What type of algae/fungus is this?

[Thebobcats]

My shrimp have been sick and I want to know if this is hurting them or if they just arent keeping up with it.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Looks like it might be black brush algae. Shrimp won't eat it, generally. (I've read that amanos will, but in my experience they don't) How are your nitrate, nitrite, ammonia? Usually when shrimp aren't doing well it's because of deteriorating water quality.

 

[Thebobcats]

Looks like it might be black brush algae. Shrimp won't eat it, generally. (I've read that amanos will, but in my experience they don't) How are your nitrate, nitrite, ammonia? Usually when shrimp aren't doing well it's because of deteriorating water quality.

There is another thread on another forum where I've been talking about my shrimp problem and I have people stumped. All levels are excellent. Overnight, my shrimp became distressed and kept floating around, running into things, and landing on their backs and sides. I had 6 die in a day and 3 more the next night. I suspect poisoning of some kind but I haven't put anything in the tank, not even my hand. I checked pH and it was slightly high but not a fatal level, I suspect that the pH was always that high and doesn't have anything to do with it as all of it happened overnight. I've put almond leaves in to lower the pH. I put some brine shrimp in there the night before but they were rinsed and my other shrimp tank had no problems. They all pass away twitching and upsettlingly. I did a significant water change and drip replaced the water and the shrimp that survived seem to be doing ok but still arent eating apart from a few. I do have fish in there but they are chili rasboras and keep to themselves. The tank has been up for about a year and it is very planted and cycled. I'm stumped on what could have happened and as those shrimp were my babies I've about given up. I'm keeping doing small water changes, and putting shrimp complete to hopefully keep the remaining shrimp comfortable. Any suggestions would be amazing in getting to the bottom of this.

 

[Byron]

What is the GH? And what is the nitrate reading (will assume ammonia and nitrite are zero, but confirm).

 

[Thebobcats]

What is the GH? And what is the nitrate reading (will assume ammonia and nitrite are zero, but confirm).

I just did a test and the pH is lower now (7.2) but it was at 7.8. Nitrate is very very close to 0.

 

[Byron]

First, we (you) need to know the GH. This is important for shrimp as well as fish.

Second, the pH...let a glass of tap water sit for 24 hours, then test pH. This outgasses the CO2 so you get a more accurate reading. Also, is the water authority adding anything to the water to increase pH?

Nitrate is fine, ideal.

 

[Aqua67]

It almost looks like detritus worms, but I don’t think they are normally found on plant leaves like that. Fertilizing the tank may provide extra food for them though, if that is what they are. Usually you see them coming up out of the substrate if the oxygen levels are low in the tank.