My First Shrimp-only Tank Journal

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:23 pm

badflash wrote:You must have access to another tank with a filter in it don't you? Just remove the filter and cllean itout in the new tank. Presto! Cycled tank.

Thats exactly what I did, which is take a mature filter cartridge and plop it into the sponge filter. That is what leads me to beleive the possible additives are killing off the bacteria.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:39 pm

What additives?

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:06 pm

badflash wrote:What additives?

Honestly, I don't know. I read that you can do a "shake test" and if the bottle foams, then the ammonia probably has additives. (im guessing cleaners or scents or something).

Mine foams...Although I have thouroughly examined the bottle and all it really says is "Cloudy Ammonia". I would think that if there is no ingredient list, that all thats in there is ammonia.

I could be barking up the wrong tree though.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:15 pm

Sounds like you have cleaning amonia rather than clinical. Soap won't work. I think you'll need to dump & restart.

Not a huge issue as this is just a 100% water change. Put in your filter squezzings, and in 24 hours you are ready to add critters. I did 3 tanks this weekend using this method and no losses.

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:21 pm

I was just going to tell you about the foam test. It indicates the presence of detergents.

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:05 pm

Hehe ok I feel like an idiot now...

Yargh. Darn detergents. Ah well, its my own fault I didn't thouroughly investigate first. At least nothing was harmed because of it.

So I just have to do a 100% water change? I dont have to rinse everything off?

Hmmm, my best bet for filter squeezings, the filter was changed 11 days ago, do you think thts enough time to work as filter squeezings again?

I also have another filter which I changed maybe a week ago.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:26 pm

What type of filter do you have in tank with which you are getting squeezings?

Is it a sponge filter?

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:07 pm

Oh sorry, no its not a sponge filter it is the cartridge pad portion of a HOB.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:50 am

If there is no indication of bubbles in the tank, a 100% water change should do it. If the filter has visible crud on it, it should be fine to use.

Got any friends that need their filter cleaned?

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:09 am

No, there are no signs of bubbles, other then the bubbles from the sponge filters of course.

Hehe, i'll ask my friend if he has a filter that needs to be cleaned.

I'll hopefully do the 100% WC today.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:14 pm

9/25/2006

A rather funny turn of events. Before I drained the tank and started over, I decided to test the water one last time. Much to my suprise, the Ammonia was 0 ppm!

Heres the readings:

Nitrate: 30 ppm
Nitrite: 3-5 ppm (

)
GH: 300 ppm ( I told ya my well water was hard

)
KH: 300 ppm
PH: 8.3 or so
Ammonia: 0 ppm

I have concluded that doing the 50% water change dilluted the detergent enough for bacteria to start growing.

Now I just have to wait for the NitrItes to go down, and i'm ready for my 3 ghosts to go in there!

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:09 pm

Excellent. . . patience is the name of the game when setting up a new tank.

Keep on doing what you are doing and that tank will soon be ready!

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:50 pm

The Fisherman

Glad to hear, things are looking up.

I have to agree with YuccaPatrol.
I have learned how to be patient. Sadly to say the hard way.

Look forward to seeing you tank full of Shrimp, in the near furture.
Keep us updated and show lots of pictures.

John

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 4:15 pm

Good news, you are almost there

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 5:34 pm

You can feed them sparingly with any of the tiny fry foods like golden pearls. If you can get a good start of daphnia or copepods, they work fine too. You don't need to feed much as they morph to shrimp in 4-6 days.

Java moss is good for them to hide from the adults while in with their mother, who will eat them soon after they hatch, or other mothers in the birthing tank at the same time. As soon as they hatch, get her out to maximize survival.

Soon you'll be seeing little tailhangers!