Cycling with table shrimp question, take it out or leave it in?

[flyboywbl]

So I just started a 30 gallon reef tank with about 30 lbs of dry rock. 2 lbs of live rock and 30 lbs of agra alive live sand. I threw in a whole raw shrimp last night and when I checked the ammonia levels this morning they were at 4.0 ppm. Do I take the shrimp out now, or does it need to stay in to keep a constant source of ammonia throughout the cycle?

Thanks

-Matt

 

[salt_for_brains]

You can take it out. You just wanted to get the cycle kick started. Your dry rock probably had more to do with starting it than the shrimp did any way. Now keep an eye on your nitrites then nitrates.

 

[flyboywbl]

Cool, thanks. Took it out. There was a layer of white milky slime on the shrimp that slipped off into the tank. I'm assuming that was bacteria? I pulled it out as it got stuck in the filter pad.

-Matt

 

[Craig Anderson]

I don't know how big your tank is, but I put several shrimp in my 100 gal sump and left them. You need to establish a feeding level to keep the bacteria alive after the initial cycle. Or until you add fish or something else you will be feeding.