Missing shrimp - high ammonia

I'm waiting on a paycheck (got really sick for a couple weeks = crazy poor for a couple more) for liquid kits. That's in about 5 days. I do have a liquid ammonia kit though. Spikes are under control. Doesn't get any higher than .3 or so on a daily basis. I hope my cories stay okay. They don't seem stressed or anything.

ps

Your avatar is my favorite. Music major FTW.
 
I'm waiting on a paycheck (got really sick for a couple weeks = crazy poor for a couple more) for liquid kits. That's in about 5 days. I do have a liquid ammonia kit though. Spikes are under control. Doesn't get any higher than .3 or so on a daily basis. I hope my cories stay okay. They don't seem stressed or anything.

ps

Your avatar is my favorite. Music major FTW.

Thanks! The song is a sentimental favorite of mine, as are goldfish. :goldfish: So I believe I'm stuck with this one. lol. I just noticed you're from Ellensburg. That's great... I'm from Wenatchee, so I've been there a few times.

Okay, getting back to the thread.. trying to cycle a tank without an API test kit (with fish) really leaves you in the dark. But at least it's only 5 more days, so just hang in there. This will be a lot easier after that because the results you get will tell you when it's time to change the water again.

Until then, keep checking on your fish at different times of day and be ready to do a pretty heavy water change any time you see the littlest sign of distress or odd behavior. The problem is the levels will be too high for the corries already before you'll actually see anything. Also, don't go by the betta.. those are rugged, fighting fish who don't always show outward signs of problems even when they're in bad conditions. We see that easily enough just observing how complacent they appear in those little betta cups in stores.

Let us know if have other questions on anything. Someone here can always come up with good advice, no matter what the topic is. Let us know if anything changes. Good luck with the new tank!
 
This gets better -- your birthday is 4 days after mine. Coffee sometime? Lol.

My pH and buffering are pretty low (6.4 straight from the tap [maybe..lol] and buffering is at like 80-100). However, my water is moderately hard. Confused! Is there anything I should do about this?
 
I'll take you up on that!

:coffee2:
 
Someone else would know better what to do about pH adjustments. My tap water here is hard and on the high side, which works well for almost everything I keep. I've had to use a mix with bottled water to lower the pH a little for some plants I've been growing. I've paid more attention to how someone lowers their pH, like with using peat and so on... than having to raise it. I know a little crushed coral added to the substrate or filter box will raise your water's pH, but I'm not sure how predictable or consistent that is.

All I know is don't bother using those bottled pH adjusting chemicals and buffers the LFS's keep trying to sell us. Any artifical change like that would be temporary and might not even work. Once you get the answer to this question and aside from whatever you need for that.. all you should need is Prime for taking care of chlorine and chloramine.
 
if you cant find the ghost shrimp IN your tank, try looking on your floor around the tank, no joke.

I have had ghost shrimp jump out of my tank for no apparent reason, Luckily I have only lost one and have caught the others in the act and saved them. maybe they were being harassed by my fish.
 
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