dying issue

[hoang1912]

I got 5 death in 2 days, all of them are female and have the common ring after their head.

As I know this cause by cant mounting isnt it? Can anyone gimme an advise please.:crushed:

[jayc]

Sorry to hear the news. They were nice looking shrimpies too.

Difficult to see, even with the original photos.

Have you checked water parameters?

As well as GH and TDS?

[hoang1912]

this is my WP

GH 6

EC 278

PH 6

NH3 0

No2 0

NO3 0

[Squiggle]

What's your KH & temp?(just checking all options so we don't miss something) Also, how long ago did you test your GH? If the GH is too high this will cause moulting problems. :dejection:

Really sorry to hear about you shrimp dying, I hope we can sort it our soon.

[newbreed]

Sorry to hear about this! Are they all in same tank?

[hoang1912]

I cant find any problem with my WP, everything is right on except GH is a bit higher, it should be around 4-5. Mine is 6 and test it recently

And they all are same tank

KH is 1

temp I set 23, 22.5 atm

Really stress out. Just found another dead. When I tough it, I can see the shell still stick, might be unsuccessful mounting. :cower:

[Squiggle]

What water do you use? Tap, R/O or rain?

[hoang1912]

I am using RO with salty mineral

[Squiggle]

I would guess that the GH is a little high & your EC is a little low, I used to run my system TDS at 100(200 EC) & I found that the shrimp lost their colour, I slowly changed the TDS to 160(320 EC) & the GH to 5 & the difference was incredible, just my experience.

[hoang1912]

But how can I decrease GH while increase TDS/EC? GH use to be 7 when I increase EC from 220 to 300, then I have to lower GH bcos 7 is the way too high

[Squiggle]

Hmmmm, I'll have to have a think about that one........ :dejection:

[jayc]

This is a tough one.

I can't see any visible signs of disease. Difficult with the naked eye, even more so with photos.

Water parameters look ok. Even if GH and EC are a little off. It's not drastic.

It could be a failed moult, which the last pic of the CBS shows very slightly if you look at the original sized photo.

[hoang1912]

I think so. It could be failed moult, other case I saw is dead after moulting. Any advise?

[shrimpstan]

just a random question but is ur tank 3-6 months old?

[BlueBolts]

Sorry to hear the losses :sorrow:, never easy and frustrating no doubt. The 4 main conclusions I jump to with females deaths are …1. GH (Low / High)2. Low mineral level3. Diet4. Ca:Mg RatioPresuming all other WP (Temp, Kh, ….etc) are within the acceptable levels.

just a random question but is ur tank 3-6 months old?

Ahhh, the 3-6 month theory …. I'll challenge that theory by adding that the mineral component in the new soil dissipates, and without adding any minerals, the females who are more susceptible, and require more minerals/vits will eventually suffer to their deaths. I have a few other theories, BUT there's no science behind them :stupid:, so won't mentioned them as I'll be shot down :dejection:As with WP issues, it's always a difficult one, as all tanks, routines, feeding, additives are different etc….A tank with a low PH can handle higher nitrates & TDS, Vs a tank with a high PH with the same nitrates/TDS will have more damaging results.BUT to solve your mystery, as much as it is a painful exercise, knowing your WC routine, additives used and it's frequency etc will perhaps help solve it.Do you feed your shrimps any frozen bloodworms ?How has your GH level raised to GH6 if you use Salty Shrimp/RO ?Looking at the pics, it does appear to be a moulting issue….have/did you use any breeding liquid ?If you have or can get a Ca test kit, it'll be good to know what it is, so that we can check the ratio.….

[newbreed]

Also, evaporation top ups. Do you use just RO for this or add salty shrimp too?

[hoang1912]

This tank has been setup 6 weeks ago.

I am not using bloodworms

GH raised by using Salty Shrimp/RO, it's 6 atm.

I am not using breeding liquid. I used Mosura bt-9, old sea mud powder, rich water, tonic pro and shizhen as additives. Yesrterday, I putted 1 spoon of Bt-9 and 1 spoon of tonic pro this morning. shizhen, old sea mud powder, rich water has been putted 2 weeks ago. I feed them with a mixing of bio plus, gravidas, tonic pro, excel powder. Gonna get some ebitabreed in the future.

For Ca test kit, I will get it tmr bcos all the shop closed at 6pm >"<.

Hope this explain everything.

[newbreed]

I hope it all balances out for you mate!!

[hoang1912]

I tested water with Ca, only 2 drop it turn from pink to blue. What does it mean?

[BlueBolts]

The API test kit is generally design for saltwater, and usually due to the much lower calcium levels in freshwater, we need to double the tested water from 5ml (supplied glass tube), to 10ml or even 20ml to give a result/reading. i.e….

API Ca Test Kit (Per Instructions)

Water Tested - 5ml

Bottle 1 - 10 Drops

Bottel 2 - 1 Drop = 20 ppm

API Ca Test Kit (x2 Dilution)

Water Tested -10ml

Bottle 1 - 10 Drops

Bottel 2 - 1 Drop = 10 ppm

API Ca Test Kit (x4 Dilution)

Water Tested -20ml

Bottle 1 - 10 Drops

Bottel 2 - 1 Drop = 5 ppm

But, if you actually get a ready at 2 drops using the STD 5ml, then you have 40ppm of calcium. Please do read the instructions again, to make sure you're 100% correct, re-test to ensure it is 40ppm.

At GH @ 6, and Ca @40ppm, your Mg is 1.7ppm, which is a HUGE imbalance….Ratio @ 23:1..should be 4:1 or 3:1. If you see RO/Salty shrimp, and you TDS is between 100-200, your GH should only be between 4-5. Ec Something else in your tank's causing this Ca imbalance.

Suggest doing a WC to get your TDS down to 150 or 220 +/-, and your Gh to 5. Then test you Ca, see your target Ca level is approx. 25ppm…

Hope this helps :-)

[hoang1912]

Thanks, I am doing 30% water change with EC 180. Will see how's it go and will let u know.

Btw, I did instal another filter on Wed with matrix. Does it effect? otherwise, there are nothing in my tank affect. Only some mosses and IAL in there.

[CNgo2006]

I noticed you mention that you add a whole crapload of additives to the tank this may be what is causing the imbalance...QUOTE "I am not using breeding liquid. I used Mosura bt-9, old sea mud powder, rich water, tonic pro and shizhen as additives. Yesrterday, I putted 1 spoon of Bt-9 and 1 spoon of tonic pro this morning. shizhen, old sea mud powder, rich water has been putted 2 weeks ago. I feed them with a mixing of bio plus, gravidas, tonic pro, excel powder. Gonna get some ebitabreed in the future."

[hoang1912]

I will try to check about these mosura stuff tmr. Checked Ro water + salty mineral, it have exactly the ratio which has been listed in Bb post

[hoang1912]

I just did some experiment about my Mosura stuff to compare with Ca:Mg ratio which has been introduced by Bluebolt.

In this experiment, I am using Ro water + salty mineral with Mosura BT-9, old sea mud, Tonic Pro, Rich water and Shizhen.

The initial WP

Ca: 25

Gh: 4

EC: 184

=> Mg: 2.18 => Ca:Mg= 11.47:1 (which I cant understand. I did test Gh again but still 4, it has to be 5 to get Bb ratio 3-4:1:cower:)

Initial + Bt-9

Ca: 25

Gh: 5

EC: 195

=> Mg: 6.54 => 3.8:1 Right spot

Ec increase a little bit but it might bcos the amount of bt-9 has been putted

Initial + Tonic Pro

Ca: 25

Gh: 4

EC: 202

=> Mg: 2.18 => 11.4:1 Wrong

This is the same as initial WP but a bit higher EC

Initial + BT9 + old sea mud

Ca: 25

Gh: 5

EC: 214

=> Mg: 6.54 => 3.8:1 Right spot :)

Ec increase a little bit but it might bcos the amount of OSMud has been putted

Initial + BT9 + old sea mud + Rich water

Ca: 35

Gh: 6

EC: 231

=> Mg: 4.8 => 7.3:1 Wrong

Everything increase and made the ratio change

Initial + BT9 + old sea mud + Rich water + Shizhen

Ca: 40

Gh: 7

EC: 271

=> Mg: 6.1 => 6.5:1 Wrong

Everything increase and made the ratio change

Initial + BT9 + old sea mud +Tonic Pro

Ca:25

Gh: 5

EC: 203

=> Mg: 6.54 => 3.8:1 :)

Rich water and Shizhen done have to do the separately test because when I add it into the testing water, it change and increasing.

With Bt-9, Old sea mud and Tonic pro, nothing change much except EC which is depend on amount has been putted in to the water.

I dont know this is helpful or not but just want to share my experiment :encouragement:. And this might be the reason that my shrimp cant moulting properly because of wrong ratio of Ca:Mg. Again, thanks Bluebolt for a useful Ca:Mg ratio topic.:)

Btw, can anyone check that is it R/O + salty shrimp only have 4 at Gh?

[Squiggle]

Yes R/O + Salty Shrimp will give you a GH of 4, I add MgSO4(Epsom Salts) to raise the GH to 5 & this also keeps the Mg ratio within range. :encouragement: