Noob GH question..

[Dostalgia]

[h=5]Saturday nights are meant to confuse myself!!!

Here is another noob question from me...

my current tank water (final stages of cycling) now is 1kh, and 3gh.

Water from the tap is 1kh 2gh.

Question is:

How much salty shrimp mineral must I add to my tap water to get it to be around 4-6gh for CRS ?

And how much salty shrimp mineral must I add to RO water to get target gh of 4-6?

Aim is to keep S-SS grade CRS and get them to breed.

Water parameter guide taken from: http://shrimpkeeping.com/water-params/[/h]I would also like some advise if my tap water is suitable for my shrimp keeping aim, or am i better off with RO water (no RO unit, but purchased from LFS using a 20l jerry can!)?

[Squiggle]

You're best off checking the mineral content with a TDS pen & once you have the correct TDS then the SaltyShrimp should get GH to about 4-5. If you want to just raise the GH then MgSO4 or CaSO4 will raise the GH but it will also raise the TDS :victorious:

[BlueBolts]

The amount of salty shrimp mineral is theoretically more related to TDS / Ec... As Tap Water is "mineralised", the amount of salty shrimp is dependant on the level of the TDS/Ec of the tap water. In general, if using RO Water, and at the recommended amount, GH is approx. 4. GH can be raised by adding Calcium.

There's thread about GH, and the Ca:Mg ratio....

Several hobbyist use tap water with success. Personally, I'm a control freak, and use RO water only, so that I can eliminate any inconsistency/issues that tap water can possess. I'd advise in getting a TDS or Ec pen, and if you're not getting a RO unit, please do test there water wherever you get it, as it may not be pure/clean, as experience by some hobbyist here.

[Dostalgia]

thanks for the reply BB & Squiggle

i do have a TDS pen, my tap water TDS is at 40 (conversion rate to EC is 0.5, forgot if it is x2 TDS reading or divided by 2 :/)

TDS on my tank is 110. I have no idea how it changed from 40 to 110, i have driftwood, benibachi substrate, and a single honeycomb rock piece in there.

Anyway I have a feeling i am either asking the wrong question or missing the concept altogether!

Salty shrimp mineral (SSM) is to add "minerals" to the water. Would adding SSM to Tap water be alright?

TDS (incl minerals) is measured using a TDS pen correct?

if i need a targeted TDS: 100 – 180, and my current tank water is already within range, do i still need to add SSM to my tank?

and for future water change, how much SSM would i need to add to my tap water to make up the difference from 40 to say 150?

[Dostalgia]

on the SSM instructional label, it says 3g to 20l to raise gh to 6, so why do i measure TDS instead of GH?

I am sooo confused :(

[Squiggle]

thanks for the reply BB & Squigglei do have a TDS pen' date=' my tap water TDS is at 40 (conversion rate to EC is 0.5, forgot if it is x2 TDS reading or divided by 2 :/)TDS on my tank is 110. I have no idea how it changed from 40 to 110, i have driftwood, benibachi substrate, and a single honeycomb rock piece in there.Anyway I have a feeling i am either asking the wrong question or missing the concept altogether!Salty shrimp mineral (SSM) is to add "minerals" to the water. Would adding SSM to Tap water be alright?TDS (incl minerals) is measured using a TDS pen correct?if i need a targeted TDS: 100 – 180, and my current tank water is already within range, do i still need to add SSM to my tank?and for future water change, how much SSM would i need to add to my tap water to make up the difference from 40 to say 150?[/quote']TDS is half of EC, so if EC is 200 then TDS is 100. What is honeycomb rock? What's it made from? This could be causing the TDS to rise.Yes you can add SSM to tap water & if you are using Bee Shrimp GH+ then you add the SSM to get an EC of 200(from memory) I always add the minerals & check with my TDS pen to make sure I have the correct concentrationI don't remember that, I thought it was one spoon per 20L to get 200microsiemens, either way, I check it with my TDS pen & the GH is usually right when the TDS is right :encouragement:

[Dostalgia]

TDS is half of EC' date=' so if EC is 200 then TDS is 100.

What is honeycomb rock? What's it made from? This could be causing the TDS to rise.

Yes you can add SSM to tap water & if you are using Bee Shrimp GH+ then you add the SSM to get an EC of 200(from memory) I always add the minerals & check with my TDS pen to make sure I have the correct concentration

I don't remember that, I thought it was one spoon per 20L to get 200microsiemens, either way, I check it with my TDS pen & the GH is usually right when the TDS is right :encouragement:[/quote']

thanks for being patient with me Squiggle~

yes i am using Bee Shrimp GH+, i have just added 1 spoon of the bee shrimp mineral to my 20l jerry can of RO water, and the TDS reading went from 1 to 6 (EC12)

one Beeshrimp spoon is 3g :X

so if by adding 1spoon of the Bee Shrimp GH+, i get a reading of EC12, does it mean i have to keep more spoonfull till i get an EC of around 200 ?

how is EC different to microsiemens? are they the same thing?

[Squiggle]

thanks for being patient with me Squiggle~

yes i am using Bee Shrimp GH+' date=' i have just added 1 spoon of the bee shrimp mineral to my 20l jerry can of RO water, and the TDS reading went from 1 to 6 (EC12)

one Beeshrimp spoon is 3g :X

so if by adding 1spoon of the Bee Shrimp GH+, i get a reading of EC12, does it mean i have to keep more spoonfull till i get an EC of around 200 ?

how is EC different to microsiemens? are they the same thing?[/quote']

Yeah they are the same thing, EC is measured in microsiemens & TDS is measured in ppm. :encouragement:

I have a feeling your reading is x10 so the TDS is 60ppm or EC is 120ms. I usually mix the water with an airstone & check the reading after a few minutes, then adjust the level & wait a few minutes again till I get the correct level. You want to keep adding SSM till you get an EC reading of 20 on your pen(remember to times the reading by 10) :victorious:

[Dostalgia]

Yeah they are the same thing' date=' EC is measured in microsiemens & TDS is measured in ppm. :encouragement:

I have a feeling your reading is x10 so the TDS is 60ppm or EC is 120ms. I usually mix the water with an airstone & check the reading after a few minutes, then adjust the level & wait a few minutes again till I get the correct level. You want to keep adding SSM till you get an EC reading of 20 on your pen(remember to times the reading by 10) :victorious:[/quote']

i took the reading on my RO+shrimp mineral too quickly, think i have to exercise abit and start shaking and take another reading tomorrow :)

tyvm!