CRS Mass Molting?

[Jozle]

I did a mass cleaning to my CRS tank yesterday, scraping the algae off the walls, a 25% water change, trimming of DHG, HC, and heavily algae infected anubias nana leaves, and cleaning the filter. Woke up this morning and saw lots of molted shells and half of my CRS missing (most likely hiding). Is this normal?

[eklikewhoa]

Yes.

[madehtsobi]

moltings a good thing!!! getting bigger and breeding soon!!

[fishman1]

What kind of algae did u have because you should leave some good kind for them to feed on

[bikeguru]

You did a little to much in one day to maintain you shrimp tank. Cleaning the front glass only and a water change should be enough. You don't want to clean the back or sides, reason why is you will change the natural balance in your tank and you don't want to do that in a big way. No trimming plants in your shrimp tank that has a small water volume (less than 15 gallon) Try your best not to use Anubias or Crypt plants, but if you have them just please try your best not to trim the plants (leaves and stems) inside the shrimp tank. Especially never cut the rhizome of the Anubias plant and plant it back right away in your shrimp tank. Freshly cut rhizome/roots/stems/leaves from Anubias and Crypt. Plants (especially Anubias) leak a toxic substance to your tank. Or if you observe your shrimps swimming like crazy in your tank after you trim the rhizome of the Anubias plants, then you know you will have to take out the Anubias plant and carry out 80% water change right away. However, if you have great filtration/circulation in your tank, then it "should" not be a problem depending on the size of your aquarium but I will still recommend to carry out a water change just to be on the safe side. My two cents do in the next couple days at least 3 or 4 WC of 40% just RO/DI water, make sure it has the same temperature.

[eklikewhoa]

The whole "toxic anubias" thing has been long talked about but never really proven. Not discrediting your statement much but There has been little controlled test or research about that just crazy acts associated with anubias.

I have had my trophs eat a whole anubias plant (rhizome included) and they actually seem healthier.

[Jozle]

It's fine if the leaves were yellow right?

[eklikewhoa]

Supposedly any opening, cut or tear will release this toxin. Kind of like a defense mechanism.

[Jozle]

Well, my garbage tank with baby tiger endlers, ghost shrimp, and various plants and animals look ok since I broke off some anubias about two weeks ago. Nothing looked like its change but a giant mass growth of anacharis and red wendiis

[Jozle]

I had to clean the shrimp tank anyways, little cyclops and other critters were starting to appear among the filth. I didn't clean it before because I thought I might hurt the shrimp fries.

[eklikewhoa]

It could be the other plants helping soak up the "toxins" or just that there isn't any. It's hard to say if it doesn't instantly nuke your tank each and every time.

[OEBlueTigerShrimp]

Cyclops are not a bad thing.

[Jozle]

What are they good for?

[eklikewhoa]

They clean where others can't and theyre a nutritious treat