New Shrimp Problems

[zwylde]

Hey folks, new to shrimp keeping but not aquariums.  I've been keeping African Cichlids for around 25 years and wanted to start a small tank for my desk at work.  Shrimp have interested me for some time and seemed appropriate for this setup.  I wanted to do two different types and perhaps breed them so i selected orange rilis and blue bolts.  Since the neos seem to be a bit more tolerant I figured I would tailor my tank closer to the specs for the blue bolts since they are more delicate.

I set up my 20gal tank about five weeks ago.  All cycled well and my nerites have been maintaining it.  I planted the tank heavily in Caribsea Eco Complete and RO remineralized the tank to ~130 TDS with Salty Shrimp GH+.  A week ago I added 22 1/2 to 3/4" orange rilis.  Drip acclimated.  The first day was great.  I loved the activity and the color was what I had wanted.  I was very pleased.

The next day there was little movement, hiding and no interest in food.  Dosed the tank with a half scoop of Bacter AE and an Indian almond leaf just to get something in there to eat.  No improvement the next day and one death.  Same the third and 2 deaths, etc.  Now I'm down to 6 shrimp and very frustrated.  I did a water change last Friday, 15% remineralized and dripped overnight.

Here are my water parameters:

PH 6.8, KH 2, GH 5, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5-10, TDS 138

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Edited April 8, 2018 by zwylde
Forgot some stuff

[jayc]

Hi @zwylde,

Welcome to SKFA.

1 hour ago, zwylde said:

PH 6.8, KH 2, GH 5, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5-10, TDS 138

You seem to have done everything right.

What water temps do you have in the tank?

[zwylde]

Sorry, missed that one.  72/22.2C

[jayc]

6 hours ago, zwylde said:

72/22.2C

Nothing wrong with that temp.

These deaths you have had with the shrimp so far. Are they a mix of the neos and blue bolts or just the Neos (rilis)?

Have you added any ferts?

 

My only thoughts so far is that the Orange Rilis were used to a much different water parameter and despite the slow acclimation, they still are not used to it. They might have come from a far higher pH for example.

[zwylde]

I had added a cap of Flourish a week before the shrimp arrived.  I still have not received my blue bolts.  I'm really hoping these last 6 hold on.

 

[zwylde]

All dead.

[Eric@Discobee]

parameters are too low gh/kh for neos. need to bump them up some. you should also be using gh/kh products not just gh.

 

Also I'd avoid bacter ae too many bad experiences with it, its over priced. many better products out there for way less $.