Bacteria/Algae Growth?

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My tank is in the second week of cycle. I see mold on the shrimp I dropped in a week ago, I'm guessing this is the bacteria trying to break it down. What exactly am I looking for (bacteria/algae growth)? The book I'm readingtalks about them, but I can't find a visual reference for a tankin the first few stages of cycle with bacteria just starting to appear. I see new growth on my live rock....these stems are starting to grow and they keep growing by the day. They are transparent and look like some kind of branch extending from the rock. Any clue to what these are, or are they just life from the rock? I could get pictures if needed.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks again,#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clem#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[flame]

Im not sure what you should be seeing on the shrimp. I monitored my tanks cycle by doing reg checks on the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrate levels. They will spike then drop off to zero. I'm new at this too so be sure to check other sources.

[dakar]

If your ammo levels are really up there say 80-100ppm you can remove the cocktail shrimp if you want, or just leave it in there and it will disappear in time. The ammonia will start convertng to nitrite and start to taper off, same with the nitrite, and finally the the nitrates will spike, at this point small water changes can be done to bring the nitrates down to zero, the water changes are optional unless you want to start adding inverts, then they will be helpful in reducing the nitrates faster. Once everything has zero'd out you are cycled

At any point through this ordeal you may start seeing life begin citters moving about, some just coming out of seemingly nowhere. Most of the time this will begin as the toxic ammo subsides.

[graphixx]

have you seeded your tank????? this will help speed the process up and will break that shrimp down a lot quicker. if your 2 weeks into your cycle your ammonia should be about ready to peak and start declining and a few days after that your nitrite will peak and then drop so you are about a third of the way through your cycyle.

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks everyone! I dropped the shrimp and I'll watch the lil guy go away naturally. I have yet to find a LFS who is willing in giving/selling their sand from an established tank (I got a few more I can try, but it's hard finding someone willing to do that in Miami....I might call one of the LFS again and ask the owner because the last time I tried it was some lazy employee who was confused when I asked the question). I've been putting in bacteria from the bottle every other day as recommended by one of the LFS. My ammonia peaked two days ago and rapidly dropped today. I just finished checking it about an hour ago. It's still not at zero, but it sure did drop. I haven't check the nitrate or nitrite levels (I was told they would peak at a later time, but I guess I should start checking them.) I need to set up a normal checklist for every other day so I make sure not to miss anything. On a final note, yea [dakar] I am starting to see alot of life come out now. I've seen slugs crawling around the rocks lately, and I had no idea they were in there. I might hold off on the inverts for maybe two more weeks and add them slowly just to get it going. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it yet, but I am going to wait two more weeks.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clem#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graphixx]

your LFS wont sell you a cup full of sand man that is ridiculous you should start seeing copods and amphipods in the sand check your tank after lights out and see what you can see crawling around.

[dakar]

Geez thats rediculous... Where are you located Clem? Maybe we can find someone close to get you a starter load of LS.

[graphixx]

I know I cannot bieleve that...................... I mean lets get serious what is a cup full of sand going to hurt. I cannot bieleve that what a joke

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I got lots of pods wandering the rocks and crawling from the sand now. They've been building their sand homes these past few days. I'm hoping better luck with the next few LFS (one should give me sand), the previous two lacked the established tankand the other just wouldn't give me any. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I'm in Miami, FL.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clem#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graphixx]

if they wont give it to you I would tell them you would pay them like five bucks for a cup full