sad mushrooms?

[bethkira2000]

I think they need help the top on was yesterday, when I got it home, and the bottom is today.

[Grins]

Nice mushrooms. They've only been in the tank a day? I'd not worry.

[bethkira2000]

Thanks I hope they make it.

[Grins]

Remind me, had the tank finished it cycle first?

[cav]

My mushies do this now again but then they seem to be much bigger when they open again

[bethkira2000]

No Grins it hasn't but the salinity is 1.025 and the pH is fine,alkalinity180, nitrIte5, and the NitrAte30 and the ammonia is 1. I still have the raw shrimp doing its thing, I do have the brown/red algea starting to pop up.

[Sploke]

Mine shrank a ton when my heater cracked in the tank for a few days. they still haven't gotten back to normal size, although they seem to be holding steady, which is a step in the right direction I guess.

[Squawkbert]

1.025 and the pH is fine,alkalinity180, nitrIte5, and the NitrAte30 and the ammonia is 1. I still have the raw shrimp doing its thing, I do have the brown/red algea starting to pop up.


Numbers look pretty wonky to me ('cept NO3)... aren't you supposed to pull the dead shrimp & do a massive water change before adding livestock? I don't think inverts like NH3 or NO2 any more than fish do. I'd be inclined to pull the dead shrimp & replace 80% of the water, but I'm not a pro in this (or any other) area...

[salty420]

how long has the tank been running? im afraid you mushroom may be in trouble since your tank is still cycling...

[dolfans1]

Numbers look pretty wonky to me ('cept NO3)... aren't you supposed to pull the dead shrimp & do a massive water change before adding livestock? I don't think inverts like NH3 or NO2 any more than fish do. I'd be inclined to pull the dead shrimp & replace 80% of the water, but I'm not a pro in this (or any other) area...
:iagree:

Your tank is still cycling. The 1 ppm ammonia and 5 ppm nitrite are bad for the shrooms. Take the shrimp out, do a large water change, and wait for the ammonia and nitrite to drop to 0. Patience is really a virtue in this hobby. Let your tank settle for a few weeks before adding anything new. Hope the shrooms make it!

[bethkira2000]

BUt I thought that I was supposed to add all my live rock at once.I didn't think this was a bad thing, I can't take the shrimp out yet can I? doesn't it need to be at 4 or 5?

[Squawkbert]

Not if you want your shrooms to make it. The idea is to add LR (and only LR) to your water & shrimp. Since you seem to want to keep your shrooms, you are now "walking the tightrope" between finishing your cycle and keeping your shrooms alive. Since you've seen a good amount of NO3, I suspect that you may be pretty close to cycled, but that the dead shrimp is continuing to pump NH3 into the system faster than your bacteria can convert it all to (NO2, NO3, then to) N2. If you pull the shrimp & do a large PWC, you should still have traces of NH3, NO2 and more than a trace of NO3 left. A day or two later, you should be seeing 0 for NH3 and NO2 and a big decrease in NO3. If it works out this way pretty quickly, you'll be in a position to start (slowly) adding additional stock. If it takes longer, you'll have to keep up with a pretty intensive PWC schedule until you're done cycling and you see just trace NO3.

[bethkira2000]

what if I do a 25% water change I really don't think I have enough water for an 80%.

[bethkira2000]

And should I pull the shrimp out?

[clown-lover]

If you have nitrite and nitrates then you cycle has started and you should have sufficient ammonia in there to complete the cycle process as of this point. Key word being should. At what point did your ammonia peak before the nitrates started showing up?

[bethkira2000]

I don't know Clown thats the problem, I didn't have the ammonia test yet, so I can't answer that I know today the params are:
Ammonia-1.0
NitrItes-10.0
NitrAtes-40
pH-7.8
Alkalinity-is between 180-300
and the temp is 78 and steady.
I know NitrItes showed up about three days ago.

[bethkira2000]

ANd the tank has been up and running for about two weeks, the shrimp has been in for two weeks too.

[BeelzeBob]

IMHO you should take absolutly every living creature out of your tank.

your tank is still cycling there is no reason to expose any form of life to a cycle, other than your own selfishness.

take the critters out.

i mean, you have test kits, so i ASSUME you know what a cycle is.

wait until its done then research

i know patience is hard, but if you want the $$$$$$ youve spent to amount to anything, research prior to purchassing anything.

[bethkira2000]

ummm.....thanks I have done research, I made a simple mistake, there is no need for the "selfishness" comment. I do know what a cycle is, just misunderstood the live rock creatures is all. I have since fixed the problem and since I have no alternative, have to hope they survive. I am taking every measure to insure that they do.

[BeelzeBob]

hey, its just like my opinion.

[Squawkbert]

I have since fixed the problem and since I have no alternative, have to hope they survive. I am taking every measure to insure that they do.

That's about all you can do for now... If the shrooms were hitch-hikers on the LR, don't sweat them or feel bad if they don't make it. If you do a 25% PWC, you'll only be removing 25% of the NO2 etc. Make more water up, go for as big a PWC as you can do. You sort of need this as a "reset" so you can see what your NO3 & NO2 do after the PWC. If they hold fast, you're almost done cycling. If they drop, you're done, if they go up, you're not done and you're going to be making a lot of water for the next week or two.

[ooja3k]

You have taken the shrimp out correct?

I think your shrooms will be fine.


As long as your shrimp is out, and you do a 25% wc every once in a while your shrooms should make it.


Good luck and keep us updated!

[bethkira2000]

I made a mistake, I have done everything else right, and done so much research, they just happen to have been gotten at the wrong time. And Like I have said I am doing everthing to save them.

[BeelzeBob]

if you havent takin the shrimp out yer tank, and back to the store, im sorry but no, you're not. and they are suffering in toxic levels of ammonia NO2 and NO3.:headshake2:

and quit being so defensive and butthurt. we're just trying to help you learn from this experience.

slandering good advice isnt exactly going to inspire GREAT FEEDBACK.

and id just like to point out that ive been following yer 55 gal log.

and the fact that you bought both shrimp and mushrooms, which were not hitchhikers, you bought the mushrooms as a coral, before you bought an amonia test kit, prior to your tank being cycled even,

might be why we're questioning your research.:wall:


$$$$$$$$ is the biggest hurdle in this hobby. but its no excuse for throwin things in a 55 gal tank before the cycles done.

it took almost 2 months for my cycle to complete in my 18 gallon. id let a 55 sit for 4-6months, AFTER YOU HAVE BETWEEN 55 and 100lbs LR.

im no reefer genius. but i do have some experience. and my experience is just trying to point out that your moving in a dangerous direction.

you really think im gettin off on this? i could really care less what you do, it aint my time, money and emotion.

i just dont sugar coat my responses.

[bethkira2000]

Okay for the record the shrimp is dead and raw it was put in to cycle the tank, so all those people who think I am being inhumane can stop. Now I need to know if this algea means anything it has taken over almost every surface in the tank except the glass.

[Squawkbert]

I think the only shrimp in the tank was the dead one she attempted a fishless cycle with. I doubt the store wants it back.

The algae looks pretty normal, especially for a newer tank (diatom?). Given a chance, it will take over the glass too (keep scraping).

[BeelzeBob]

lol

squak you crack me yo

beth those are diatoms, be prepared for your entire tank to get covered in em, youll se HA next.

once the tank is fully cycled, it will be disgustingly covered in Ha and diatoms, its then time for a CUC, to rid your system algaes.

then when its spotless, re-check yourlevels for like a week, because HA and diatoms absorb phos. and NO#. so when they're gone, you might se a lil spike in both, because notin eatin them.

then its just aboot fish time.

but i mean, id expect that to be in like march? soo dont get too excited

[bethkira2000]

I think the only shrimp in the tank was the dead one she attempted a fishless cycle with. I doubt the store wants it back.

Thank you for not thinking I am horrible and mean to animals. This is correct, I am still trying everything to fix the situation

[Sploke]

Yeah It took my 55 a little over 2 months to cycle, and now almost a year later I'm finalyl starting to get things relatively stable.

[bethkira2000]

Thank you I know it will take awhile to get things where they need to be, I made a bad judgement call and I am sure I can fix the situation. Thank you everyone for your help

[salty420]

i'd def do the 25% change right away and get another round of water ready and do another 25% in a couple days, then i'd prolly do another in a couple days after that...

[Morel]

Just a little hint, As you do water changes start using RO/DI water, (if you haven't been already hehe)

If you do, you'll be alot happier in general with your tank :)

Good luck! Don't worry about the shrooms.. We've all done the same mistakes somewhere in our fishy past :)

[bethkira2000]

Thanks for all the help. I am still working on fixing it.