One Cherry Shrimp Dying Per Night?

[hardscape]

I am having some issues which I cannot solve myself.

My rcs have been dying one by one, one per night for the past 3 days.

My tank is 2 months mature and has thread algae all over for them to munch on.

What can be causing the deaths?

[IrvineChen]

If u saying thread algae all over.. high chance one of the nutrition is high.. maybe on the NO3 side.. did you do water change regularly?
Also would be better if you have a test kit to test the NH4, NO2 and NO3. As your tank might enter another phrase of cycling

[Urban Aquaria]

I am having some issues which I cannot solve myself.

My rcs have been dying one by one, one per night for the past 3 days.

My tank is 2 months mature and has thread algae all over for them to munch on.

What can be causing the deaths?

Check their shells.. if there is a distinct white line across their backs, quite likely to be molting issues. Check GH to see if its either too low or too high.

Maybe can consider adding some beneficial minerals or mineral stone/rock into the tank to help with their molting too.

[hardscape]

Check their shells.. if there is a distinct white line across their backs, quite likely to be molting issues. Check GH to see if its either too low or too high.

Maybe can consider adding some beneficial minerals or mineral stone/rock into the tank to help with their molting too.

Thanks for the microfex the other day. They are eating all my algae wafers!

Cant tell the difference between the saddle and the white line. Have no example to estimate

What is GH again? Im not familiar with those kh gh stuff

Also, what is the most budget way to add GH?

[Urban Aquaria]

Thanks for the microfex the other day. They are eating all my algae wafers!

Yeah, they can really consume surprising amounts of food for their size.

Cant tell the difference between the saddle and the white line. Have no example to estimate

Okay, here is an example of the white line across the back of the shrimps (it usually shows up when they are going to molt):



Photo from Google Images.

If you see a dead shrimp with the white line still present, then most likely it died when trying to molt.

What is GH again? Im not familiar with those kh gh stuff

Also, what is the most budget way to add GH?

GH is General Hardness... its a measure of the overall concentrations of calcium, magnesium and other ions.

You can add beneficial minerals and vitamins by dosing shrimp supplements, like Mosura Mineral Plus (or other brands). You could also just put a mineral rock (can buy from most LFS) into the tank and it'll slowly release beneficial minerals for the shrimps to use too.

[hardscape]

Yeah, they can really consume surprising amounts of food for their size.




Okay, here is an example of the white line across the back of the shrimps (it usually shows up when they are going to molt):



Photo from Google Images.

If you see a dead shrimp with the white line still present, then most likely it died when trying to molt.




GH is General Hardness... its a measure of the overall concentrations of calcium, magnesium and other ions.

You can add beneficial minerals and vitamins by dosing shrimp supplements, like Mosura Mineral Plus (or other brands). You could also just put a mineral rock (can buy from most LFS) into the tank and it'll slowly release beneficial minerals for the shrimps to use too.

Ok I think it is due to the molting issues. Shall buy a mineral rock from c328. Are they the white powdery rocks?

Is there a case whereby shrimp die due to too much GH?

[IrvineChen]

Yes.. too high Gh will cause yr shrimp to die also.. best to get a Gh test kit to measure..

[Urban Aquaria]

Ok I think it is due to the molting issues. Shall buy a mineral rock from c328. Are they the white powdery rocks?

Is there a case whereby shrimp die due to too much GH?

The mineral rocks for shrimps usually come in packs at most LFS, they do tend to look greyish or whitish in color. Some brands are darker grey in color when submerged, so they can blend in with other rocks in an aquascape.

Yeah, its also possible for GH to be too high... but thats usually only if the tank is using alot of calcareous rocks or if mineral supplements/rocks were massively overdosed, or if the tank gets no (or very few) water changes and only frequent tops ups, then the GH could gradually accumulate and climb up higher over time.

[hardscape]

The mineral rocks for shrimps usually come in packs at most LFS, they do tend to look greyish or whitish in color. Some brands are darker grey in color when submerged, so they can blend in with other rocks in an aquascape.

Yeah, its also possible for GH to be too high... but thats usually only if the tank is using alot of calcareous rocks or if mineral supplements/rocks were massively overdosed, or if the tank gets no (or very few) water changes and only frequent tops ups, then the GH could gradually accumulate and climb up higher over time.

Yeah, its also possible for GH to be too high... but thats usually only if the tank is using alot of calcareous rocks or if mineral supplements/rocks were massively overdosed, or if the tank gets no (or very few) water changes and only frequent tops ups, then the GH could gradually accumulate and climb up higher over time.

Alright, went to C328, didnt know they close today. Came out emptyhanded. However, I did manage to pick up some new Lushgro ferts from someone here.

I do not know how to use them. Pictures attached below. Do any of them increase GH?

Also, is the calcium/magnesium etc content in Seachem Flourish trace elements enough to help shrimps molt? 2 of them have molted last night successfully. I did not do anything to the tank

How much do the mineral rocks cost roughly? I'm a budget cheapo, going for what works.

Apologies for the bombardment of questions. Still quite new to planted tanks. I didnt want to start a new thread

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[Urban Aquaria]

Most of those LushGro ferts usually shouldn't increase GH that significantly, unless you massively overdose them. But do be careful not to add too much calcium nitrate at once as that could push up mineral levels too quickly.

With shrimps in a planted tank, any fert dosings should ideally be done in smaller progressive stages, so that the shrimps can have time to adapt to the changes.

The mineral content in Seachem Trace is relatively low, but they do help to provide some minerals.

The more shrimps you keep in a tank, the more minerals they take up, so if you have a larger shrimp population, then more mineral availability would benefit their overall health.

Mineral rock cost depends on the brand and size, a 100 gram piece for 2ft tank usually works out to a few dollars (if you can buy them in small quantities) and can last for years in a tank. If you have larger tank volume, then just add more according to the packet recommendations.

[hardscape]

Most of those LushGro ferts usually shouldn't increase GH that significantly, unless you massively overdose them. But do be careful not to add too much calcium nitrate at once as that could push up mineral levels too quickly.

With shrimps in a planted tank, any fert dosings should ideally be done in smaller progressive stages, so that the shrimps can have time to adapt to the changes.

The mineral content in Seachem Trace is relatively low, but they do help to provide some minerals.

The more shrimps you keep in a tank, the more minerals they take up, so if you have a larger shrimp population, then more mineral availability would benefit their overall health.

Mineral rock cost depends on the brand and size, a 100 gram piece for 2ft tank usually works out to a few dollars (if you can buy them in small quantities) and can last for years in a tank. If you have larger tank volume, then just add more according to the packet recommendations.

Thanks alot, I needed that. Can mineral rock be broken/be grinded into powder after some times to prolong and maximize its use?

I'm completely new to Lushgro ferts. How does its ferts system work and would it be advisable to mix it with my current Seachem ferts system? I held different brands have different quantities and approach. Certainly do not want dead shrimps nor massive algae bloom in my 2ft tank.

Does it mean that if I dose the Lushgro calcium nitrate I wont have to get a mineral rock?

[Urban Aquaria]

Thanks alot, I needed that. Can mineral rock be broken/be grinded into powder after some times to prolong and maximize its use?

I'm completely new to Lushgro ferts. How does its ferts system work and would it be advisable to mix it with my current Seachem ferts system? I held different brands have different quantities and approach. Certainly do not want dead shrimps nor massive algae bloom in my 2ft tank.

Does it mean that if I dose the Lushgro calcium nitrate I wont have to get a mineral rock?

Yes, you can break mineral rocks to smaller pieces (that what i usually do, so that i can blend them in amongst hardscape) and they can also be ground into powder (the rocks are quite soft and powdery), though in powder form it tends to scatter into small bits everywhere so can be abit messy.

I haven't dosed those 2 types of fertilizers together so i guess you'll have to try and see, maybe test in a spare planted tank with cheap shrimps... not with expensive shrimps.

The LushGro calcium nitrate is designed as a fertilizer, and while it does supply a certain amount of calcium, there are other minerals and vitamins that a mineral rock supplies which benefit shrimps (not just calcium), so if possible it still better to also add a mineral rock to support the overall shrimp's health.