SHRIMP IN SALTWATER TANK

Question
HEY THERE...STARTED THE CYCLE ON MY SALTWATER TANK TWO WEEKS AGO ..WANT TO GET FISH ASAP .SO I PUT SOME LIVE ROCK IN TODAY AND A RAW SHRIMP IN .NOW HOW LONG DO I LEAVE IT IN THE TANK FOR OR DO I JUST LEAVE IT IN INDEFINATLY.ALSO WHAT IS THE AVERAGE GH KH PH NO2 AND NO3 AND TEMP SUPPOSED TO BE FOR A SALTWATER REEF . IT WILL BE FOR CLOWN FISH .MANY THANKS .

Answer
Hello Lisa,

I have not used the raw shirmp before, but have suggested it to folks instead of using a sacrifical damsel or other fish...

I would think 3-4 days.  Enough for it to start breaking down but not rotting/decaying...

I would still wait for a bit though before you put in your clowns.

What you want to look for is NITRITE.  Since you are on a fast track, I would suggest testing everyday at the same time of day.

It should gradually go up and then in one day or so, spike, then fall to zero...  At that point you should be ok for a fish.  (quantity should be minimal)

It is the biologival filters way of saying they can now start processing waste and ammonia..

You should test for Ammonia every two or three days... The goal will be to have zero ammonia, (AFter you have fish)  (but ttest prior to adding the clown)

If you have ammonia after you added fish, then the quantity of biological orgainisms is insufficient to handle the all the waste and ammonia...

PH should be around 7.9-8.3
Nitrates should be zero, or as close to zero as you can get.  (by way of water changes and macro algae, and live rock/live sand
You wont need to worry about dKH or calcium or GH

That is for corals, And in a small tank and if you do water changes more then once a month, you can still have some coral and not worry about testing those items...(the amount of corals is directly realted to the amount of calcium and dKh needed.. saltwater has all that in it above what you would need)


Hope that helps, please let me know if you need any more info, and please let me know how your tank and clowns work out for you.


bill



(btw:  all caps is like yelling in internet lingo)


FOLLOW-Up

Cleaner shrimp get along with everyone that doesnt eat him.  He will be good with the clownfish, but i would wait a couple months after the addition of the clownfish before you add the cleaner shrimp.

Good luck to ya, and let me know how thing work out for you.


b