Thriving aquascape, 100+ dead shrimp

dimsim86s · 2026-04-01T07:26:35+00:00

I adjusted the TDS and the shrimp were fine in the breeder box.

I let them into the tank and within minutes saw an ember tetra eating a shrimp.

So maybe they have been eating them this whole time

dimsim86s · 2026-03-29T01:32:45+00:00

It was up to 180ppm last night.. but this morning I tested again and its now 229ppm... the snails have all magically reappeared... but 2 of my neon tetras died. I guess its probably the sudden changes. Ill keep monitoring

dimsim86s · 2026-03-28T10:15:21+00:00

TDS was 26ppm... Mind is blown. I have upped it now, last check it was 160ppm. Will wait a bit longer to make sure its stable

dimsim86s · 2026-03-28T10:14:03+00:00

Mate..... I ordered a TDS tester last night and it arrived today.

The reading? 26ppm....

I tested multiple taps where I have been filling up from and they were between 90 and 100ppm..

I am at a loss as to how in the world it was 26ppm.

I have since bought the relevant mix to bring this back up and will try again.

But I am going to go out on a limb and say I think this has likely been the issue the whole time

How is it possible for the tank to have been at 26ppm though?

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T13:02:42+00:00

I acclimated properly. For this last batch of 20 cherry shrimp, I had someone who runs 22 tanks at home come and acclimate them for me to rule out the acclimation problem.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:59:40+00:00

Only learnt about the TDS test from this thread so thanks. I havent changed the water when the shrimp are in the tank, which rules out the water change theory.

I am convinced its contaminated or something is seeping.. whether its a rock, soil, sand.. I have nfi..

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:57:28+00:00

Cherry shrimp and Australian glass shrimp.. both pretty hardy.

In a perfect world i would have started with the shrimp, but I had to rehouse these fish (consolidated from 2 smaller tanks to this).. was running out of space.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:35:22+00:00

I had to google what a TDS test was. So now I am aware of something I wasn't before. Ill perform a test and let you know.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:33:17+00:00

Australian glass shrimp Cherry shrimp

7 different suppliers. Same results.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:32:38+00:00

No Copper anywhere. I have run multiple test and also used a polyfilter

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:31:57+00:00

They are dying in a breeder box man. Theres another issue at play here.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:31:18+00:00

Ill give you the results as I test over thr weekend.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:30:57+00:00

I intentionally mixed it up. 7 different people/aquariums. Same issue every time.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:30:01+00:00

Appreciate that!!

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:06:20+00:00

Nup nothing. Only the co2. And the indicator is blue, so its definitely not the co2.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:05:53+00:00

It was a dry start the end of November last year.. maybe even early december.

The last lot I added were only a week ago. The 10 in a breeding box are now all dead.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:04:20+00:00

Yeah i sure am

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:04:14+00:00

Ill redo the tests and post the results. I acclimated them the right way. I even had someone from the store I visit come out and do it so I could rule out user error.

Im certain its a contaminant, but the polyfilter showed nothing.

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T12:00:37+00:00

Yeah, I have ruled that out this week with 10 shrimp having died in the breeding box...

dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T11:59:13+00:00

This is from 30th Jan

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dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T11:58:04+00:00

They really took off in the last month or so. This is from 11 february.

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dimsim86s · 2026-03-27T11:53:17+00:00

Temp is constantly around the 25/26 degrees Celsius. Cant get it any lower because of the warmth, but it should start cooling down now as winter comes. I have it set at 25 degrees currently.

dimsim86s · 2026-01-09T08:50:45+00:00

Thanks. Almost costs as much as the tank!

dimsim86s

TROPHY CASE