Shrimp are dying, water is milky.

I set up a 1.5 gal tank about a week ago, and I got some shrimp for the tank last night. Now only two out of 9 shrimp are alive, there is a film on top of the water, and the water is cloudy. After reading up more on cycling tanks, I think I did it wrong because I didnt have an ammonia source. Could this be the problem? Please help me save these little guys!!!

For info about the tank, it is a 1.5 gal cube, it is covered in plants with regular gravel for substrate. I had a 1-3 gal whisper filter going, and turned it off when I got the shrimp, and replaced it with a sponge filter. There is also a heater keeping the tank at 78 degrees.

 

What kind of shrimp? Can you get the parameters?

 

Red rilI shrimp. I'll have to take the water to my lfs for parameters.

 

When you turned the filter off and switched it to a sponge filter your tank recycled. Since the sponge filter is new your tank isn't cycled anymore. I would have just put a pre-sponge filter over the in take, so the tank doesn't recycle(also the shrimplets won't get sucked up).

 

Review the nitrogen cycle.
Ammonia is most likely your problem, you had a source, but your tank couldn't do anything with it.

 

Welcome to the forum

If your tank was only set up a week ago and you didn't use an ammonia source, then you're right, it's not cycled.

I would pick up your own testing kit so you can closely monitor your water parameters. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the one most often used here on this forum.

 

I'll look into getting one of those kits! As of right now, I put in the old filter, and covered it with some pantyhose, so hopefully that keeps the shrimp from getting sucked in. The water is already starting to clear up, so hopefully the two shrimp left make it! Thank you all so much for your help, I'll update later to let you know if anything changes. I also swiped a sponge from one of my established tanks filters and threw it into this tank, so hopefully that will help with cycling.

I also have left over tablets of start zyme and correct ph, would it he beneficial to add any of these as well?

 

Well, if you have an established tank, all you would've needed to do is put in the sponge filter in that established tank for 2-3 weeks and you would've had an instant cycle! How long has the other tank been running? I would test the parameters on that tank when you get your kit as well.

I wouldn't bother with those products. The Stress(?) Zyme is not as effective as some other bacteria starters and any pH adjusting additive is not needed and would do more harm than good.

 

The established tank has been running for 2+ years. So should I just keep the whisper in there with the bits from the established filter, and move the sponge filter to the established tank?

 

Yes, that would be fine. Just make sure you have some cover over the intake tube to prevent the shrimp from getting sucked up.

 

I currently have pantyhose over the intake. Is that enough or would you suggest something else?

 

Shrimp have an extremely low bioload, I don't think 9 shrimp in an 1.5gal would have caused ammonia poisoning, the odds are its your ph/tds, it's recommended to have shrimp substrate to buffer the water to shrimps correct parameters such as ADA amaziona or fluval stratum

 

I currently have pantyhose over the intake. Is that enough or would you suggest something else?

I'd think that would be fine.

 

Shrimp have an extremely low bioload, I don't think 9 shrimp in an 1.5gal would have caused ammonia poisoning, the odds are its your ph/tds, it's recommended to have shrimp substrate to buffer the water to shrimps correct parameters such as ADA amaziona or fluval stratum

The shrimp may not, but their food does.

 

The shrimp may not, but their food does.

Soya bean husks do not create ammonia like fish food does, unless your feeding your shrimp other products

 

Since I swapped back to the old filter, my water is now crystal clear, and the two remaining shrimp are very active!

 

The water is still clear, and I haven't lost any more shrimp. After the water was clear, I found out there were four live shrimp, not just two!!