Newbie with Red Cherry Shrimps, need help asap!

[boobiebutt]

Day 28 (5/9):
Ammonia - 8 ppm
Nitrites - 3.3 to 33 ppm
Nitrates - 20 ppm

Thanks for the replies.

Cluunox - Yea, I assumed there would be some bacteria die off due to the uneven dosing schedule but I didn't not dose for more then 2 days at most. I added at least a little every once in a while to keep the cycle going but I think the die off was more then I thought.



Update on the cycling tank as a whole:

- The Val's have developed a decent amount of hair algae? (small strands of white stuff) but it is mostly on the dead plant material. I've cut the 10-12 hour light cycle to about 4 hours to hopefully kill off the hair algae, or at least reduce it until I can manually remove it when I have more time.
- Algae and bio-film seems to be growing on the walls as well (light brown'ish and some light green stuff that I assume is algae and bio-film). I'm not going to be cleaning the glass even if it looks dirty so there can be some established food source for the shrimps when I transfer them into the tank.
- The Anubias nana petite is forming a lot of new bright green leaves and seems to be adapting well to the new environment. They are sprouting new stems/leaves in areas that did not previously have any leaves.
- Crypt Walkeris still struggling. They loss most of their green color and are now mostly brown. They are not wilting yet so I assume they are holding on.
- I also had some duckweed that was mixed into the plants I bought. They formed a couple of new plants but then turned brown and died off. And most of the guppy grass I got melted or died off. I got a few stems that are holding there but show signs of melting/die off as well. I don't expect the guppy grass to survive with how it looks.

Update on the shrimps and snail hitchhikers:

- All except 2 shrimps have colored up nicely. They 2 they haven't colored up yet are small so I'm guessing they are not mature yet.
- The snails seem to be getting larger and constantly nomming on the glass walls and the marimo balls.
- I toss in some veggies raw and boiled periodicly but only the snails seem to like it. The shrimps can't seem to pick apart the veggies. Any suggestions on helping the shrimp pick apart or eat veggies besides blending and making snail jello? (doesn't have a working blender)

 

[boobiebutt]

I forgot to add, the tank being cycled has small white worm like organisms that wiggle in S shapes and swims in the water. People told me its planaria but it doesn't look like the planarian worm on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flatworm.Mgiangrasso.jpg). There has also been a development of small little white specs that seem to skip around in the water. It looks like a small round white body with a fork like tail. I'm assuming its copepods.

Anyone have any information on copepods in the aquarium? Are they harmful? helpful? Should I be worried about them? They are forming in the shrimp tank too and they don't seem to be affecting the shrimp/snails in anyway.

 

[dj2005]

I forgot to add, the tank being cycled has small white worm like organisms that wiggle in S shapes and swims in the water. People told me its planaria but it doesn't look like the planarian worm on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flatworm.Mgiangrasso.jpg).

Does the worm look like this: http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/planaria_white_worms/planaria.jpg ?

 

[boobiebutt]

Does the worm look like this: http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/planaria_white_worms/planaria.jpg ?

Yea. Are there different species of planaria?

 

[boobiebutt]

Been trying to keep up with daily water testing. I think today showed good signs.

Day 29 (5/10):
Ammonia - 4-8 ppm
Nitrites - .8 to 1.6 ppm
Nitrates - 40 ppm

I know when my nitrites drop to zero, the cycle should be complete as long as approximately 3-4 ppm ammonia drops to zero overnight as well. Is that correct?

Also, if I'm only adding some shrimp, wouldn't most of the bacteria die off considering a handful of shrimps bioload would probably be less then 3-4 ppm ammonia?

I've been considering stocking the tank with a school of harlequin rasboras and 2-3 dwarf or neon gouramis and seeding a spare filter for 2-3 weeks before transfering the seeded filter to my 2.5 where my shrimp/snails currently are in. Any thoughts on the stocking options?

 

[boobiebutt]

Day 30 (5/11):
Ammonia - 4-8 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 40+ ppm

I hope the ammonia goes down soon.

 

[boobiebutt]

Day 31 (5/12):

Ammonia - 4 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates 40+ ppm

I had time today to do a water change and take out a lot of the dead plants. I think after decreasing the 10-12 hour light cycle to 5, the Vals have lost a lot of color and are starting to melt/rot. The Crypts are falling apart slowly as well. I'll increase the lighting back to about 8 hours to help promote growth again. Water test coming tonight.

 

[msjinkzd]

looks like you are making progress!

 

[rocker92]

what kind of bulbs do you have?


i would go atleast 8hrs.

 

[boobiebutt]

Retested water parameters after 25% water change and removal of dead plants.

Ammonia - 2 ppm
Nitrites - .3 ppm
Nitrates - 40+ ppm

My pH has dropped from 7.5 to 5.0(before the water change) and is at 6.5 now (after water change). Does cycling have any affects on pH?



EDIT:

what kind of bulbs do you have?


i would go atleast 8hrs.

It's a hood/lighting fixture I bought second hand from a member of the forum. It is 15W not sure what color temperature. When I left it on for 10-12 hours, the Vals took off like crazy with runners everywhere. But as I cut it down to 5, the Vals stopped growing as fast and the nana petites took off with a lot of leaves. I put the timer on 8 hours now so hopefully I found a right balance in between. I think the Crypts are dying though. I also dose excel and flourish once a week. (less excell then recommended cause I don't wanna melt the Vals)