All larvae die. HELP

[Varanus]

Could the marimo ball slowly decaying be the cause of the larva dying?

[camaronqueseduerme]

Thanks Jenny and Varanus. I am pretty sure the marimo is not the cause, it looks very green and healthy, but I just took it out anyway just in case. The snails seem very healthy. Their numbers have probably doubled from the original 10. Since you were mentioning that they produce waste that can be harmful, should I cull the population? I am sorry for them but I want the shrimp to have a chance to reproduce.

[Varanus]

Thanks Jenny and Varanus. I am pretty sure the marimo is not the cause, it looks very green and healthy, but I just took it out anyway just in case. The snails seem very healthy. Their numbers have probably doubled from the original 10. Since you were mentioning that they produce waste that can be harmful, should I cull the population? I am sorry for them but I want the shrimp to have a chance to reproduce.

I don't think the snails would be the cause, especially if there are only twenty of them (assuming they are small trumpet snails). If anything they should help since they also eat waste from the shrimp (and probably their own waste for that matter). Their emissions shouldn't be any more toxic than what the shrimp themselves produce.

[Mech]

people seem to be under the impression your tank will cycle and finish it just by leaving the tank to age, this isnt correct, if you have no ammonia source then you wont get the nitrogen cycle going, even once its started and has complete it will still need a source of food or you will get miniature cycles.. if you can read ammonia or nitrites then you need to be doing 50% water changes.

[Varanus]

people seem to be under the impression your tank will cycle and finish it just by leaving the tank to age, this isnt correct, if you have no ammonia source then you wont get the nitrogen cycle going, even once its started and has complete it will still need a source of food or you will get miniature cycles.. if you can read ammonia or nitrites then you need to be doing 50% water changes.

Not necessarily, I got low ammonia via the snails and by simply leaving them alone (with the algae to help) the ammonia and nitrite level eventually went to zero without any water changes.

[Mech]

people seem to be under the impression your tank will cycle and finish it just by leaving the tank to age, this isnt correct, if you have no ammonia source then you wont get the nitrogen cycle going, even once its started and has complete it will still need a source of food or you will get miniature cycles.. if you can read ammonia or nitrites then you need to be doing 50% water changes.

Not necessarily, I got low ammonia via the snails and by simply leaving them alone (with the algae to help) the ammonia and nitrite level eventually went to zero without any water changes.

Just means your tank inhabitants survived going through a tank cycle, shrimp are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and exposure will reduce life spans and can kill them. Look up the nitrogen cycle.

[Varanus]

Just means your tank inhabitants survived going through a tank cycle, shrimp are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and exposure will reduce life spans and can kill them. Look up the nitrogen cycle.

I'm well aware, and I didn't get any shrimp until the cycle was completed. And as another Kencotigirl noted, changing a lot of water can cause more problems than solutions. Given how old Camaron's tank is, its hard to believe a lack of cycling is the full problem.

[Mech]

Just means your tank inhabitants survived going through a tank cycle, shrimp are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and exposure will reduce life spans and can kill them. Look up the nitrogen cycle.

I'm well aware, and I didn't get any shrimp until the cycle was completed. And as another Kencotigirl noted, changing a lot of water can cause more problems than solutions. Given how old Camaron's tank is, its hard to believe a lack of cycling is the full problem.

These shrimp are used to water changing very quickly, that's the whole point of their hardiness, you are better giving them clean healthy water over water ridden in toxic ammonia and nitrites.

[Mech]

Just means your tank inhabitants survived going through a tank cycle, shrimp are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and exposure will reduce life spans and can kill them. Look up the nitrogen cycle.

I'm well aware, and I didn't get any shrimp until the cycle was completed. And as another Kencotigirl noted, changing a lot of water can cause more problems than solutions. Given how old Camaron's tank is, its hard to believe a lack of cycling is the full problem.

These shrimp are used to water changing very quickly, that's the whole point of their hardiness, you are better giving them clean healthy water over water ridden in toxic ammonia and nitrites.

Edit: I don't mean to come across a dick, it's just if you don't cycle your tank and keep the cycle fed with ammonia you start at the beginning again with no cycle and you put the shrimp through ammonia and nitrites again.

[Varanus]

Edit: I don't mean to come across a dick, it's just if you don't cycle your tank and keep the cycle fed with ammonia you start at the beginning again with no cycle and you put the shrimp through ammonia and nitrites again.

No offense taken, but don't you think it odd that a tank could exist as described in this topic for months and have no cycle occur?

[Mech]

Not at all, a few shrimp in a tank will take so long for any trace amounts of ammonia to start a cycle.

[camaronqueseduerme]

After reading the last posts I have done some research about the nitrogen cycle, clearly I should have done that in the beginning.
Right now my last berried female is about to release the larvae, they are all dangling from her abdomen. Because of that I'm not going to do water changes or anything drastic. I know that the litter is probably doomed at this point, but I think it is safer to wait and see. In a couple of days I'll perform new ammonia and nitrite tests (I ordered the strips on Amazon) and if the results are bad I will do the water change, keep withholding any food and continue doing weekly tests. I hope the tank will stabilize.
I will definitely keep you posted. Thanks as always.

[JennyPenny]

I'm crossing my fingers that your larvae survive! At least you know your females will be up to stocking your tank once everything is perfect.

[camaronqueseduerme]

Thanks Jenny, I don't have high expectations I am hoping for a next ovulation round, by then I should have my act and my chemistry together...

[Mech]

Every day your water will be getting healthier as the cycle is starting, you may be lucky and pleasantly surprised at these larvae

Keep us updated, and don't worry about removing water and worrying about loosing your healthy bacteria... Most of it lives in your substrate.

Edit: you could always experiment with prodibio biodigest, this will convert your ammonia and nitrites. Have a read about the product, I use it in all my tanks.