crs dying off

[smicko]

Hi all. I have noticed over the last two weeks that I have been slowly losing my low grade crs. I have checked wp except tds (dont have a pen yet) and all good. I dont think its a molting issue as I watched my ss female molt the other night and she's going great guns. She also bred but ive only seen 2 babies.Tank has fluval stratum substrate and I add fluval shrimp liquid, it runs c02 at 1 bubble per 30 seconds and a t8 fluro grow light. I started with 10 a-c grade and 2 ss culls. I now habe 4 a-c and the 2 ss left (a pair awsome). I water change with conditioned aged tap water. Strange part is the low grades where bred in tap water and the ss in ro with salty shrimp but the ss are happy and breeding. Any help greatly appreciated as I dont want to lose more. Sorry for the long post, trying to include all info I can.

Cheers mick

[BlueBolts]

Difficulty to assess due to the use of tap water, as the additives/inconsistency can create issues with no fault

of your own. I've noticed a drop of shrimplet survival with high TDS, so great if you can check this once you've receive your pen. If all you WP are fine, (double check your nitrates), suggest perhaps using some activated carbon in your filter and throw in a IAL. Do you add any mineral to your tank ? i.e. salty shrimp, mineral powder ... ?

[smicko]

Hi bb I thought about the tap water but figured it would kill all not just some. The only thing I add is the fluval shrimp which I thnk only raises gh when needed. I will def check tds when pen arrives ( thanks sqiggle for telling me where to get it). I havent got ial handy but I have heaps of bannana leaves so I might try that until I get some. I find it wierd that the higher grades are doing well and lower grades are dying, could they be a weaker strain? I will add some carbon today.

Cheers mick

[BlueBolts]

I have dried banana leaves in my tank..not sure whether they work as well though. I can send you some IAL today, if you PM me your address.

[smicko]

I can get some ial tomorrow so I will hold off on the banana leaves. Thanks for the offer bb but I should be sweet.

Cheers mick