Thanks.

All my rock in the old tank got the same Clorox treatment and a very thorough after-soak with Prime. The new wood was weighted to sink but did not get a pre-soak or boil. They are large pieces. During the first two weeks in the tank there seemed to be very little tannin released.

TDS:
Tap is 180.
Old tank is 280.
New tank is 220.

For my next shrimp "volunteers" I will take more time for the drip acclimation.

Alright, to be thorough....

60p - 6 months old
PH = 6.6
KH = 3
GH = 9
TDS = 280
Fluval Stratum
CO2

120P - 1 month old
PH = 6.8
KH = 3
GH = 6
TDS = 220
Fluval Stratum
CO2


Is the 120 a new tank? Or a used tank?

Have you tried NOT running CO2 in the 120?

What bacteria starter did you use?

What are the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates of both tanks? And your tap water, too?

I'm not personally familiar with EasyCarb but may try not dosing it at all?

Do you calibrate the TDS meter at all?

Is the 120 a new tank? Or a used tank?

New

Have you tried NOT running CO2 in the 120?

No. I set up the 120 to be basically the same as the 60 in order to have a successful transition for the livestock.

What bacteria starter did you use?

API, plus I moved a bag of biological media over from the 60

What are the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates of both tanks? And your tap water, too?

Will test again but this week the 120 had negligible ammonia and nitrites. Since the shrimp are fine in the 60 it seems likely that it and the tap will test OK.

I'm not personally familiar with EasyCarb but may try not dosing it at all?

It is gluteraldehyde, a source of carbon like Seachem Excel. I am not currently using Easy Carb in either tank. In the past I have used it in the 60P to help with some BBA.

Do you calibrate the TDS meter at all?[/quote]

It is an inexpensive one that does not have that ability.

Thanks.

Might be worth getting a new TDS meter that can be calibrated and has temperature controled TDS readings too

Might want to make sure ammonia and nitrites are 0



Still don't see anything in specific still, but might be worth a shot not using CO2 in the new tank just to see how the shrimp do?

Here are some readings after 4 hours running CO2 this morning. Last water change for both tanks was 5 days ago ~50%. I am drip acclimating 3 mature neo "volunteers" today to introduce into the 120P.

Nitrates in the 60P were very high a couple of weeks ago. I was overfeeding and had pulled my Pothos and Anthurium out, which were a nitrate sponges. I put them back in and now feed 4 days a week and more moderately. I also have a copper test kit coming to rule that out.

I did not re-test KH/GH/TDS

Today...

TAP:
PH = 7.6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5ppm
KH = 5
GH = 9
TDS = 180

60P:
PH = 6.6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20ppm
KH = 3
GH = 9
TDS = 280

120P:
PH = 6.6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5ppm
KH = 3
GH = 6
TDS = 220

Update:

All shrimp are either out of sight or I have removed their remains.

API copper test kit returned zero copper.

Bladder snails are multiplying like crazy.

I did see one of the Nerites cruising the driftwood..

I am stumped and concerned about adding anything else to the tank.

Plants are doing OK. No algae issues so far.

re 'the remains' , did they have the ring of death or were they non molt related deaths?

Not sure how to answer. Before they died they had erratic behavior which included jerky motion and the inability to position themselves. After death they just lay on the substrate and their color went from red to pale orange.

It honestly sounds like a toxin exposure... something specific to that tank that's not harming the other tank.

My best guess is that it is one of the three large driftwood pieces, each of which is anchored to a piece of slate covered by aqua soil and rocks

Snails seem immune.

Sorry about your shrimp. 😞

Me too. I have really enjoyed them in my first tank. They seemed to be so comfortable and at home.

I did a bit of reading about driftwood last night. One of my pieces might be either cedar or spruce. Evidently some of these species can be toxic in an aquarium. I purchased it online due to its really interesting shape but it may be leaching sap.

Very possible that it is leaching something toxic, if it is fresh wood. Or was it soaked already and sank right away?

The wood was only in the tank a couple of weeks after I weighted the pieces with slate before I added a couple of snails and some shrimp. I did test the water for the usual signs of cycling. The water was only yellow from tannin very briefly and after a few water changes that has gone away. Still deciding if I will pull the one questionable piece of wood or just wait a while and try another volunteer. I did see one shrimp today. I do still have carbon and Purigen in the filter...

Thanks for asking.

Might be better to pull it then and do a large water change.

Can you contact the seller to find out for sure what kind of wood?