Wonky water parameters, shrimp aren't doing hot.

[corykitty]

Long story short. 5.5 gallon tank. (Small, I know. I'm going to move up to a 10 eventually but can't afford to right this second so let's see if I can fix it.

Just tested my water, as usual with my API test it ran high on the low pH and low on the high pH so I'm guessing my pH is around 7.6.

Ammonia tested at .25ppm, nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 2.5ppm.

What should I do resolve this? How much water changed and how often? This tank is almost 4 months old so I have to guess it's cycled by now, jeez.

Water treated with Prime.

[mnemenoi]

Ammonia will still register after Prime treatment, it is reading Ammonium (the safer thing Prime binds it into). My guess off the top of my head is your water source (try testing your tap water). With such a small tank, I'd recommend bottled water for its water changes. My guess is with a very watched food level, you could get away with a 20% WC every couple weeks with it being shrimp only.

[morpheus]

what is your water hardness? i would test it at the source and tank as well. they sell kits for GH and KH. for shrimp especially calcium carbonate is essential for the molting process, and if not enough calcium is absorbed, the new exoskeleton will be softer and makes them more vulnerable to disease and stress.

live plants will also keep your nitrates at zero. shrimp will feed off the micro organisms and algae on the leaves.