Rcs Tank Crash ...

Neocaridina tank set up for over 6 months. Used to be a betta tank. 10 gallons.

Was heavily planted, well fed, saw new babies constantly. At it's peak probably 50-60 shrimp. Lots of cherries and about 15 blues.

I added a m/f dwarf crayfish pair as well. Everything was going well.

3 days ago found a dead Amano. I removed it promptly

The next day during water change found a dead crayfish that was absolutely rancid. I knew something was off and I immediately started a water test and water change.

Water test results:
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 20ppm
pH - 7.6

Didn't take KH or GH as I didn't think to, but it has been consistent every time I have tested. Nitrates are higher than I would like but I was overfeeding a bit.

I took all the plants out. I only have like 10 cherries left. All blues are gone. No sign of the other crayfish anywhere. The only thing thriving is the seemingly millions of seed shrimp and flatworms (not planaria). I found a dead baby this afternoon.

I performed an 80% water change. I know big water changes aren't good for shrimp but something isn't right in the tank. Replaced heavy plant cover with cholla and moss, leaf litter, and dropped a bunch of pennywort to float. Clean water, less plantmass so the shrimp are easily observed.

I don't understand. Water conditions were perfect for neocaridina. I fed a high quality diet. Tons of live plant cover, driftwood, leaf litter, and two filters. Bacter AE a few times per week. The only thing is the insane number of seed shrimp.

They're everywhere, colonizing every surface. Crawling on plants, wood, glass, even the shrimp themselves. I added a small culture to the tank several months ago and their population has exploded out of control. There have to be millions of them.

Please help. I've been considering getting caridinas but this has been a heavy blow to my confidence and morale.

 

In one of my tanks with amano and blue topaz neos, I had ideal parameters but one day when I was trimming plants, I stirred the substrate and some trapped gases were released. Within a few hours I had a dead ammano and other sick looking shrimp. Could this be happening with your tanks?

 

In one of my tanks with amano and blue topaz neos, I had ideal parameters but one day when I was trimming plants, I stirred the substrate and some trapped gases were released. Within a few hours I had a dead ammano and other sick looking shrimp. Could this be happening with your tanks?

Unlikely, it's an aquasoil substrate only an inch and a half deep. Lots of organic debris in it from plants but nitrates have always been low unless I fed too much.

 

Neocaridina tank set up for over 6 months. Used to be a betta tank. 10 gallons.

Was heavily planted, well fed, saw new babies constantly. At it's peak probably 50-60 shrimp. Lots of cherries and about 15 blues.

I added a m/f dwarf crayfish pair as well. Everything was going well.

3 days ago found a dead Amano. I removed it promptly

The next day during water change found a dead crayfish that was absolutely rancid. I knew something was off and I immediately started a water test and water change.

Water test results:
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 20ppm
pH - 7.6

Didn't take KH or GH as I didn't think to, but it has been consistent every time I have tested. Nitrates are higher than I would like but I was overfeeding a bit.

I took all the plants out. I only have like 10 cherries left. All blues are gone. No sign of the other crayfish anywhere. The only thing thriving is the seemingly millions of seed shrimp and flatworms (not planaria). I found a dead baby this afternoon.

I performed an 80% water change. I know big water changes aren't good for shrimp but something isn't right in the tank. Replaced heavy plant cover with cholla and moss, leaf litter, and dropped a bunch of pennywort to float. Clean water, less plantmass so the shrimp are easily observed.

I don't understand. Water conditions were perfect for neocaridina. I fed a high quality diet. Tons of live plant cover, driftwood, leaf litter, and two filters. Bacter AE a few times per week. The only thing is the insane number of seed shrimp.

They're everywhere, colonizing every surface. Crawling on plants, wood, glass, even the shrimp themselves. I added a small culture to the tank several months ago and their population has exploded out of control. There have to be millions of them.

Please help. I've been considering getting caridinas but this has been a heavy blow to my confidence and morale.

I had a power outage this weekend and I was away for 2 days. By the time I got back, half of my shrimps died.

It’s been 3 days since I cleaned out the tank. I am finding 1-2 new dead ones every morning.

Did you have a power outage too?

 

I had a power outage this weekend and I was away for 2 days. By the time I got back, half of my shrimps died.

It’s been 3 days since I cleaned out the tank. I am finding 1-2 new dead ones every morning.

Did you have a power outage too?

No, not that I know of. My brother always alerts me if there is one because he knows it can mess up the filters.

I have noticed all the shrimp are hanging out at the surface. I added leaf litter so it may just be attracting them but I don't know...

 

Things die. Were they old?

 

Things die. Were they old?

No, the blue neos were only a few months old. Almost all my baby shrimp are gone, I have a few adults left.

Tank water is also slightly cloudy, I'm thinking it's from the large piece of cholla I've added that still floats.

 

No, not that I know of. My brother always alerts me if there is one because he knows it can mess up the filters.

I have noticed all the shrimp are hanging out at the surface. I added leaf litter so it may just be attracting them but I don't know...

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Did you do anything different right before they died? You mention tank is planted, do you add fertilizer? I had a few die here and there but nothing too severe until my power outage. What is your GH? I find snails, shrimps and crayfish all need a solid GH water in order to maintain otherwise they eventually die off and the snails want to escape.

 

Did you do anything different right before they died? You mention tank is planted, do you add fertilizer? I had a few die here and there but nothing too severe until my power outage. What is your GH? I find snails, shrimps and crayfish all need a solid GH water in order to maintain otherwise they eventually die off and the snails want to escape.

I dosed Easy Green once a week, one pump. The shrimp could have been dying one by one over a period of months for all I know because it was so densely planted you never saw many.

Foods were frozen bloodworms, HikarI Crab Cuisine, Ocean Nutrition Shrimp Wafers, HikarI Bottom Feeder Wafers, Bacter AE, and occasionally fresh fruits and vegetables.

GH is around 7-8, KH is usually 6-7. Was doing 25% water changes biweekly.

Snails, worms, and seed shrimp are thriving. Lots of flatworms and detritus worms but no planaria.

 

No, not that I know of. My brother always alerts me if there is one because he knows it can mess up the filters.

I have noticed all the shrimp are hanging out at the surface. I added leaf litter so it may just be attracting them but I don't know...

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Maybe tank is lacking oxygen that’s why hanging out by the surface? There is a heat wave going on so it’s possible water temp is on extreme side and causing lack of oxygen to disssolve

 

Maybe tank is lacking oxygen that’s why hanging out by the surface? There is a heat wave going on so it’s possible water temp is on extreme side and causing lack of oxygen to disssolve

Tank temp is 74°, spaybar is pointed up to create aeration.

Also did large water change yesterday, oxygen levels should be good.

 

Update

Just cleaned their canister as the flow rate was very low. Lowered water level about an inch and rinsed media in old tank water... internal sponge was very grimy and clogged, discovered dead baby shrimp inside despite a tight fitting intake sponge.

Flow has dramatically increased and there is much more surface agitation.

 

Update

Just cleaned their canister as the flow rate was very low. Lowered water level about an inch and rinsed media in old tank water... internal sponge was very grimy and clogged, discovered dead baby shrimp inside despite a tight fitting intake sponge.

Flow has dramatically increased and there is much more surface agitation.

Well there you go...typically I sum up a large die off is usually due to some impending issue building up. You would think a heavily planted tank should help negate any minor issue such as a dead baby shrimp. But that’s what makes this hobby so interesting, you learn from the experience and adjust accordingly.

I am still debating on what I should do with my shrimp tank if I should move it out of the office and into my home so I don’t have to deal with the frequent power outage at the office.