it smells baaaad

[newreefers]

I am trying to cycle a 10 gal. contains 10lbs lr, 20lbs ls, one piece of raw shrimp. I can't take the odor. when will the smell leave. I am ready to pull out the shrimp and start over.

[tonkadawg]

I feel your pain!!!

 

Mine stopped stinking after a couple of days. Hang in there!

[Korbin]

Mine never smelled bad. Don't know why... hmmm.

 

...uh, what does it taste like? :|

[tonkadawg]

:x I didn't try mine - smelled too bad!!!!

[bdelaney]

A good quality carbon will help with the smell. The shrimp may be overkill given the amount of LR/LS you have. Any die-off on the rocks should allow it to cycle on its own.

 

I just cycled my 2.5g with some LR. The smell was gone in a few days by using a few tablespoons of carbon in a mesh bag.

[newreefers]

just tested the amonia - 3.7. it will takr 6 mos to get this down. needless to say , the shrimp is .gone:(

[tonkadawg]

It will be a lot quicker than you think - about a week and a half ago I was at something ridiculous like 6.0ppm and now at 0.0ppm. Patience is the key here - I know it is hard - I too am cycling my nano.

[bdelaney]

tonkadawg is right. Leave it alone. The ammonia will be at zero in no time. Nitrates on the other hand....well, you might have to do a large water change when it's done cycling.

[newreefers]

tested the amonia last night. down to .1 in 24 hrs, guess all that lr and ls is doing it's job. clear tank, nooooosmell. YEA.