Fertilizer for Planted tank with Shrimps

[Bybloz]

I would really like to hear from those of you who keep shrimps successfully in your planted tank which you dose ferts. What kind of fert do you use?

My shrimps only do well in my non-planted tank where I do not dose fert nor use fert in the substrate. Your experience is much appreciated

[Shadow]

I follow EI (2ft tank) and they are breeding

[Bybloz]

I follow EI (2ft tank) and they are breeding

Thanks for reply. May I know what fert do you use? I'm suspecting my shrimps are not agreeable with the minute amount of copper in my LushGro ferts.

[medicineman]

Whether it is TMG, Azoo, denerle, seachem and so on the usual liquid fert brand it generally wont kill your shrimp when dosed accordingly. A properly made fert should never kill any fauna, tested for extended period of contact within aquascape system by the manufacturer. I even tested my own product to greater extent, to the extreme of 10x the recommended dosing and make sure most fish and shrimp stay alive for days.

Whether it is EI on bulk ferts, self made ferts or trusted commerical products, I've never adjusted my dosing specially for shrimp, just the normal amount as in a planted tank.

[StanChung]

Some guys with CRS are paranoid about dosing fert. It's something to be wary of when you have precious CRS that die for no reason other than the fact you dose your ferts regularly.

Some have resorted to dosing Potassium only. eg: K2SO4 or Brighty K only.

[PeterGwee]

Main issue with shrimp deaths are usually associated with NH4, Low O2 (no surface movement...no O2 added from gas exchange...think what happens if the plant growth slows down from some reason but bacteria and fish still uses the O2 all day long?) and very high CO2 (lack of control). If you do EI, you need to do the water changes, or else you need to test often with calibrated test kits.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[StanChung]

I tend to agree with Peter about oxygen levels. Mine I think was depleted when the hair algae took over and literally smothered the tank when i was away. The smell was BGA like.

The adult shrimps were the first casualties. Babies were fine.

[PeterGwee]

I tend to agree with Peter about oxygen levels. Mine I think was depleted when the hair algae took over and literally smothered the tank when i was away. The smell was BGA like.

The adult shrimps were the first casualties. Babies were fine.

Yours is NH4 issue. Poor plant growth equals to less NH4 uptake and O2 levels in the tank. Low O2, nitrification slows down or comes to a halt leaving more NH4 available and triggers algae germination.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[StanChung]

The tank has low levels of hair algae that needed weekly maintenance. I just wasn't around! 3ft tank with 1 oto and 20-25 shrimps!

[Bybloz]

Thanks guys for your input. Comments noted.