advice needed - CRS dying slowly

**gentle** · 12th Aug 2012, 12:28

Hi all,
I started my 3ft CRS tank in december last year with about 30+ CRS
the population increase slowly and by June this year i estimated there were about 100 CRS
then i went for a vacation in june, and when i am back, there were some dead shrimps (there were also signs of over-feeding)

it went downhill from there...in the past month, i am scooping up dead shrimps every couple of days...

i do about 5-10% water-change every week and now reduce feeding to 2-3 times a week

i think now i am back to about 30+ shrimps, no pregnant shrimps nor babies

tests show that PH is about 6.5, there are some traces of ammonia and nitrate, no nitrite.

is there anything i can do to salvage the situation? eg tweak the temperature or lights? or do more wc?

thanks

**alvinchan80** · 12th Aug 2012, 14:11

What soil you using?

**Navanod** · 12th Aug 2012, 15:04

Ammonia with no nitrite? Sounds like the tank's biofilter was killed and the tank is now recycling.
What filter are you using and did anyone switch it off for extended period of time while you were away?

**reiner09** · 12th Aug 2012, 15:21

who was looking after for you while you were away...doubt bacteria can just die suddenly unless deprived of oxygen for an extended period of time..

shrimps are probably very sensitive towards ammonia..and that might be the reason of why they are dying off...try adding liquid/powdered bacteria into the tank to build up the bacteria colony..and conduct a slightly higher % water change according to your frequency ..i hope this will help..

it is best not to alter any of the water parameters lest causing more stress to the shrimps.( which might kill them quicker).

**gentle** · 12th Aug 2012, 15:36

i am using mosura soil, eheim 2075

filter was on all these while until last week i give the contents a rinse (with tank water) - all done within ~20mins

adding BT9 will help right?

**alvinchan80** · 12th Aug 2012, 15:42

Add BT9 should helps..

I don't have good experience with mosura soil though, so my take is the soil might be the problem.. But of cause there are other breeders who kept them perfectly.. Can monitor awhile..

**rcw** · 12th Aug 2012, 15:50

bro do you have all the water test kit?using distilled water for water change? what other things did u add during water change? I assume that you do have a chiller and thermometer is not faulty.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

**gentle** · 12th Aug 2012, 18:12

yes, i have the basic test kits KH/GH/PH/Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite

chiller is set at 25.5 (untouched since day one)

it is 3ft tank - so about 200l...each time i change a medium size pail about 10l - i will dose 1/2 spoon of BT9 after WC

i use aged water instead of distilled water (that is the case since day one)

have not added anything new or change routine lately...