New Heights BC29 - cycle questions (1 Viewer)

[LogansRunRx]

Hi all...
New to the hobby. Been lurking for awhile (here and NR.com).
Just got my BC29 set up and running this past weekend (8/1) -> chucked the bioballs and widened the chamber 1-2 spillway. Replaced the stock powerhead with a Rio 6HF.
30lbs of live sand (CaribSea Pacific Black Reef)
20lbs of primo cured LR from T&T out on Hwy 6 (big thanks to Paul and Raymond) -> need another 10lbs or so to finish the 'scape.
Chucked in a raw shrimp on 8/2.

Here's the rub...
There are some great hitchhikers on a few pieces of the LR -> featherdusters, a mushroom, and i think i saw a shrimp (clear).
What's the over/under on them surviving the cycle???
:?

Have yet to see an NH3 spike. Nitrites = 0. Nitrates = 0.
... but only 5 days in thus far... i know, i know... patience, Grasshopper.
Temp stable between 78.8 - 80.5.
8 hr daylight cycle.
Hadn't really planned on doing a "soft cycle" as i'm not really set up to be able to manage the 50% water changes... but if that's the only way to keep the hitchers???

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to this adventure.
cheers...

 

[flipside]

Great first post, LRR.

Over under... I'd say 80/20. Those little guys are pretty resilient. Only thing is, try to get a solid id on that shrimp. You never know when you got a mantis... not that that's a bad thing, but it will limit what you can throw in there.

Best of luck and welcome to the site!

 

[LogansRunRx]

Do i need to be feeding the hitchhikers?
If so, what?
(the bottled "coral food" products... zooplankton, marine snow, etc)

 

[flipside]

Nope. Just do some weekly water changes. Maybe 5 gallons each time.

That shrimp might need some food. I feed mine little pellets every now and then.