[Mbrman]

How did you cycle the tank? What ammonia source did you use?

Dave

 

[JesstheWanderer]

The owner of the shrimp store gave me the ammonia source when I set up the tank. He poured it into a fish bag and told me to add it when I got the tank set up, so I am not exactly sure what it was… but I believe he poured it in from a bottle.

 

[Mbrman]

If that's the case, I highly doubt your tank is cycled. @somewhatshocked should be along shortly. There's a sticky on here about fishless cycling. That's a good place to start.

Dave

To clarify, the beneficial bacteria (BB) need a constant food supply with no livestock present. That food is ammonia. If you only added it once, your tank is definitely not cycled.

Dave

 

[Death_by_Dinosaurs]

From the parameters you listed it appears cycled. I’d test by “feeding the tank” iow, putting fish food in, and seeing what happens to your parameters.

 

[somewhatshocked]

From the parameters you listed it appears cycled.

Doesn't mean it's cycled. Just means there's nitrate present.

If that's the case, I highly doubt your tank is cycled.

Yep, likely not cycled.

OP, you should check out this handy post about fishlessly cycling a tank. Do that with some surfactant-free ammonia. Once your tank can process 2-3 PPM of ammonia in 24 hours or less, then your tank can support shrimp. Will likely require daily or semi-daily dosing of ammonia to get to that point and it can take 5-6 weeks or longer. Then you'll do a 100% water change just before you move shrimp into the tank.