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Dying Amanos

Joined
4 Feb 2020
Messages
22
Location
Canada
Hello all,
I have a Fluval Flex 9 gallon low tech planted aquarium.
Regular parameter are within normal ranges (from the charts)
Temperature is 25 centigrades.
I am using Nilocg Thrive (shrimp safe one) once a weak as per indicated in the bottle. I am also doing a 10% water chance once a week.
The problem: once every three weeks I do a 50% water change. EVERYTIME I do this I find two or three Amanos or any shrimp dead.
Nobody else seems to have that problem?
Once, I had three cherry shrimps and were doing great for thre weeks until I did one 50%water change. And they are dead now. What is wrong?
 
Are you warming the replacement water ?
Are you using a good brand of dechlorinator ?
 
Hello,
Yes, I take temperature before I add it to the tank. I am using Prime to treat the water.
Do you think is the sudden change in water chemistry? Change in Ph?
People say they never have problems with water change and shrimps...
 
I know nothing about household plumbing in Canada; is it like in the UK where it’s virtually all copper?

If so, is it worth running the tap for a couple of minutes before you use it, just to eliminate the possibility of copper contamination from water that has been sitting in the pipes for a while?
 
If so, is it worth running the tap for a couple of minutes before you use it, just to eliminate the possibility of copper contamination from water that has been sitting in the pipes for a while?
Please think this myth through....
If copper from the pipes dissolved into the water, would not we all be sitting in puddles of water where all the pipes have dissolved away ???. How come my mates house, re-plumbed in the 1950/60's (yes with 1/2 inch copper pipes, all new plumbing is generally 15mm copper) still works fine without water leaking every where. The green/blue stains you see under old taps (and cheap Chinese knock offs) is where incorrect brass is used for the tap and they suffer de-zincification. Propper plumbing and propper taps, copper levels will be effectively zero.
 
Please think this myth through....
If copper from the pipes dissolved into the water, would not we all be sitting in puddles of water where all the pipes have dissolved away ???
Not at all! We’re talking about minute traces of copper that can cause issues for shrimps. Copper pipes would still last for hundreds if not thousands of years.
 
Not at all! We’re talking about minute traces of copper that can cause issues for shrimps. Copper pipes would still last for hundreds if not thousands of years
Doesn't happen in UK with UK domestic water. It is an issue with water from wells where pH may be acidic. Higher pH > 6 deposits an insoluble film on the copper. Domestic water supplies are treated to keep a suitable pH,.

Any way just treat the water with Prime and you are good to go.
 
I wouldn't worry about copper from tap water. The majority of shrimp keepers on here will use tap water and if so you'd see numerous posts about how the copper is the cause of their deaths. I keep shrimp in two tanks, use tap water, don't intentionally flush the pipes pre water change and have no issue with the shrimps

Granted, by the sounds of things the deaths appear linked some way to the water change but I'd rule the copper angle out personally. If it were a one off I consider the water company cleaning the pipes as the cause but as it's more than once by the sounds of things I doubt that too

All that said, I'm at a loss re suggestions. If you're using prime and replacement water is the same temp I'm not sure where else to go
 
Could it be anything else contaminating your water, I would expect prime to sort things like chloramine out also most heavy metals.
Have you tried testing your water with your standard fish tank kit, In the UK the waterboard test the results and publish the data online for your area not sure if similar is available in Canada? another thing I wondered about was adding additional prime I know you can safely run up to 5x the standard dose,

you could try rainwater or RO water but both are hard work..
 
Hello all,
I have a Fluval Flex 9 gallon low tech planted aquarium.
Regular parameter are within normal ranges (from the charts)
Temperature is 25 centigrades.
I am using Nilocg Thrive (shrimp safe one) once a weak as per indicated in the bottle. I am also doing a 10% water chance once a week.
The problem: once every three weeks I do a 50% water change. EVERYTIME I do this I find two or three Amanos or any shrimp dead.
Nobody else seems to have that problem?
Once, I had three cherry shrimps and were doing great for thre weeks until I did one 50%water change. And they are dead now. What is wrong?

Just another thought - are you measuring the Prime accurately with a syringe? Prime is very highly concentrated, so for 4.5 Gal US of water you'd only want half a millilitre (or 9 drops)! If you overdose, as Prime is a reducing agent and it can bind the oxygen in the water.

Do the shrimp swim to the top of the tank after the water change?
 
Sorry for the late reply.
Actually my Prime comes with a drop counting lid. So for a 50% change I put just 6 drops. Is it too little?
No the shrimps don’t swim to the surface. I am really thinking that that chemistry in the water change affects them.
The only other thing I add is the bacteria...
Somebody told me to remove the charcoal filter if I have a planted aquarium. Is it true we don’t need a charcoal element on the filter?
 
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL. This is incredible!!
I never thought I would have such help.
1.- Ok, I will have my aquarium water tested next time I go to the aquarium store.
2.- for the copper pipes, yes , our pipes are made of copper. Perhahaps I will need to add more Prime.
3.-Maybe I will need to avoid big water changes. Just go for the 25%....
4.- something else wrong with the aquarium? I think you are right:
all my Anubias have a brown dusty looking spots. Equal for the Cryptos and the moss and all the plants actually.
I only give 7 hours of light and don’t overfeed my fish.
Also, I see like a film on the water of the thermometer and filter compartment. And my water is not crystal clear. It has a light green tint (That is why I was making the 50% water change)
Maybe the filter is not performing well....
By the way, this is my first aquascaping experience so all advice helps.
 
Hi @Gabriela Valdivia

In the first instance, I think it's worth taking a look at this:

https://aquariumbreeder.com/how-copper-affects-dwarf-shrimp/

Unfortunately, it doesn't make specific reference to Amano Shrimps (Caridina multidentata). But, what it does demonstrate is the range of copper toxicity levels for different species of shrimp. The range is from 0.03 - 0.30 mg/l. I don't know about Canadian water regulations but, in the UK, the maximum permissible level of copper is 2 mg/l. So, aquarium tap water conditioners would need to be better than 98.5% effective to ensure that the resulting water is safe for shrimps. If Seachem Prime achieves this, then copper may not be the issue.

However, the fact that your water has a light green tint is odd. And the dusty brown spots on your plants. Let's see what the test results show when you've had the chance to get your water tested at the aquarium store.

JPC
 
I’m primarily using rainwater for my 37 Litre Nano although I do top up occasionally with tap water. When I do a water change it’s very rarely more than about 10%. I don’t use any water conditioners. I’m giving the tank a shot of Tropica Specialised Nutrition once a week or so. My Cherries are breeding like made at the moment. I have a few Amano’s, several adult cherries and dozens of young cherries at the moment.

A 50% water change is far too much in my opinion. I’ve only ever done changes like that when I’ve had a problem.
 
Ok, I will post the results for the tests when they are done.
Yes, in my case, if there is something in the water, I will make smaller water changes.
I am posting images and video. Here they are.
 

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I went to have the water tested. High nitrates. I don’t understand because I have so many plants and on l’y a Betta with five Neons and I only feed a tiny pinch once a day. Last water change was Monday.
 
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