cycling my tank

[ThatCharmingGirl]

Is is true I can just drop a shrimp in my tank to decompose and let it cycle for a month like that? Does that work? Also, do I need to add dechlorinizer stuff if I am not adding the fish for a month? Won't the chlorine evaporate by then?

[crazedpuffer]

This should answer most questions you have on cycling.
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
You will probablly have to add more than 1 dead shrimp though, depending on the tank size.
It'd probably be best to use a dechlorinator anyway, because chloramine won't dissolve, and that is in some places water, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[ThatCharmingGirl]

I have a 30 gallon tank. The article does not mention anything about shrimp, although it does give great info. I was just looking for a cheap and simple way.

[ThatCharmingGirl]

Oops, I forgot to mention, right now it has freshwater fish in it. It's only been a week, but I am not liking it. My pimodella hides all day and my angel fish are, frankly, boring. I am returning the fish and starting over with a brackish tank for the GSP. When I add the marine salt, will it kill whatever bacteria I already have in there? What if I added 5 shrimp to decompose?

[ThatCharmingGirl]

One more question, can I put a mono and a GSP in a 30 gallon tank? Or 2 GSP?

[crazedpuffer]

To cycle the tank you need a source of ammonia, a piece of fish food(shrimp) would work great.
Find out what sg the GSP's are in first before you get them, they will probably be in FW, if they are raise the sg .002 a week to not kill off the bacteria. Have you read the GSP article in the library? That should give you an idea of what sg they should be at at certain times in there lives.
Also 1 GSP is the max in a 30 gallon. GSP's need 30 gallons each, and Mono's grow huge, fast.

[ThatCharmingGirl]

Thanks, I had no idea monos grow to be huge. They look so cute at the shop! Like puffers I suppose!