When was your last water change?

Do another 20%.

How long has this tank been running?

70 TDS at water change is not enough to replenish Ca and Mg.

Salty shrimp doesn't have enough Ca & Mg anyway' date=' you should be adding more every water change.[/quote']

Next water change is due Saturday

The tank has been running for close to a year , the soil was changed about 8/9 weeks ago ( removed the up aqua shrimp sand and replaced it with Benibachi )

I was told to add water at half the required tds ( tank at 140 add water at 70 )

What Ca & Mg product should I look for ? ( I have never read anywhere about adding anything other than salty shrimp )

Here is a link to a list of Calcium rich fresh foods:

http://www.shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/showthread.php/4402-Calcium-rich-food-for-your-shrimp?highlight=calcium

And a link to BB's thread on preparation of Kale (I followed this and never an issue) :

http://www.shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/showthread.php/5250-Frozen-Dinner?highlight=kale

I would also consider getting some Indian Almond Leaves in there too. These attract good bacteria and are an addition foods source in between meals.

Have you ever used or added the Micronecton Powder? This can help keep things in balance and assist with moulting.

Also might be worth looking at the Super bacterium Bee Max also. Just to get and maintain as much good bacteria as possible.

Hope some of this can help you back on track. :encouragement:

I have some IAL so will add some to the tank

Would the kale tablets from Benibachi be ok instead of fresh kale

I've never added anything other than salty shrimp , I will check out the micronecton and the super bacterium bee max

Next water change is due Saturday

The tank has been running for close to a year ' date=' the soil was changed about 8/9 weeks ago ( removed the up aqua shrimp sand and replaced it with Benibachi )

I was told to add water at half the required tds ( tank at 140 add water at 70 )

What Ca & Mg product should I look for ? ( I have never read anywhere about adding anything other than salty shrimp )[/quote']

Do you water change weekly?

When soil change was done, I'm assuming you also change all (100%) the water, right?

8-9weeks or 2-3 months always seems to be a crucial point for many people, I have noticed. Especially when using RO water.

Is this the point when Ca is depleted if none is added? maybe, certainly seems like a possibility.

Check out the Stickies in Water Parameters for an indication of what Ca and Mg to use.

Salty Shrimp by itself is not enough Ca for the shrimps, especially when they use up Ca and moult all the time.

Ca needs to be supplemented in the water and food.

Do you have a Calcium test kit?

Do you water change weekly?

When soil change was done' date=' I'm assuming you also change all (100%) the water, right?

8-9weeks or 2-3 months always seems to be a crucial point for many people, I have noticed. Especially when using RO water.

Is this the point when Ca is depleted if none is added? maybe, certainly seems like a possibility.

Check out the Stickies in Water Parameters for an indication of what Ca and Mg to use.

Salty Shrimp by itself is not enough Ca for the shrimps, especially when they use up Ca and moult all the time.

Ca needs to be supplemented in the water and food.

Do you have a Calcium test kit?[/quote']

Fortnightly water change , weekly to up

I did a full soil change ( still using tap water )

About two weeks later did a full water change ( to RO water )

I don't have a calcium test kit ( I will get one in the morning in my day off )

I have added IAL to the tank and I will have a read of the sticky to see what I can get

Fortnightly water change ' date=' weekly to up

I did a full soil change ( still using tap water )

About two weeks later did a full water change ( to RO water )

I don't have a calcium test kit ( I will get one in the morning in my day off )

I have added IAL to the tank and I will have a read of the sticky to see what I can get[/quote']

So 6-7 weeks ago you changed full water and adjusted to 140 TDS.

Since then it's fortnightly water change at 70 TDS.

Still works out to the same timing as my theory. 2-3 months to deplete Ca in a tank if none is added to the water, except for Salty Shrimp. I wouldn't be surprised you are low on Calcium - and thus your issues might be related to moulting.

IAL in the tank is ok. I find Black water extract to be a lot more ... immediate / instantaneous. Get a bottle if you are already going shopping for a Calcium, Magnesium and Calcium kit.

Winter is coming around. Which means a lot of dry Oak leaves. Collect some clean ones and boil your own broth of black water extract in some RO water. Helps reduce pH, Anti bacterial, anti fungal, adds fulvic and humic acids. Covers all bases. If you have spare IAL and Alder cones, chuck them into your broth to make your own Black Water Extract. I also add Calcium sulphate (Ca) and Epsom salts (Mg) into my own broth. Costs a fraction of the store bought bottle.

I am sorry if this is a silly question but what is the temperature of your water? How long have they been in the tank? How long did you take to acclimate them?

I am sorry if this is a silly question but what is the temperature of your water? How long have they been in the tank? How long did you take to acclimate them?

Water is 23 degrees

They have been in the tank for 4-5 weeks

Acclimatization normally takes 2-3 hours , I add 5mls evey 15 minutes

Got me stumped.

Picture of the tank , the centre divider on each tank is removable ( has holes drilled in it let water flow through )

Full tank shot

I have nothing to add I just want to say it's sad to hear Craig. If you need any help I'm just around the corner.

Maybe loose some dividers ??

Id be worried about fouled water in those small divisions

I don't have a calcium test kit ( I will get one in the morning in my day off )

Got that Ca kit yet?

Got that Ca kit yet?

I went to my LFS this afternoon and the young guy there told me they only sell Ca kits for marine ?

Is there two different Ca kits ( freshwater and marine ) or they the same thing ? I suspect it's the same kit and the young fella just didn't have a clue.

Aquasonic kit works on fresh & also the API, Aquasonic only goes down to 25ppm increments & the API can be done in 20mls of water bringing it down to 5ppm increments. :encouragement:

Aquasonic kit works on fresh & also the API' date=' Aquasonic only goes down to 25ppm increments & the API can be done in 20mls of water bringing it down to 5ppm increments. :encouragement:[/quote']

Sweet it was the API kit I looked at , will get one in the morning straight after my sons footy game

Just tested my tank with API Calcium test kit , got a reading of 100 ( 5 drops for it to turn blue )

What should my calcium reading be ?

Cheers Twellsy

I can't really add much as it seems all bases are covered in previous posts,

I agree with 2ofus that you could be getting pockets of unmoving water which accumulate nitrates, nitrite and other baddies.

Maybe add a small powerhead to move the water around.

Also don't get disheartened, i recently lost most of my shrimp but with help from members on here I am starting again, I'm sure once the problem is solved we can help start you up again.

Cheers mick

I can't really add much as it seems all bases are covered in previous posts' date='

I agree with 2ofus that you could be getting pockets of unmoving water which accumulate nitrates, nitrite and other baddies.

Maybe add a small powerhead to move the water around.

Also don't get disheartened, i recently lost most of my shrimp but with help from members on here I am starting again, I'm sure once the problem is solved we can help start you up again.

Cheers mick[/quote']

I am almost certain this is the problem

I am almost certain this is the problem

But I see 3 intake mesh filters? That should be plenty, though not sure how that tank works as the water levels are different ?

But I see 3 intake mesh filters? That should be plenty' date=' though not sure how that tank works as the water levels are different ?[/quote']

The tank is divided into 3 which are siliconed in place(each has a filter intake) then he further divided them in half again with removable dividers with holes, making 6 partitions.

HOB filters? If you haven't already add a bag of carbon in each HOB filter (as Dean says it will fix most problems) Also I have an internal UV steralizer Im not using if you want it let me know...

Is that 3 diff types of substrate as well? (shouldnt be a problem though just asking)

I am almost certain this is the problem

I added them after I lost my CRS , I will remove the extra dividers

But I see 3 intake mesh filters? That should be plenty' date=' though not sure how that tank works as the water levels are different ?[/quote']its just a 3 foot tank divided into 3 seperate tanks ( extra removable dividers added per tank ) each water level is one tank You explained it better than meOne hob per tank ( intake and outlet on either side of the removable divider ) plus two bio sponges left and right tank using up aqua shrimp sand , centre tank using Benibachi

Ok , quick update ( on all 3 tanks )

Done a 50% water change

Removed the extra dividers

Removed all the moss plates , bee balls , caves etc

Tanks now only have substrate , bio sponges and HOB filters

Hopefully this will solve my problem ( haven't had a death since Tuesday ) the 4 remaining mischlings seem happy and healthy.

Does anyone know what calcium level we should have in shrimp tanks ? ( mine is at 100 , ppm ? )

Just a quick thank you to everyone for there suggestions , I think I have implemented them all now ( time to just pray and hope everything is ok )

Cheers Twellsy

100 ppm???

Read this carefully.

http://www.shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/showthread.php/4383-GH-Ca-MG-Ratio

If it's a 100ppm, and your GH is 4 ... you get a negative number for the Ca:Mg ratio.

Not sure what that means.

I wonder if Blue Bolts knows.

Does that mean not enough Magnesium???

Hi All ,

It's been a week now and no more losses ( still praying to the shrimp gods on a daily basses ) remaining 5 still going strong.

My wife seems to think I changed the soil in the tank a lot later than I thought I did ( I origanlly thought 8 weeks before mischlings arrived , but thinking it might not have been that long before they arrived ) is it possible that I had an Ammonia spike from the new soil and just didn't pick it up.

I did test the water before the mischlings went in and then again when I had all the problems.

Starting to think I had an Ammonia spike after the mischlings went in and it came back down before the next test ( it may have just affect some of the weaker shrimp )

Cheers Twellsy