Would adding iron kill shrimp?

[Spaceman Spiff]

I've been adding seachem's iron to my tank since a couple of days ago. I've now lost my 4th japonica shrimp.

The nitrate and nitrites are low. Ammonia is 0. PH 6.8. Fish (20) are fine. No problems. Everyone is ok. They are eatting ok, no signs of distress.

The shrimp however are still alive. However, since I've added 3 mollies and started to add the iron, the shrimp have died. There are a few left which look lively. The ones that do die start to become milky white, become sluggish and then die.

Anyone have a suggestion on what to do? I do a 30% water change twice weekly. The kh & gh is around ~2. I'm adding Kent ph stable to the tank every other day to bring up the kh & gh to 5.

My other tank is the same except it's 4 months old. The problem tank is roughly 1 month old.

I'm going to stop adding the iron and ph stable to see if this stops killing the shrimp.

Suggestions anyone? >

 

[clothahump]

I think your problem is New Tank Syndrome.
You indicate that you have a Nitrite reading, What is it?
I would stop feeding for a couple of days and leave well alone.
What size is the tank?
What sort of Filtration etc etc?
I personall ywould not be doing two water changes a week, this is overkill.
30% every two weeks would be plenty. 8)

 

[dattack]

Green spot algae is a sign that you got good nutrients in the tank and that's a good sign.  It could also be due to high nitrates.  I rather have green algae then the other nasties.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Nitrate < .3, nitrates < 8. Ph 6.8
The tank is a 66 gallon. I am doing water changes to combat the algae that is growing in the tank.

 

[clothahump]

Reduce the amount of light for a while, this will help combat the Algae.
If you have a timer set the lights up on this, On for 3 hours, off for 2 hours and back on for a further 10.
This break in the photo period seems to upset the growth pattern of Algae but not the plants.
You may find that the water from your tap is laden with phosphates which will also promote the growth of Algae.
As I said before, stop feeding and water changes for a while.
If possible reduce the amount of livestock until your filter has kicked in properly,
ie: when there are no Nitrite readings.
Then you can start adding your stock back.
But please introduce them a few at a time so as not to overload the filter.
Remember every time you add fish your filter has to grow more bacteria to cope with the new waste.
I know you already have some knowledge but I would suggest you read up on the nitrogen cycle.
If I can be of further help just SHOUT. 8)

 

[geoffgarcia]

Spaceman, you may want to watch very carefully I'm not 100% positive but i think that shrimp can molt. I was confused at first when I picked up 4 giants for my 15 gallon and a few days later there were 6 in my tank and 2 were milky looking and dead...

 

[geoffgarcia]

oh and as for the iron, I add tons of it to my tank and I have glass/grass and yellow legs in my tank and none of them have complained over the past 4 months..

 

[Matt Nace]

Iron will not kill the shrimp. NitrItes will though.

If you leave your light on more than 12 hours you will have a greater chance for algae, and green water in planted tanks. 10 to 12 is fine.

Do you add Co2? Adding more plants, and increasing the Co2(and nutrients as they will use them faster), will beat the algae out for the nutrients.
If you use DIY, one maybe even two bottles might not be enough.

You shouldn't just add Iron..do you have seachems flourish for the rest of the nutrients the plants need or something similar?

Cloth you have mentioned your timer/ light thing before. Which algae does this target(all?), and why have I never seen this used before? Did you read this somewhere..or is this from your expierence?

 

[geoffgarcia]

MaleRuby, I read about it on the krib also. The story went something like this:

Algae has a photsynthesis engine that takes 6-7 hours of consistant light to get going any breaks over a half hour stop the cycle and it needs to start afresh...plants on the other hand can stand a larger break (up to 2 hours I've heard)

 

[clothahump]

Hi Barb, I have read about this in Practical Fishkeeping magazine (UK).
I have also tried this method and it seems to work.
It will target all forms of algae that thrive in light, Green, Blue etc.
I am not sure if it affects brown, hair etc. 8)

 

[Matt Nace]

sweet.....I wonder if it works on green spot algae which is the only problem algae I get on my leaves and glass.

You recommend an hour..or 45 minutes? 8)

 

[clothahump]

One hour off should do the trick, if no change after a couple of weeks try two, experiment. 8)

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I've checked the nitrates & nitrites in the water and they are both very low. The lowest on the scale of the test kit.

I've lost another shrimp this morning. The fish are not effected by this problem. My other tank is doing well. I've been adding iron to that one as well. I did loose 1 shrimp in that tank about 2 months ago, but otherwise everything is fine.

I'm going to try that light trick. On for about 3 hours, off for at least an hour and a half and on again.

I still think that the tank is finishing it's cycle. I'm running a Ehiem 2226. I did have a fluval attached to the tank earlier, but when that broke down, I bought the Ehiem. I moved the media to the Ehiem from the fluval.

 

[Matt Nace]

Ammano shrimp perfer cooler water btw, don't know how warm your water is. My tank gets to 80, 81, and my ammano is ok.