Hi all!
I've been lurking around here for a while, reading all the posts (almost literally ALL!), articles, and profile information.
But I have a concern that I can't seem to answer, so if you experienced people could help me out I'd appreciate it!
I have a 2.5 gallon tank set up and running with Naja (sp) grass, Java fern, Cholla wood, rock, and a Nano Hob filter with sponge covering the intake, 3 snails. The tank had been running for approx. 3 weeks before I added a juvie group of Red Cherries. Out of the orginal 12 I had, I only lost 1; they grew and ate and all was going perfect. Finally I spotted the first berried female this last Saturday - I was so excited thinking I had done something right the first time with shrimp (NEVER had any before!).
All was well on Sunday, Monday (today) the berried female was dead, all the other shrimp are doing perfectly - no sign of distress or other problem, eating well as usual.
This is an unheated tank, water is room temperature. Could this be the problem, if so wouldn't it be affecting the others? What could have caused her untimely death? I can't test for ammonia at the moment, waiting for new supply to arrive, but hardly think that is the problem due to the wellbeing of the rest of the shrimp.
Any suggestions, ideas for me to learn by?
Newbie with a question
Moderator: Mustafa
Re: Newbie with a question
I have heard people saying that carried females are more sensitive to water conditions, such as ammonia or nitrites buildup. So it could be a sign for you to watch out, given the fact that your tank is very small and water quality could be ruined faily easily/quickly...also the water temperature could climb dramatically if exposed to direct sunlight or if the room temp is high(again, small tank gets heated quicker...and higher temp speeds up other reactions).
If bigger tank (for example, a 10 G) isn't an option for you right now, then maybe you could at least do these:
(1) put tank somewhere cool and without direct sunlight.
(2) make the tank easy to maintain. For example, use almost no substrate so you are able to suck out buildups at the bottom during water change.
(3) minimize the amount of live stocks in this tank, feed reasonablely and change water(partially) & clean filter frequently.
(4) I know people will say that plants will absorb nitrate & help with water quality, but sometimes old/unhealthy leaves create a lot of debris and that doesn't help at all. I would only keep slow growers, such as java fern, in the tank for decoration purpose, and trim/pick up the old leaves before it rots.
Just some suggestions based on my very limited experience.
If bigger tank (for example, a 10 G) isn't an option for you right now, then maybe you could at least do these:
(1) put tank somewhere cool and without direct sunlight.
(2) make the tank easy to maintain. For example, use almost no substrate so you are able to suck out buildups at the bottom during water change.
(3) minimize the amount of live stocks in this tank, feed reasonablely and change water(partially) & clean filter frequently.
(4) I know people will say that plants will absorb nitrate & help with water quality, but sometimes old/unhealthy leaves create a lot of debris and that doesn't help at all. I would only keep slow growers, such as java fern, in the tank for decoration purpose, and trim/pick up the old leaves before it rots.
Just some suggestions based on my very limited experience.
Re: Newbie with a question
Thank you for your suggestions cpc1007!
I have been changing approximately 15 to 25% of the water weekly plus replace what is removed when siphoning uneaten food or other debris from the bottom. (I decondition the water and exact the temperature to the tank) Is this regime too much or too little?
I clean the filter whenever I see that it has become dirty - probably that's not enough! I'll clean it whenever I do a water change whether visible dirt or not, but shouldn't I be concerned about disturbing the biological bacteria by doing this too much?
Substrate is 1/2 black sand and 1/2 gravel, I'll get rid of the gravel and put down a thin layer of sand.
There were 11 shrimp until the female died, found another dead this evening so now only 9. Too many still for this size tank? How many are recommended for this size tank - there are 2 males the rest are females right now.
The tank is unlit, so is near a window but no direct sun, just bright light. Still move it? Will then need a light attached, so won't the light heat up the tank?
The plants are growing, but not taking over the tank, enough to allow the shrimp to climb around, hide under, and still provide swimming space. I'll cut the Naja grass back here pretty soon and remove it altogether when the java fern takes hold. There is no algae growth - is that good or bad?
Just received my ammonia testing supply today so will check ammonia - if is unacceptable will daily water changes be suggested? If so then how much, continue with 15-20% or?
Oh so many questions! Look forward to getting it right!
BTW, I have 2-10 gallons cycling now but will still be a couple weeks for them to be ready. In the meantime, I don't want to have to start over with these little shrimps if I can help it and would really love to get this 2.5 gallon stabilized and a good regime settled! They are the perfect little tanks!
Thanks for any help and further suggestions to my questions!
I have been changing approximately 15 to 25% of the water weekly plus replace what is removed when siphoning uneaten food or other debris from the bottom. (I decondition the water and exact the temperature to the tank) Is this regime too much or too little?
I clean the filter whenever I see that it has become dirty - probably that's not enough! I'll clean it whenever I do a water change whether visible dirt or not, but shouldn't I be concerned about disturbing the biological bacteria by doing this too much?
Substrate is 1/2 black sand and 1/2 gravel, I'll get rid of the gravel and put down a thin layer of sand.
There were 11 shrimp until the female died, found another dead this evening so now only 9. Too many still for this size tank? How many are recommended for this size tank - there are 2 males the rest are females right now.
The tank is unlit, so is near a window but no direct sun, just bright light. Still move it? Will then need a light attached, so won't the light heat up the tank?
The plants are growing, but not taking over the tank, enough to allow the shrimp to climb around, hide under, and still provide swimming space. I'll cut the Naja grass back here pretty soon and remove it altogether when the java fern takes hold. There is no algae growth - is that good or bad?
Just received my ammonia testing supply today so will check ammonia - if is unacceptable will daily water changes be suggested? If so then how much, continue with 15-20% or?
Oh so many questions! Look forward to getting it right!
BTW, I have 2-10 gallons cycling now but will still be a couple weeks for them to be ready. In the meantime, I don't want to have to start over with these little shrimps if I can help it and would really love to get this 2.5 gallon stabilized and a good regime settled! They are the perfect little tanks!
Thanks for any help and further suggestions to my questions!
Re: Newbie with a question
Problem found - unfortunately!! The ammonia test was off the chart!!
I am truly surprised there are any shrimp alive at all! I just took the filter apart and cleaned it and did a 30% water change. Still may end up losing them and starting over.
So, for a tank this size here are my new questions:
how many shrimp is acceptable?
is 3 times a week 15-20% water changes acceptable?
Thanks for all the help!
I have 13 tanks 20 gallons and up with different cichlids and have not had this type of problem. But this is my first time working with these tiny tanks. This particular tank was well cycled before I added the shrimp so my guess is weekly water changes are insufficient.
I am truly surprised there are any shrimp alive at all! I just took the filter apart and cleaned it and did a 30% water change. Still may end up losing them and starting over.
So, for a tank this size here are my new questions:
how many shrimp is acceptable?
is 3 times a week 15-20% water changes acceptable?
Thanks for all the help!
I have 13 tanks 20 gallons and up with different cichlids and have not had this type of problem. But this is my first time working with these tiny tanks. This particular tank was well cycled before I added the shrimp so my guess is weekly water changes are insufficient.
Re: Newbie with a question
This is just how I would approach with a small tank:
If I had to keep shrimps in a 2.5G tank, I would start with 6 shrimps and feed them very lightly (not even everyday). Change 30% of the water weekly, but clean up the debris in the tank whenever needed. Also, for the plants, I will use Anubias instead of ferns, moss or stem plants since Anubias doesn't get affected by summer temperature that much. The filter can be cleaned once a week but maybe not on the same day as water change. Indirect sunlight is good enough for the low light plants and shrimps, as long as it doesn't raise the temperature much.
I would 'define' this tiny tank as a decoration in the house, and always only keep few shrimps in it even if they reproduce later on.
Cherries are very hardy shrimps, so I think the real challenge here is how to stablize the mini tank/environment. The eco-balance is always easier to establish if starting with fewer live stocks, and that's why I would start with fewer shrimps.
If I had to keep shrimps in a 2.5G tank, I would start with 6 shrimps and feed them very lightly (not even everyday). Change 30% of the water weekly, but clean up the debris in the tank whenever needed. Also, for the plants, I will use Anubias instead of ferns, moss or stem plants since Anubias doesn't get affected by summer temperature that much. The filter can be cleaned once a week but maybe not on the same day as water change. Indirect sunlight is good enough for the low light plants and shrimps, as long as it doesn't raise the temperature much.
I would 'define' this tiny tank as a decoration in the house, and always only keep few shrimps in it even if they reproduce later on.
Cherries are very hardy shrimps, so I think the real challenge here is how to stablize the mini tank/environment. The eco-balance is always easier to establish if starting with fewer live stocks, and that's why I would start with fewer shrimps.
Re: Newbie with a question
Thank you again cpc1007!
I believe you have confirmed my suspicion - overstocked with insufficient water changes.
So, I'm down to 6 shrimp as of this morning and they seem to be OK as of this eve. This weekend I will rearrange the tank and my maintenance regime. 30% water changes weekly and clean the filter the day before, that's exactly the same schedule I use for my big tanks!
Bound and determined to make this tank work because I've never done planted tanks or inverts! I've seen pictures of some beautiful planted tiny tanks (like mine) with shrimp and really want to make one just as beautiful. Someday I'll get there!
Thanks for all the help, I have learned alot from reading this site, still more to learn.
I believe you have confirmed my suspicion - overstocked with insufficient water changes.
So, I'm down to 6 shrimp as of this morning and they seem to be OK as of this eve. This weekend I will rearrange the tank and my maintenance regime. 30% water changes weekly and clean the filter the day before, that's exactly the same schedule I use for my big tanks!
Bound and determined to make this tank work because I've never done planted tanks or inverts! I've seen pictures of some beautiful planted tiny tanks (like mine) with shrimp and really want to make one just as beautiful. Someday I'll get there!
Thanks for all the help, I have learned alot from reading this site, still more to learn.