Is KH powder + 7 safe when cycling?

[guntash]

Hi

I recently decided to replace the substrate in my 20 Litre shrimp tank with Black Earth Premium Substrate (normal). So far I'm very happy with it, but my tank is struggling to cycle. I'm sure it's because the PH is at about 6. I've read some other posts and had some people explain about having a challenging time cycling with a lower PH. I kept the existing old filter, sponge / media as is, with all the good bacteria to seed the new tank, and just replaced the substrate. I removed all the shrimp and only have one of my white cloud minnows and a small guppy in there for the moment, which are from another larger tank. I'm doing daily 10% water changes. They seem fine. It's been about 2 and a half weeks and my ammonia is still sitting between 0.25 and 0.5 (these have been the readings every day). I do have a small Nitrate reading of almost 5 (but this may be because I filled half the tank with water from an established tank when I started). Not sure about Nitrite. My GH is 5, temp of tank is 24 degrees c. My question is, would it be safe to add a tiny bit of KH Powder + 7, to increase the KH (which is at 0) to help buffer the water instead of crushed coral, or is it best not to mess with the PH at this stage? Thanks guys.

[Squiggle]

What shrimp do you have?

[guntash]

Hi Squiggle. The tank will be used for the blue velvets I'm getting from Michael. From what I've heard I think they prefer a higher PH, but I was hoping to be able to stock another type of shrimp in the future too, which is why I chose to go with the Black Earth Premium and have a lower PH. I have another larger tank with Crystal Red Shrimp and yellow shrimp.

[Squiggle]

Personally I wouldn't go adding any KH to the tank if you intend on having crystals in there later on, cherries can handle a higher KH but not crystals. I would stop doing daily WC's for a week or so cause you are just removing the ammonia, which is the good for the bacteria. Leave it for a while till you notice a rise in your nitrates then do a WC, once you notice the nitrates rising you'll know that the bacteria is there & working properly. Tanks with a lower PH do take longer to cycle & you just have to be patient. If you are going to add anything to help the cycle I would recommend adding Benibachi Bee Max, my rack cycled in 3 weeks at 5.8 using Bee Max. :encouragement:

[guntash]

Thanks for the tip. What does Bee Max do? Can I use it even after the tank has cycled?

[Squiggle]

Yeah you can, it's just a bacterial booster that the shrimp can eat.

[guntash]

Thanks for the advice :)

[guntash]

I am using Mosura Mineral Plus. Can I use Bee Max with this?

[Squiggle]

Yeah you should be able to, I use Bee Max with Benibachi mineral powder to setup all my tanks, should be just the same. :encouragement:

[guntash]

Thanks Squiggle. What other shrimp products do most people add to their tanks / water changes on a regular basis that are beneficial or really recommended?

[Squiggle]

That's pretty much all I use, although I use Benibachi mineral powder. Maybe others can let you know what they use. :encouragement:

[jayc]

At water change I also add Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Sulphate. I also add Blackwater extract for the fulvic acid.