Shrimp dying after filter media change

**chek** · 1st Sep 2009, 21:13

Hi I have a 2 ft shrimp tank with CRS and cherry for > 6 months now and the cherries are breeding nicely. However, a couple of weeks ago, I changed half of the bio rings and they shrimps started to die. Their remains also looked different, as if they are cooked, ie white in colour. I've some fishes (resboras and tetra) and they are fine. Anyway, the shrimps are all wiped out and I want to know what could be the problem before I introduce new ones. Is there something wrong with the bio rings? Here's some info abt my set up:-

1) ADA soil (recycled from previous tank)
2) bio rings and sponges as filter media
3) planted with parva, anacharis, luwigja, java
4) 1/3 water change every week
5) no CO2

**Cross** · 1st Sep 2009, 22:17

How did you change the filter media? Assuming you are using a canister, did you wash the trays with tap water

? From my own experience from changing the filter media, i experienced a small rise in ammonia and nitrate. I gave the water some aeration and reduced feeding for my shrimps to give the BB time to recultivate. Lesson learnt is that if something is'nt faulty, do not change it.

Shrimps are a lower life form than fishes and small changes in environment have drastic reprecussions

**NingNing** · 2nd Sep 2009, 14:56

confirm tio ph burn.

ph burn is when there is a ph spike. i experienced this before.

my crs from white and red became orange and white when dead. and yeap! look like hei bi. (the shrimp for cooking).

what you can do right now, is to monitor your ph. i suspect it might be below 6.

allow your BB to cultivate again, since all your livestocks have perished.

in other words, re-cycle your tank.

NEVER EVER wash media in tap water. chlorine kills the BB we have cultivated, causing our medias to become "like new".

**globalcookie** · 2nd Sep 2009, 18:03

For new media, I rather wash them, soak them with tank water with aeration for about 2-3 days before using them.

**StanChung** · 2nd Sep 2009, 20:07

I wash them sometimes when it's coated with too much gunk.
Just put in some BB in a bottle over it and restart the filter.

**chek** · 2nd Sep 2009, 22:00

thks all. I wash my media with tank water. decided to change half of it cos the old ones have gone too brownish and can't wash them away. I should have soak the media for a few days as suggested by global cookie...well looks like I'll have to start over again but will wait for the media to cultivate further

**Fuzzy** · 4th Sep 2009, 08:39

As long as the filter pads / media are not clogged up or blocking your flow, its ok for them to be discoloured, and depending on who you speak to even better that way.

I try not to mess with my 2ft CRS tank canister too much, i only open it to do cleaning and maintenance about once every 2 to 3 months.

**saltynay** · 4th Sep 2009, 10:29

Very little filter bacteria is suspended in the water column or in the substrate. I believe you are having an ammonia crash which is also causing a ph crash.

You should only change your filter media when it is falling apart and even then you should do it gradually and seed the added media with old e.g. you have a 4 compartment external change the media to half new and half old in compartment 1 leave for a week, then change the media in compartment 1 to half the week old media and half brand new again and wait a week, change half the media in compartment 2 to new and wait a week and so on...

**jetset** · 4th Sep 2009, 18:34

Play safe and put in 1-2 sponge filters (depending on your tank size) more than 2 weeks before you cleanup the main filter. If there is insufficient BB in the main filter after cleaning, the sponge filters will work as a backup.

**Droicut** · 5th Sep 2009, 01:48

Filter medias are meant to be dirty. So even if discoloured, they should still be alright. Never fix something that isn't broken.

Unless they are beginning to crumble and disintegrate, now that's a different story

**berlinjs** · 6th Sep 2009, 08:41

what l did was use tank water to rinse media and old wool/sponge.

3 trays of media l just change 1 tray and add new wool on top of old one if space permits.

for the remaining 2 trays change 1 month later and remove the old wool.

l learn it the hard way(many fish death).

**chek** · 6th Sep 2009, 09:20

notices yesterday that the new bio rings are breaking apart, definitely something wrong with them! went back to the shop and not use, in the end bought a new pack of good quality rings from another shop. will be replacing the rings slowly...the fishes are still ok though but will no add shrimps until the media stabilise...so sad, the cherries were breeding so well before this incident!