Howdy everyone, great site, some questions...

[MikenJulie]

I've battled with the Mrs for a few years now over pets, our kids are 5 and 8 now, we picked up a 48gal tank, started out with some difference species of gold fish, then a few feeders, some crabs, a few other species, including some cherry shrimps. Well once the crabs figured out a way to catch them in a hollow pirate ship, I decided to get the shrimp out and safe in a 10gal tank. There is aobut 12 cherry shrimp, and 3 amano. Temps are 75-78f, ph is close to 8, bringing it down slowly, first night they were quite timid, what else to expect being in a tank being picked out one by one. They have fed well, explored the caves and nooks to hide, but they aren't very active. I have a light on about 10 hours/day, good circulation, a watefall type circ with a bit of bubble action, filter inlet has the foam sock on it. Been reading abut water temps, should i warm up, or cool down, they just aren't very active, the Amano mostly but the cherry's are just lounging. Food, I have the fish food pellets, I haven't used anything but some ph reducer, "new tank syndrome" treatment, I used a good mix of new water and water from the bigger tank, my local water is very clean, a private well, not chlorinated city/municipality.

Thanks for the time!!!

Mike.

[Mustafa]

Just stop feeding them and wait until they become more active. Only feed them when they start running around and picking at the substrate in the tank again. That may take a while in a new tank. Also make sure that you don't try to lower the ph with anything that contains phosphoric acid...shrimp don't like high phosphate levels in their water.

[MikenJulie]

Thank you for the great info!!!!! I am guilty of a bit of over-feeding, some females are carrying eggs and I am/was paranoid of a few articles discussing hungry/starving shrimp eating their young. The PH reducer is a safe one,. I have those tank monitors on the inside hanging from suction cups telling me the PH and ammonia, I just checked nitrate and nitrite, very low, safe #'s. I checked my temp stick with my bigger fish tank, it reads high 2f so I was around 73-74f.

I'm just glad they're not just hiding in fear anymore, I'm fascinated with these little creatures, considering the 20 odd fish in the tank, they stuck to the fake plants.

The 10 gal has a few fake plants, a fake rock piece under the filter return/waterfall creating a good amount of bubbles. I have a fine mesh over the foam water return filter, no idea when the females will be due, I read this way the new borns won't get pulled into the filter.

I will stop feeding and let them clean up their tank, I'm also thinking of adding a small live plant, need to read up there too.

Also, what should I do for lighting, is a straight 10hr/day preferred, if I could see the tanks without lights I wouldn't use any, not sure of lighting pros/cons.

Thanks again!

Mike.

[MikenJulie]

Well I did a 40% water change today, had a dead shrimp, ammonia bordering ok, ph still too high, doing a bunch of brita filter flushes in the tank. I have some purified water to do changes with (zero chlorine, 6ph water), and a our local water guy is coming by next week and will start on a filtration system for both tanks to keep nitrate, nitrite, chlorine, ph, everything in check. He said he's done a few elaborate systems, UV sounds like a great option for the bigger tank at least. I'd like to do a one pump/filtration for both, he said anything is possible as long as I'm ok to spend the money:)

I haven't fed the shrimp for a day, not a huge increase in activity, they seem to like the light off better, when I turn it on at night they're usually swimming everywhere then hide. Maybe they can see my ugly face staring in?!:)

[7Enigma]

Ammonia bordering "OK" means it is not OK. ANY detectable ammonia or nitrIte in the tank is near certain death to the shrimp. Shrimp can die from ammonia levels BELOW the dectable limit in our hobby-grade test kits. You clearly are still cycling and this is not to be done with an invert tank. STABLE parameters are what both fish and shrimp need. Fancy water systems are a luxury, and not needed for most. I would recommend against using a single filtration system for both tanks since the 48 gallon is very likely going to have nitrAte levels above recommended for the shrimp tank.

Here's my recommendation:

-even if you have a filter you need some filter material from the main tank to speed up the cycle and avoid ammonia/nitrIte issues that will for sure kill the shrimp (piece of foam filter or even better filter media such as ceramic beads)

-stop using all chemicals in the 10 gallon EXCEPT for a dechlorinator such as Prime (my personal favorite), and use the dechlorinator ONLY in the recommended dose

-stop feeding the shrimp, the worst thing you can do when cycling is artificially increase the ammonia level due to feeding

-only do water changes from fresh tap water, SAME temperature as the tank temp, and dechlorinate prior to adding to the tank (get a 5 gallon bucket and prep the water in that, or smaller if too heavy)

The most important thing on both tanks is frequent water changes. 25-50% once a week is a general recommendation that works well to keep dissolved solids and disease in check, and is the #1 best thing you can do.

HTH

[MikenJulie]

Great info, thank you!! I have the ph dropping, it's around 7.8 now, ammonia is clear, nitrite and nitrate are super low, haven't fed , they're picking the tank clean, a quick stir of the tank pulls up the overfeed and they're gobbling it up. I have a foam filter on the pump inlet, and a nylon over that since one of the females had some youngin's.

I put in a piece of driftwood in both, and a plant in both, wow did the shrimps perk up, much more swimming around the tank, I also changed out the light for a softer one, they seem to like that also. I have a 5gal water bottle of reverse osmosis under one of the tanks right now, room temp. I haven't added anything but the minute doseage of prime. They're all quite active, way more than last week for sure.

I'll keep testing and minitor closely, as I'll do the water changes. At least they seem alot happier/healthier this week, quite pleased of that.

Thanks again.

[MikenJulie]

Update, the shrimps are doing great, ph close to 7, ammonia 0, using to water in both tanks, 8 babies a bit over a week old are growing fast. Added a piece of drift wood and live plant, they very much liked that. I have quite a few females and hopefully more eggs to be seen soon. Thanks for the help!