Shrimp help!!

[mattue84]

Ok I got both a band shrimp and a skunk cleaner. both looked great before starting to drip alcomate. I let it drip for at least three hours. Both didn't last in the the tank. the band shrimp lasted the first night but the skunk cleaner didn't even last two hours in the tank. I did test and everything checked out. I haven't used any kind of copper or had to use anything to treat the tank. the only additive is "Essential Elements" from kent marine.:help:
Ph 8.1,
Nh3/Nh4 0 ppm,
No2 .25 ppm, and
No3- 0 ppm.
Temp stays right at 77.6
In the tank
1 Sand sifting starfish
2 True Percula Clownfish1 lawnmower blenny
1 Damsel ----(The wife's fault can't catch)
1 Emerald Crab
6 hermit crabs

1 haitian anemone
a few polyps

 

[blk822822]

Whats your salinity at? How old or how long has your tank been set up?

 

[mattue84]

salinity is just under 1.023

The tank has be up and running for just over 2 months

 

[blk822822]

I believe most run salinity at 1.025, that's where I run mine. Are you doing water changes regular and what kind of water are you using? tap?

 

[mattue84]

I use distilled water and do a change every other week.

 

[NanaReefer]

Also what is your ALK/CA?


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[mattue84]

I don't have a tester

 

[Derbird]

Your tank is not yet fully cycled. You should not be reading any nitrites. Shrimp are pretty sensitive critters. I would suspect that they may have sercombe to the nitrites. I would wait until your nitite leves are consistently zero before trying to add any more.

Another thought would be heavy metals. You do have other inverts but it may be worth having you LFS test for copper.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your shrimp its always tought to loose your little friends.


PS I learned the hard way that coral banded shrimp are not safe with other shrimp. I went through three cleaner shrimp before I finally read that. I would not mix coral banded with others.

 

[NC2WA]

Agree with Debird...Nitrites should be zero before added any inverts....any level other than zero for ammonia AND Nitrites is poison to fish...

I would wait until the tank is completed cycled and then would wait another 2-4 wks...a mini ammonia spike can occur...

 

[mattue84]

ok Thank you I'll give it more time and let that last one stay at 0 before another try.

I should've said that I tried the shrimp at different times about two weeks apart.

 

[mattue84]

OK i got my test kit and my Ca,Alk, And Mg were so low it wasn't funny. After a water change and adding some additives they are still really low. Ca 50ppm Alk 0 Mg 400ppm. so they are still really bad but im working on them. My other levels are all at 0 and Ph about 8.2

 

[NanaReefer]

What test kit are you using? Something isn't right. Either your test kits are bad or your reading them wrong. No way they're that low just after a water change. I don't even know of a kit that will give you numbers that low!?
If those reading were totally accurate you would have nothing alive in your tank.


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[mattue84]

I had to do the math to get the readings. Im using a new Red Sea test kit. and the water change was 5 gallons. the tank is 20 and a 10 gallon sump but theres maybe 6 gallons in there if that.

 

[mattue84]

Ok after doing some research i messed up! I was doing the results off the amount remaining NOT amount used so I'm re testing tonight prob going to be a little high

 

[mattue84]

ok update with real numbers Ca450 ppm Mg 1600 ppm Alk???? never changed used all solution

 

[NC2WA]

Better. .Mg is high so don't dose for a while. .should around 1350

 

[mattue84]

I stopped all dose when i realized that i read it work and now i'm just dosing Alk

 

[NanaReefer]

Keep us updated on your progress

 

[kpiotrowski]

I stopped all dose when i realized that i read it work and now i'm just dosing Alk

you didn't say what your alk was.....as long as you are testing! don't add it blindly!!!!

 

[mattue84]

I couldnt get a reading on my Alk it must be so low. I am testing daily but still nothing