Shrimpie Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Okay it's been about 2 months since I set up my new 10 gallon. Using RO water remineralized with Blue Diamond (thanks Han) - Parameters are: TDS 180 GH 6 KH 0 Ammonia 0.025 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 I've been squeezing the foam sponge from my other tanks filters into this tank and adding Z Powder weekly Substrate is basic black sand, driftwood, fissidens (thanks Ch3f) and java moss. These parameters have stayed the same for a month now. I did have danios in the tank, but took them back to the lfs after a week from suggestions about doing fishless cycling. I moved 2 of my assassin snails into the tank. So is it safe to add shrimp to these parameters now? It makes me nervous, I don't want to harm or kill any shrimpies. I like the rili shrimp - so nothing too fancy. Or is this ammonia still an issue? h4n 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenteam Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 go for it. Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miwu Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Rilis? You'll have no problem. Plus we're always here if you run into any trouble! Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woopderson Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Go get those shrimp! Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Rilis are a great shrimp to start with. Love them!! Good luck Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Hang on a second. I know it's been two months, but if you are still seeing ammonia and you have zero nitrates, are you SURE the tank is cycled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I think you will be fine with any Neo to be honest. Weird that you have 0 nitrates. What rilis are you looking to pick up for your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 If you are using a liquid test kit be sure to really bang the 2 bottles and shake violently as the main chemical will stick to the bottom of the bottle and this will give you a negative reading. Edit: the nitrate test bottles are what I mean lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 hehe I was thinking the same about the readings but just assumed he had tested and SEEN the cycle. I guess I shouldn't assume though. Shrimpie, did you test all along and watch it go through the cycle from ammonia to nitrites to nitrates ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countryboy12484 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Think your scared now wait till you buy your first $30+ shrimp lol Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpie Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 You guys are great. Thanks for all the support. The liquid tests I have been using is API - The ammonia test is soooooo hard to tell between the yellow 0 and the verrrrrrrrry light green at 0.025. I wish there was a more accurate test out there to use. The nitrate liquid test I shake really good before putting the drops in. My assassin snails are doing very well. I bit the bullet and purchased 10 of the red rili that I am in love with. I have a drip acclimater I will use when they arrive. I am having them sent overnight to arrive next Wednesday when I am home. Keeping all toes and fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpie Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 These test kits are interesting. If I use the API strip test, it shows 0 nitrite and barely negligible nitrate. It shows ph at 6.2, but my ph meter shows ph at 7.2 I think I trust the liquid tests and the ph meter more than the strips. Anybody have any suggestions for better test kits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpie Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I am wondering if I should start adding the Bacter AE before the shrimp arrive. What do you all think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 The ammonia test is soooooo hard to tell between the yellow 0 and the verrrrrrrrry light green at 0.025. Try looking down from the top and place white paper under the tube. Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 These test kits are interesting. If I use the API strip test, it shows 0 nitrite and barely negligible nitrate. It shows ph at 6.2, but my ph meter shows ph at 7.2 I think I trust the liquid tests and the ph meter more than the strips. Anybody have any suggestions for better test kits?Api master test kits are very good, I wouldn't trust test strips my self as they can be very inaccurate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I am of the opposite opinion, the API liquid tests are ridiculously inaccurate due to their failure to print consistent, usable color charts. It isn't the reagents (as long as you follow the directions), it's the chart. I cannot interpret the results if they are not zero or 10 ppm. Sure, anything above 10 means a water change is a good idea, but I don't consider that to be a test result that I would pay money for. Jadenlea 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpie Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 So Chibikaie: what test procedure do you use for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? I am open to trying others for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I am with you Chibik. I have the hardest time distinguishing between the colors on the test kits. I have wondered if it is my eyesight or if everyone has the same trouble. Unfortunately, I think its the best bet out there atm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 For ammonia, I have fallen in love with the Seachem in-tank indicator. I swear it really does work - I can see when I have a spike, and I usually find that one of my older guppies has passed away after hunting around the tank. I have been using the Tetra dry strips for nitrite and nitrate. For whatever reason, I can distinguish the shades of pink much more easily. The multistrip also shows some other values, like KH and GH, but I'm most concerned about those two. (I don't have shrimp yet; I do have the API liquid tests for KH and GH, but I trust those as they are done by titration, not trying to match colors.) I have heard good things about the Sera tests, but have not found a source that isn't crazy expensive. Shrimpie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpie Posted November 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 I was wondering about the Sera test strips. I see that Swiss Tropicals carries them. I love using their Mattenfilter in my tank. Maybe I'll order the Sera strips from him. I haven't tried the Tetra strips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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