New To The Forum & To Opae Ula

[Mustafa]

In one month, there was no formation of algae on the tank glass or anything. I was certain the tank was ready for shrimp.

The algae may not have been forming *because* the tank wasn't cycled. Usually, algae and other biofilm do not form until cycling is complete. So, algae growing on the glass and rocks is actually a good sign..as long as it's not excessive. As I've said before...just hang in there and wait it out. These things regulate themselves after a while.

[jpccusa]

Before Mustafa's advice, I did a 60% water change on Sunday 03/03, then measured ammonia (0.25) and nitrite (0.10) again.
After 24hrs, measured again - 0.25 and 0.25
This morning - 0.20 and 0.25
I still see one or two shrimp occasionally coming out of hiding daily. I got a new LED light. No filtration, no air stones, no addition of AmQuel+. For now, I'll do nothing, as advised by Mustafa.
It looks like this will be a long and slow cycling process.

[Harry]

Both my tanks had algae growing on the glass after about two weeks. But it was not visible to the naked eye. Using a magnifier, I was able to see tiny green spots of green algae on the glass. Now, after about a month, I constantly see my Opae feeding on the glass. But I still need a magnifier to see the tiny dots of green algae.

[Mustafa]

Looks like your ammonia decreased and your nitrite increased. That means that nitrification has started...once the nitrate starts increasing you'll have some heavy algae growth all over. I don't think you have to feed your tank for a few months.

[jpccusa]

Two more readings:
03/12 - A=0.20, N=0.35
03/15 - A=0.30, N=0.50

I have done nothing to the tank except watch it. Don't know why water parameters keep changing (ammonia went up?!?!). I still see a few shrimp here and there, mostly just swimming around (not grazing).

[KenCotigirl]

Very odd. If you did not feed them the only thing that seems possible to me is your decorations. Maybe another water change and remove some of the decorations.
Ken

[Harry]

Given your "problem" and previous posts, I am questioning your data. The API liquid test kit is reliable, but provides ammonia readings from 0 ppm to .25 ppm to .50 ppm. It does not give readings of .20, .30 or ppm ammonia. This makes me think you may be using test strips, which are not reliable. How are you obtaining your ammonia readings? I'm doubting that they really are high. Also, with high ammonia, you would be seeing dead shrimp.

I suspect all is well. It takes a while for the shrimp to come out of hiding. And when they do, there are times they are out and about and active and there are times when they hide again.

[jpccusa]

Hello everyone,

It's been a while I don't update this thread, mostly because I stopped worrying about the shrimp and their water. The tank slowly became green, just as Mustafa predicted, and I could barely see the shrimp inside. I stopped measuring Ammonia and Nitrite. No feeding either, since they have enough naturally growing algae to munch on. Every single surface is covered in hairy algae. It is quite unsightly.

Today I decided to clean the front glass of the tank. To my surprise, I found berried females and a few babies still swimming vertically. Needless to say, I am overly excited! These guys are nearly indestructible and I just fell in love with them all over again.

[Mustafa]

That's great news! Seeing successive generations of these shrimp is what makes this hobby especially fun. Now you have to make sure that the larvae actually survive. And the way to do that is to do.....nothing! I know it sounds funny, but it's really hard to do absolutely nothing for most people. If you overfeed now the larvae won't survive, even if the adults are more or less fine. You obviously had excess nutrients in your tank for so much algae to grow. Do you have snails? They may actually help with the prevention of hair algae on all surfaces (although you may still get loose hair algae on the ground). They won't eat the current hair algae all that efficiently, though. You'll have to pluck that stuff manually.

[jpccusa]

I do not have snails, and although I can see how they would help control the algae, I don't like the idea that they would be in direct competition with the shrimp for food. What I believe I should get is some of your nifty brackish water chaeto. That would be a great way of eliminating nutrients from the tank by trimming and disposing of some of it every once in a while.
For the time being, I will keep working hard on doing absolutely NOTHING to the tank.

[SillyDaddy]

I do not have snails, and although I can see how they would help control the algae, I don't like the idea that they would be in direct competition with the shrimp for food. What I believe I should get is some of your nifty brackish water chaeto. That would be a great way of eliminating nutrients from the tank by trimming and disposing of some of it every once in a while.
For the time being, I will keep working hard on doing absolutely NOTHING to the tank.

Reading all over this forum, and finally seeing for myself, the snails really don't provide much if ANY competition. I would suggest ordering from here, but I have also heard of others using the black nerites. I am not sure which is a better clean up crew, but I know after doing my research the Tarebia granifera he sells do not bread overly fast, and they are better suited to the brackish waters. The only reason I have not ordered, is because I am not sure I want that large of a supply of them. I would probably consider an order of no more than 3-5 for the size of the tank I have now, but you should consider the size of your tank an the amount of algae you have growing in them.

It should be noted that my neighbor added the Tarebia granifera to his 2.5 gallon desk top. They helped to clean but they definitely did not put a dent in his growing population. He had to add a coral "tree" that touches 3 of the sides of his oblong tank to provide more 'roosting' area as he calls it for what started of as 3 rescued "Supershrimp" from the evil Ecosphere, and then he purchased 10 more I believe from this site (or some site linked to a forum the way he says it.) Now there are more than enough Supershrimp to always show at least 10-15 swimming as the others sit and watch, and this has occurred from successfully leaving his tank mostly alone for just over 6 years.

[Rob in Puyallup]

I have black nerites and Malaysian Trumpet Snails with my opae ula. They've all been together since I set up the tanks.

[jpccusa]

Got some pictures of the babies today.

[Rob in Puyallup]

Congrats!

[Mustafa]

It should be noted that my neighbor added the Tarebia granifera to his 2.5 gallon desk top. They helped to clean but they definitely did not put a dent in his growing population.

The T. granifera won't put a dent in green algae populations. They do clean up brown algae (usually diatoms) quite well, though. The snails aren't meant to be a clean-up crew in the sense that they eliminate algae from the tank. They only eat excess algae and detritus that the shrimp don't eat. Since the shrimp have legs, they will always get to the algae faster than the snails, so the snails always eat "leftovers." The most important role they play is in their role in slowly processing detritus (i.e. shrimp and snail crap and other organic matter). The nerites can and do put a dent in algae populations, but that's counterproductive in my experience. They clean up *too* well to a point where there may not be any algae growing on the glass/walls of the tank. Plus, they don't care at all for detritus or any other organic matter.

@jpccusa: Thanks for the larvae pictures!