Cherry Shrimp Dieing :(

[shrimpyy]

hey guy's well I just set up a 4ft shrimp tank well I just put abut 250 shrimp over the last 5 days put 50 in each day :) but when I was just having a look there's about 5 dead shrimp in there! and a few swimming around upside down and laying on there back trying to swim! but I have no Idea what's happing please help

[Squiggle]

What are your water parameters & how long has the tank been running? :dejection:

[BlueBolts]

Check your Nitrates ASAP...wouldnt be surprised if it's over 40ppm....nevertheless, do a WC ASAP.....

[Squiggle]

+1 agree, my first reaction is you've added too much bioload too quickly, that's a lot of shrimp in a short space of time!

[shrimpyy]

well it been set up for a week and an half but I used gravel that was already out of a set up tank and same with 50% of the water and the filter was still full of bacteria!! all I can tell is that my Ph is at 7.00 I lost my test tube for my Nitrates testeter I just did a water change

[CNgo2006]

Week and a half is way too soon to be adding shrimp, especially a 4ft. hope you have the right filtration as well...chuck in some live bacteria/ bee max? after water change

[Squiggle]

well it been set up for a week and an half but I used gravel that was already out of a set up tank and same with 50% of the water and the filter was still full of bacteria!! all I can tell is that my Ph is at 7.00 I lost my test tube for my Nitrates testeter I just did a water change

It may be cycled but the culture might not be large enough for the bioload, you should have waited a few days between adding the shrimp to allow the culture to grow & catch up to the bioload. :encouragement:

[shrimpyy]

yeah I know but you learn from your mistakes but my neon's are doing fine ill just have have to wait and see! but now the shrimp are eating the dead shrimp! so can I leave the dead shrimp in there or take it out?

[Squiggle]

I would take them out, they may get mad cow disease! Lol :victorious:

[BlueBolts]

I'd remove anything dead, decaying and stop all feeding....are you using tap or RO/Di water ? I'd do frequent WC's ... High nitrates can affect shrimps for weeks.. Alternatively, throw in a bag of nitrazorb, purigen ...etc.

[shrimpyy]

ok ill see if u can get some stuff tomorrow morning at petbarn but ill take most of the dead ones out theres only 5 hope theres no more :(

[shrimpyy]

ok well there was about 10 dead shrimps a got out :( I turned every thing off beside the filter

[newbreed]

All dead ones will add to the problem!! Find them all if you can! Good luck!!

[jayc]

Are you using tap water to fill your tank?

If you are, test it for ammonia and pH.

A 4 footer, even with mature filter media, might not get rid of the ammonia in a week and a half.

You'll send your tank into a mini cycle, producing Nitrites and Nitrates as the bacteria breaks down the ammonia/ammonium in the tap water.

[Aquathumb]

I agree with the other replys but would like to add something that is often over looked. Have you added any fertilizer to the tank? when I first started out I lost about 30 cherry shrimp from adding fertilizer that contained copper... copper in the form found in liquid fertilizers is poisons to shrimp.

[Squiggle]

Good point Aaron, great to see you back in the land of the shrimping. Have to cruz over soon & catch up. :victorious:

[Aquathumb]

Good point Aaron' date=' great to see you back in the land of the shrimping. Have to cruz over soon & catch up. :victorious:[/quote']

Thanks Jay, that that sounds good ;)

[shrimpyy]

yeah well they were doing fine until I changed the light to a newer one!! so im not sure so I leaving the light off and getting some stuff tomorrow? as I had to work late to night and yes I used furts

[Wraithie]

Thanks Jay' date=' that that sounds good ;)[/quote']

Come to the BBQ on the 22nd!

[b00f]

yeah well they were doing fine until I changed the light to a newer one!! so im not sure so I leaving the light off and getting some stuff tomorrow? as I had to work late to night and yes I used furts

What fertz did you use?

What brand?

Which ones?

How many big is the tank (in litres) and how much did you dose of what.

I would also test you tap water for copper too.

If you dont have a test kit that can do copper, go to LFS, take a sample of both your tap water, and tank water (seperate) and ask them to test it for you (get them to do the whole lot, most dont really charge if you buy something...)

I would do that before buying anything else, from there, the Wizards of SKF will be able to help