So long story short, wife and I were at a garage sale and saw this 5.5 gal with 4 guppy’s. It was still put together and they said if they didn’t go they would just be getting rid as they were moving the next day. So figured I’d save them that fate….
This is where I’m sure a lot will say I messed up and am deserving any problem to come my way. I decided since I was having trouble with my cherry shrimp tank(10g running for 2 months) I’d switch them to the 5.5 gal and plant heavy to give them more places to hide and just feel more comfortable. Now based on how the family was just going to throw away the fish I didn’t really trust not knowing everything they did with the tank. So I cleaned the tank over and over before starting the build. I used UNS Controsoil Black decided to go with Seiryu stone instead of the Malaysian drift wood I originally had as when switching I found 3 dead cherry shrimp in a tiny nook which I figured they got trapped for whatever reason. And wanted to avoid that happening again. I created a cave like structure out of the rocks to give them a little place to hide out of the hard scape. Next I planted with some plants my LFS suggested and some I saw when researching just nano tanks. This consisted of corkscrew Val, Java moss, Monte Carlo, Staurogyne Repens, a mini sword plant forgot exact name(LFS recommond) and hair grass. I also got red root floaters but haven’t added yet have them on the windowsill along with a Anubis nana petite. I am using a HOB, Fluval AquaClear 30 Aquarium Power Filter. And a nano fluval plant led light. So that’s the background story…
Here is why I’m writing this..
1. I can not seem to cycle any of my tanks. I am still just stuck in the ammonia spike daily
But I really have more issues within the shrimp tank than the others. Now all tanks have been in this stuck cycle for 2+ months. So I didn’t have any cycled tank to grab and jumpstart this new tank. Using filter media or anything. So I’ve started this 5.5G with fritz 700 and have now been dosing fritz complete everything other day whenever I have ammonia 1ppm or more.
Problem 2. Now the plants after being planted now 4 full days are deff dying it seems. The light is on for 9hours a day at 65%. I was told to not fertilizer yet since the tank isn’t cycled. I have seachem flourish so if this is wrong would I kill the shrimp if I choose to start?
Problem 3. Today (8-3) I now have 9 cherry shrimp first one to pass in this 5.5G. In these past months I have gone from 25 to 9.. what am I doing wrong!!?
Here is the past 5 days water perimeters
30th
6.6ph 0 Amm 0 nitrite
31st
6.6ph 0 Amm 0 nitrite
1st
6.6ph 1Amm 0nitrite
2ND
6ph 2amm 0 nitrite 20% change
3rd
6.6ph 1Amm 0 nitrite 20% change
Let me know if you need more info I think that covers most basics. I read so much stuff online YouTube podcasts and just feel defeated that I haven’t even cycled a tank yet. Thanks if you have actually read this far!
This is where I’m sure a lot will say I messed up and am deserving any problem to come my way. I decided since I was having trouble with my cherry shrimp tank(10g running for 2 months) I’d switch them to the 5.5 gal and plant heavy to give them more places to hide and just feel more comfortable. Now based on how the family was just going to throw away the fish I didn’t really trust not knowing everything they did with the tank. So I cleaned the tank over and over before starting the build. I used UNS Controsoil Black decided to go with Seiryu stone instead of the Malaysian drift wood I originally had as when switching I found 3 dead cherry shrimp in a tiny nook which I figured they got trapped for whatever reason. And wanted to avoid that happening again. I created a cave like structure out of the rocks to give them a little place to hide out of the hard scape. Next I planted with some plants my LFS suggested and some I saw when researching just nano tanks. This consisted of corkscrew Val, Java moss, Monte Carlo, Staurogyne Repens, a mini sword plant forgot exact name(LFS recommond) and hair grass. I also got red root floaters but haven’t added yet have them on the windowsill along with a Anubis nana petite. I am using a HOB, Fluval AquaClear 30 Aquarium Power Filter. And a nano fluval plant led light. So that’s the background story…
Here is why I’m writing this..
1. I can not seem to cycle any of my tanks. I am still just stuck in the ammonia spike daily
But I really have more issues within the shrimp tank than the others. Now all tanks have been in this stuck cycle for 2+ months. So I didn’t have any cycled tank to grab and jumpstart this new tank. Using filter media or anything. So I’ve started this 5.5G with fritz 700 and have now been dosing fritz complete everything other day whenever I have ammonia 1ppm or more.
Problem 2. Now the plants after being planted now 4 full days are deff dying it seems. The light is on for 9hours a day at 65%. I was told to not fertilizer yet since the tank isn’t cycled. I have seachem flourish so if this is wrong would I kill the shrimp if I choose to start?
Problem 3. Today (8-3) I now have 9 cherry shrimp first one to pass in this 5.5G. In these past months I have gone from 25 to 9.. what am I doing wrong!!?
Here is the past 5 days water perimeters
30th
6.6ph 0 Amm 0 nitrite
31st
6.6ph 0 Amm 0 nitrite
1st
6.6ph 1Amm 0nitrite
2ND
6ph 2amm 0 nitrite 20% change
3rd
6.6ph 1Amm 0 nitrite 20% change
Let me know if you need more info I think that covers most basics. I read so much stuff online YouTube podcasts and just feel defeated that I haven’t even cycled a tank yet. Thanks if you have actually read this far!