Mysterious Death of Shrimps?

Originally Posted by monster_88

I recently setup my new tank (1 ft cube) with almost everything new; soil, drift wood, filter medias, etc. I only cycled the system for about 1 - 1.5weeks before introducing my shrimps. Fortunately for me, everything seems fine.
So, just to share my very shallow experience, I tried to speed up the cycling process by: - major water changes during the 1st few days to help reduce NH3, - added old filter medias in the tank to seed BBs, - added plants that may help to breakdown NO3. I monitored NH3 level daily until I attained consistent zero value for a few days, then I assumed my cycling is acceptable - which is almost 1.5 weeks. I also invested in better medias this time; Mr Aqua and Biohome.
I believe apart from cycling the tank system, the new shrimps should also be "climatised" slowly before adding into the new environment: I do this using the drip method which seems to help reduce alot of premature.
Personally, I don't think you need a chiller yet if it's just Sakuras and Cherries.
Cheers

The recommended temperature for sakuras and cherries is 28 degrees.... and that is on the high side... i feel that at least a fan is required. w/o a chiller or a fan, on hot days, tank can hit 30 degrees easily. Its a sahara desert for shrimps.

[bettafantastic]

Originally Posted by monster_88

I recently setup my new tank (1 ft cube) with almost everything new; soil, drift wood, filter medias, etc. I only cycled the system for about 1 - 1.5weeks before introducing my shrimps. Fortunately for me, everything seems fine.
So, just to share my very shallow experience, I tried to speed up the cycling process by: - major water changes during the 1st few days to help reduce NH3, - added old filter medias in the tank to seed BBs, - added plants that may help to breakdown NO3. I monitored NH3 level daily until I attained consistent zero value for a few days, then I assumed my cycling is acceptable - which is almost 1.5 weeks. I also invested in better medias this time; Mr Aqua and Biohome.
I believe apart from cycling the tank system, the new shrimps should also be "climatised" slowly before adding into the new environment: I do this using the drip method which seems to help reduce alot of premature.
Personally, I don't think you need a chiller yet if it's just Sakuras and Cherries.
Cheers

Wa...really lucky for you...next time try to cycle the tank for abt a month...

[stoner]

Originally Posted by bettafantastic

Wa...really lucky for you...next time try to cycle the tank for abt a month...

There isn't a time line to cycling a tank....

It's the method...

Tank cycling is a process where a source of Ammonia (NH3/4) is introduce (Example: a small piece of market prawn).

With the BIO media...BB starts to cultivate to breakdown to NO2 (deadly) followed by NO3.

Only when the NH4 and NO2 reaches zero... is a tank considered cycled.


**************************************

If no "source" of ammonia is introduce, you could run the tank empty for a year and the tank water will not be cycle....

Hope this helps....



*BTW, I cycled my 6 x 2.5 x 2.5 tank c/w sump with appox 1200liters of water in less than 2 1/2 weeks...

Again...it's the method...not the time line...

Originally Posted by bettafantastic

Wa...really lucky for you...next time try to cycle the tank for abt a month...

Originally Posted by stoner

There isn't a time line to cycling a tank....

It's the method...

Tank cycling is a process where a source of Ammonia (NH3/4) ........BB starts to cultivate to breakdown to NO2 (deadly) followed by NO3.

Only when the NH4 and NO2 reaches zero... is a tank considered cycled.

Totally agree with both of you, I took shortcut partly due to ignorance, impatience and short of time. Lucky my shrimps are fine . Still alot to learn

Originally Posted by icebabys

The recommended temperature for sakuras and cherries is 28 degrees.... and that is on the high side... i feel that at least a fan is required. w/o a chiller or a fan, on hot days, tank can hit 30 degrees easily. Its a sahara desert for shrimps.

Yes, I forgot to mention that ..... may not need chiller, but a simple fan is definitely worth the investment.

[bettafantastic]

Originally Posted by monster_88

Totally agree with both of you, I took shortcut partly due to ignorance, impatience and short of time. Lucky my shrimps are fine . Still alot to learn

Yup, there is still so much more to learn

[stoner]

And it's also very important to monitor the NH4 & NO2 for the next weeks after the introduction of life stock... mainly to see whether the bio system could handle the life stock bio foot print/load and excess feeding....

High NH4 and NO2 is mainly cause by either Bio over load or over feeding...

Enjoy~!

I did!

thanks for all the valuable feedback

atm, after the water change, my nitrite is 0 and nh3 also 0.. cherry and sakura is doing well.. but tiger got 2 went to paradise le..

i think might b water temp.. without the fan, water temp is 30..

with the fan, its 28.. but these days seems hotter... i suppose the temp wil go up to 28.5 or even 29.. with the fan...

[spiderman_123]

my 1.5ft tank using chiller but sometime face crs died suddenly too.dun know what reason.ph ard 6plus.nitrate and ammonia 0(but check only last wk) at first thought maybe shrimps died due old age but size only middle compare others crs. does bigger size means older shrimp?