Problem with Gex Shrimp and Plant soil (Red)

**Shadow** · 18th Jan 2015, 18:57

From the picture look like the water fall from the HOB filter disturb the soil beliw. I sugest you fill the water all the way to the top. Put white color filter wool on the filter outlet, that should trap the mud/dirt.

**wooty100** · 18th Jan 2015, 23:31

Hi all, the water cleared up alot since my last picture. Prehaps i put a ans nano clearmax and it helped alot. I have extra confidence then today jus launch 5 commando red shrimps , christmas moss on cured cactus wood.

**wooty100** · 19th Jan 2015, 16:13

Originally Posted by wooty100

Hi all, the water cleared up alot since my last picture. Prehaps i put a ans nano clearmax and it helped alot. I have extra confidence then today jus launch 5 commando red shrimps , christmas moss on cured cactus wood.

Hi all, it has been a day since i added 5 fire red shrimps to my tank and they are doing ok.

From my observations,
They are slow and legathic, tend to hide at a corner.
My temperature seemed abit high at 29 from a alcohol thermometer. Not sure the accuracy. Now to think of it, do i need to buy a chiller to lower the temp to 25 or so? I would like they to breed n cross breed.

**Dscheng** · 20th Jan 2015, 10:08

RCS dont really need chiller, they are quite hardy. The shrimp slow and lethargic because of the new environment or maybe your water parameters? Give them sometime, they will get used. Oh wait, do you cycle your tank water properly?

**wooty100** · 20th Jan 2015, 14:00

Originally Posted by Dscheng

RCS dont really need chiller, they are quite hardy. The shrimp slow and lethargic because of the new environment or maybe your water parameters? Give them sometime, they will get used. Oh wait, do you cycle your tank water properly?

This morning i found a dead shrimp. $2 lost

I looking to try to get them to breed. I understand, that the temp has to be optimum for them to do so?

**seudzar** · 20th Jan 2015, 14:12

All I can say is your tank is not properly cycled

**Urban Aquaria** · 20th Jan 2015, 16:26

Originally Posted by wooty100

This morning i found a dead shrimp. $2 lost

What are the current water parameters? ie. ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? If you don't have a test kit, then it'll just be guesswork at the moment and the shrimps will be the "test kits", so do be prepared to encounter additional shrimps deaths during the cycling process (since you are using them as "commando" shrimps anyways), at least until the tank is cycled and and water parameters are stable.

Actually, if you want to use shrimps as commando/test shrimp, it'll be better to use cheaper shrimps (those lower grade ones), since the attrition/death rate will be much higher during this initial period of tank cycle. Save the nice shrimps for later after the tank is stable.

Originally Posted by wooty100

I looking to try to get them to breed. I understand, that the temp has to be optimum for them to do so?

For RCS, they can adapt and breed at quite a wide range of temperatures. From my own experience, at tank temperatures up to 29°C-30°C, they still breed like crazy.... its usually only when water temperature is higher, then there is a noticeable drop in breeding rates. If your tank is really too warm (ie. >30°C), then you'll have to consider relocating the tank to a cooler area, reducing heat generating devices around the tank or using a fan to help reduce the water temperature to more moderate levels.

A chiller would be great if you have the budget though, just depends on whether you feel its worth the extra expenditure to improve the tank environment for RCS shrimps.

**CalvinTBC** · 20th Jan 2015, 21:49

Too rush to add in shrimps since water haven really tested cycled cleared from ammonia and nitrates just my thoughts.

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**wooty100** · 21st Jan 2015, 14:21

I have a 5 in 1 water testing strip. While the parameters are not ideal, it is optimum. Will post later when im back home.

**Dscheng** · 21st Jan 2015, 16:05

Is 5 in 1 test kit accurate? I read from some forum that this kit is crap? I am not sure how true is that?

**wooty100** · 21st Jan 2015, 16:29

No idea. The master kit for 7 test is expensive and i didn't think i should spend so much for getting into a new hobby. Lol poison

**wooty100** · 21st Jan 2015, 23:03

GH 30
KH 40
PH 6.5
NO2 0.5
NO3 20

During 1st launch of livestocks . I using API 5 in 1 strips

**wooty100** · 21st Jan 2015, 23:09

GH 30
KH 40
PH 6.5
NO2 0.5
NO3 0

For now. Seems like both my gold fish tank and shrimp tank same parameters. But goldfish tank is not planted and bare without substrates.

**Urban Aquaria** · 22nd Jan 2015, 07:38

Your test strips don't measure NH3 (ammonia), which is the most toxic to livestock, so that is one very important parameter that is missing.

The No2 (nitrite) levels indicate the tank is still cycling, but the drop in No3 (nitrate) levels back to zero during cycling is an odd result. The goldfish tank should also be showing higher nitrate levels anyways.

Thats the problem with test strips, the variations in their measurements are so wide it becomes unreliable, you can't be really sure if something is wrong.