Woodlands Water = Shrimp killer?

[XnSdVd]

My fellow Singaporeans, has anyone noticed there's something wrong with the water in woodlands? I can't seem to keep shrimp alive. I've spend 3 days cycling a fully plated tank with ADA soil and still, introduced the cherries after acclimatizing the via the drip method.

Sadly, they all died within 3 days. The otos are fine though.

[benny]

Heavy metals are probably the culprit. Which water conditioner did you use?

Cheers,

[PeterGwee]

3 days? Are you using an established filter and add "mulm" to the substrate bottom as well as planting very heavily? I'm pretty sure it isn't the water...most folks tend to accuse it outright without thinking.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[lyh]

Did you use any water conditioner? Might be chloromine?

[XnSdVd]

Used aged filter media from my 6ft, and API ammo-lock which also removes Chloramine and chlorine.

Bioload was 4 otos and 10 Cherrie shrimps in a 100 liter odd dimensioned tank

Temperature in the 26 - 28 range

[Quixotic]

Wait a minute... 3 days for ADA soil? Didn't I read somewhere that ADA soil releases NH3 slowly over the initial periods? So it may be a case of ammonia poisoning.

[PeterGwee]

Focus on what removes the NH3. Yes, seeding the filter media and substrate with "mulm" from established tanks is good but then the amount of bacteria needs time to build up to substantial amount to be able to handle a certain amount of NH3. Plants on the other hand can be added with ease in large amounts and removes the NH3 and export it in terms of biomass. Hope you get the idea.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[valice]

3 days is not enough to cycle an ADA even when using old water and filter.
There is a NO2 spike within the first 12 days... So the levels of NO2 is still pretty high even with the filter media...

The NO2 might have killed them as well...

[andrewtyr]

It's the ADA soil

[benny]

Besides the inappropriate running in period, Your water condition does not remove heavy metals also. Might want to double check on that.

Cheers,

[Justikanz]

So, in other words, with new ADA soil in a new tank, the tank should be cycled for 2 weeks before any fauna is introduced?

[eddyq]

Maybe 1 to 2 months , be safe. With ADA soil its better to wait longer.

[ranmasatome]

i say its the seeding from that 6footer... sometimes i wonder whats in there.. like you say.. it looks like hiroshima constantly, its almost nasty.

[XnSdVd]

ADA soil = 2 weeks?! Hmm... i'll let it settle down first then.

Next, benny how do we remove heavy metals? I'm suspecting copper.. Also, where've you been? nice to see you around again

[benny]

ADA soil = 2 weeks?! Hmm... i'll let it settle down first then.

Next, benny how do we remove heavy metals? I'm suspecting copper.. Also, where've you been? nice to see you around again

Copper is often a silent killer for invertebrates. Due to the water pipes from the mains.

Cheers,

p.s. Been everywhere except where I should be, which is home. Will be hitting the road again tomorrow.

[XnSdVd]

i say its the seeding from that 6footer... sometimes i wonder whats in there.. like you say.. it looks like hiroshima constantly, its almost nasty.

I monitor that tank constantly... trust me, it's not the filter media.

[Weirong]

I just moved here not too long ago so it's not the waters because my tanks are free of substrate with just moss and shrimps. Cycle the tank a bit longer - at least about a week before adding shrimps. They are always sacrificed for the wrong reasons.

[valice]

I don't think Ammo-lock will remove heavy metals. You might want to use SeaChem Prime instead, which states big big that it removes heavy metals.

[PeterGwee]

Consider plants like duckweeds which has no problems removing NH3 at a rapid rate since they have no issues getting CO2. You don't need to wait that long if you add a lot of plants and focus on their health. The base of the ecosystem is what supports the tank. The ammo-lock should be fine.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[joe]

Its the ADA soil. You should wait for at laast 2 months before introducing shrimps.