to keep supplying ammonia so the cycle doesn't collapse at the beginning. Once the cycle is complete, you can then take the shrimp out and start putting fish in -- the fish (and leftover food) then start supplying the ammonia that keeps the cycle from collapsing.

 

thanks joe .....that's what I thought too....thanks for the input.

 

I'm cycling my tank with a shrimp right now.Yes you leave the shrimp in til the cycle is done.It took about a week for my levels to peak and now they are dropping back down,which takes a lot longer.My Ammonia peaked at 8.0 and my Nitrites at 5.0 and Nitrates at 10ppm.Now Ammonia is at 1.0,Nitrites still at 5.0 and Nitrates at 10ppm.So be patient the levels dropping back down is a bit slow


Susanne