Tracyp

So I know there's plenty of material to read up on for ich and I have but I can't seem to find an answer for the length of time I should take when increasing the salinity of my tank. Here's the deets on my tank: It's a newly established 12 gallon tank (just finished cycling) with live plants, guppies, a few platys, and shrimp. 0-nitrite, 0-ammonia, 5mg/L - nitrate, PH-7.5 I've lost 2 guppies and a platy, originally I thought it was due to adding too many fish to a tank that was not completely cycled as I had been having troubles keeping nitrite/nitrates down (I've been doing regular water changes and everything seems to have leveled out). Now I'm realizing their symptoms seem to be indicative of complications with ich and I'm now seeing the cysts on everyone else in the tank. I won't use chemicals due to the risk of harming my plants and shrimp so I'm going with increased heat, salt, and regular gravel vacuuming. I was thinking of gradually raising the temp to 27/28 C, adding salt at 1 teaspoon per gallon so 12 teaspoons and vacuuming the tank every other day or so (hard to do without uprooting all the plants). Does anyone know if I should add the salt gradually and if so over what time period? Also is that enough salt? I want to get this kicked asap but don't want to risk stressing my fish any further by dumping in a ton of salt. I've already added 4 teaspoons and everyone seems as happy as expected, they're eating and swimming but a few have slightly clamped fins although that could be due to the ich. Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!

Dammit I was hoping that wasn't the case... live and learn I suppose. That just gives me more reason to get another tank for shrimp

I'm new to shrimp and got 10 FRS last week and it seems they have all disappeared but two of them have finally decided to come out and play! Still unsure what happened to the rest of them, at the time I only had 5 guppies in there and I can't see them being big enough to eat them so hopefully the rest are just hiding.

Tried the Vaseline but there's no difference, guess I'll see about ordering one

I'm new to having a planted tank so I don't know if this is anything to be concerned about but I bought a Marimo ball last week and last night I noticed little white ball like things on the moss ball. Has anyone else ever seen anything like it? I just want to be sure it's not something that will affect the rest of the tank.

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

Thanks for all the insight! I think I might just wait to set-up an invert only tank and try them out then. I'd hate to loose any shrimp, it seems of the 10 FRS I put in 2 days ago only 2 are still around? I can't imagine the guppies having mouths big enough to eat them so I don't know where they went. Although I did find one of them molted last night so one of them seems to be happy enough?

Thanks! Yes I have 6 different species of plants so far and the fish and shrimp seem happy happy happy.

Hi, I'm new to owning inverts and have recently purchased 10 FRS and put them in with my guppies in my 12 gallon planted tank. I've been looking online and found CPO Orange Dwarf Crayfish and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these guys. I would love to add one to my tank but am unsure if the tank is too small and if it will eat all my FRS. I've read that they can be peaceable enough and not bother anyone else in the tank but it seems for every positive review I read there's one that says the will eat everything. Any help is greatly appreciated! Cheers

Hi, I recently purchased a 12 gallon Eclipse bow-front tank off Kijiji and have discovered that the filter is quite loud. I've had an Eclipse 5 gallon hex before with the same style filter system and don't remember it being this loud. I've taken out the impeller and cleaned it although it didn't seem overly dirty and now if anything it seems louder. The impeller doesn't look worn so I'm at a loss as what to do now. No one seems to carry the impeller as the tank has been discontinued and before I purchase one online I was wondering if anyone else has had the same issue? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hi! I have a 12 gallon eclipse that I am slowing building up to a community tank. I recently discovered shrimp and have a feeling I may end up buying a tank just for inverts! (maybe even dwarf crayfish?) I currently have 5 guppys, 5 different species of plants and 10 FRS and plan on adding a few danios along with maybe another variety of shrimp. I've been perusing the forums here and have found them quite useful, I'm hoping to find people to purchase from in the future as I'd rather support locals than big box pet stores if I can. If anyone has any tips, or stock they are looking to sell lemme know! Cheers!