Harry wrote:You may not have a problem. I have three small containers: 1/4 gallon betta tank, 1/2 gallon jar and 1 gallon jar. Two of these tanks are filled with exhibitionists. At least 60% of the population is out and about swimming, eating, etc all the time. The largest 1 gallon jar has lots of rocks with crevices. Those shrimp seem to stay under the rocks in their little "caves". I see a few every now and then. But mostly they are hidden away. Likely they are finding their food down their. But it is dark under the rocks, so algae will probably not grow well under there. Sooner or later, they will realize that the algae is growing out in the light and they will go there. To encourage that, I would not feed.
Ok, thanks very much for your time and advice Harry. I won't feed for at least 2 more weeks. That will be a month or so with no food.
The API Ammonia test kit is the same for fresh and salt water. The difference is the color chart. I was having the same debate in my head when I started this brackish water thing. What test kits to use?
Seems (with my wacky vision, anyway) that the 0 ppm on the Saltwater test is the same color as 0.25 on the fresh. (At least on the color chart that I have...)
ShrimpGuy, you'll just have to wait as long as it takes for your shrimp to become "normal." 2 weeks or even a month is nothing...if things did not go "right" for some reason it can take 2-3 months (or more) for a tank to completely stabilize. Just sit back and don't mess with it anymore. If you see algae, there is more than enough food for shrimp. Even if you don't see algae, such as under rocks, there is usually bacterial biofilm for them to eat. As was already stated before, if there is enough for them to eat, they won't go around looking for food. You would not go forage for food, either, if you have a pile of food sitting right in front of you.
