Fire Reds Trouble

[nvladik]

Evening all. Need some here, as my fire reds are dying suspiciously. A few days ago found one female dead, followed by a male next day. Two days (today) dead berried female. I am not sure what's going on, as there's plenty of algae in the tank to munch on and water params seems fine. Water tested with API test kit.

PH - 6.8
Amonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - ~30ppm
KH - 4
GH - 4
TDS - 156

Temp is at 72.

Help, thoughts, ideas appreciated.

[rodcuda]

How sure are you about the nitrates?

[nvladik]

I test them weekly. Tube is dark orange color, but deff not red, which means <40ppm. Tank is all shrimp, 3 CPDs and 5 zebra otocats, not too much bio load.

[sbarbee54]

you are probably having failed molts. You need to get that TDS to 200+ GH to 5-6 and get your KH down 0-2 max Also shrimp do not like nitrates, so do some small water changers until that is gone. You could bump your PH up a little too.

[nvladik]

Originally Posted by sbarbee54

you are probably having failed molts. You need to get that TDS to 200+ GH to 5-6 and get your KH down 0-2 max Also shrimp do not like nitrates, so do some small water changers until that is gone. You could bump your PH up a little too.

I actually added a little bit of N for the plants, I guess I should have mentioned it's a planted tank. Pressurized CO2, and a lot of water movement for Oxygen.

[acitydweller]

early warning signs are the nitrates spiking.

are there snails in the tank?

how is the tank filtered?

running an airstone?

have you dosed calcium in the last 30 days?

what are the foods being fed? frequency and size of feedings?

any snails in the tank?

any molts seen in the last month?

Amanos or fish or any other tank mates in the tank?

how long have you had these guys in the tank?

just so you know, i use straight NYC tap + Prime and about 16 drips of fluval shrimp supplement or 19 drips of shirakura ca+. I dose borneo wild Vita, shield and stout weekly....

[nvladik]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

early warning signs are the nitrates spiking.

are there snails in the tank?

how is the tank filtered?

running an airstone?

have you dosed calcium in the last 30 days?

what are the foods being fed? frequency and size of feedings?

any snails in the tank?

any molts seen in the last month?

Amanos or fish or any other tank mates in the tank?

how long have you had these guys in the tank?

just so you know, i use straight NYC tap + Prime and about 16 drips of fluval shrimp supplement or 19 drips of shirakura ca+. I dose borneo wild Vita, shield and stout weekly....

Snails - yes, 3 decent size nerites.

Filter is eheim 2076 with original media.

No air stone - lots of water agitation, I mean lots, noisy

I have not dosed Calcium, will look into that actually.

For food, I've been adding Indian Almond Leads (otos love them more), barley pellets (2-3 twice a week), Hikari Algae Wafers for otos that shrimp love, and Shirakura algae vafers for shrimp that otos love. I was adding 1-2 wafers twice a weel but slowed down recently as they are not eating it all.

No other tank mates, 3 netires, 5 otos, 3 CPD's. No other shrimp.

They've been int he tank for about 5-6 weeks. Issues only started a week and a half ago, after I added nerites, could that be it?

[plamski]

TDS 250.Lower Nitrates with purigen.What is your WC scedule?

[nvladik]

I should also mention I haven't been chancing that much water. Inly did 1 25% water change per month, but I am adding about a gallon of water daily as it's a rimless 75G, with lots of agitation, so evaporation is an issue.

I see molts daily. Some days looks like the entire population molted, like a dozen at the same time.

Thanks guys for all the feedback.

And there's one more death this morning.

[nvladik]

Should also mention I re-verified nitrates reading with a brand new test kit - same thing, less then 40, even closer to 20ppm.

I am also dosing CSM+B and KSO4 (i believe it's KSO4) at about 1/3 of Tom's EI guide once a week. Could it be the CU in CSM+B that's causing the problems?

[somewhatshocked]

I don't see an issue with nitrates. I routinely have them at 40-50 in my Cherry tanks because of EI dosing. Ideally, you'd get them down but in planted tanks? 30+ isn't rare.

As others have mentioned, bump your GH up.

[nvladik]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

As others have mentioned, bump your GH up.

Yep, already done.

[acitydweller]

how much are you dosing in the tank. if you are following EI, you are long overdue for a wc.

Inverts arent so tolerant of csm+b as well.

[nvladik]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

how much are you dosing in the tank. if you are following EI, you are long overdue for a wc.

Inverts arent so tolerant of csm+b as well.

1/4 tsp once a week. Per full EI, I should be doing 1/4 tsp 3x a week.

[sbarbee54]

Could just be CO2 posioning, what are you running your CO2 at?