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Yeah I'm planning on doing that with tts and blue dreams or blue/carbon rillis, cuz tts can do neo parameters (or so I've heard)

LOL. Looks like you are heading down that path of acquiring multiple tanks. Good luck. There is no coming back from that :)

Hiya. We did the plastic and clear silicone thing, then filled the tank ?. We were terrified we'd flood the house. All good though. I 50% changed the water today and checked the ph, cl2, kh, no 2/3 levels. All good(ish), we have very hard water. Mum has been in her own tank for nearly a week now. Trying to build up a load of algae in there with her for when she pops. Bought the salt to make the water brackish once we get Mum out. I'M SO NERVOUS! I hope we're doing this right, please help if not. x

If you are a ways away, I might be able to part with a dozen-ish nice Blue Dreams from Bretz line by that point. Not counting chickens before they hatch, but my colony is back to being productive again, though I had the bright idea of adding his line to an imported line and am having to work out culls (again) now.

Can confirm. I keep TTS in both Neo and Caridina set ups.

Have you tested the tank parameters as that is the most important one? The tank looks good. Have you removed all the rock? If you have and the parameters (Ph) are going down with the water changes then you have probably sorted that part of the problem. If not I would try removing all the rock at this stage (you can always put it back later?) I left my rock a week in the test water before testing so you may be being too impatient, test again in another 4 days as it won't instantly rise it will take time to slowly increase the Parameters (Ph) I expect? Some occupants were probably weak/sick by the stage you started 'messing' with the parameters etc, and changing the parameters may have just been too much or too late for some, if they were already weak/sick? Simon

I have ordered the above book I wanted, woohoo!!! Simon

Well, I mean, you need at least three right? One for Caridina, one for Neos, and one for culls? Wait, make that 4. Two cull tanks because different parameters ?

Good luck! Sounds like a great project! btw, I love that spongy has 5 posts and 5 reputation points... (100% positivity on posts vs everyone else with under 50%)

Setting up a brackish water tank is one thing, but have you thought about what to feed them? Amano hatchlings (don't know what to call them) don't eat normal food. They eat the algae in green water and biofilm after day 2. So the tank ought to have been set up weeks ago and let green algae develop in the water. All is not lost however, you might be able to feed them powdered spirulina or chlorella - the kind you get at health food stores sold as super foods. NOTE: this is a disclaimer - I don't actually know if this powdered algae will work, as I don't keep shrimp that hatch into larvae.

One already decided on the Crystal Reds. But I’ve been eyeing the Neos mentioned for the other tank build I’m scoping out right now..... lol.

That might be it. I collect my oak leaves in autumn, and they are not curled either.

I got their Wild Shrimp China edition and loved it. It has amazing photos of wild-collecting many species currently in the hobby (as Chris L is known for) but also has water parameters, temps and such at each collection location. I haven't been able to actually get my hands on a B&K, but had high hopes.

That means you have something else in the tank that is leeching carbonates - like a rock, or gravel or shell grit.

Thanks guys for the advice and support, it is much appreciated. Yesterday, luckily a friend was round so we got to empty the tank, very sad to see so many dead shrimps, so all the plants etc are in a bucket with the old water. I fished out 10-20 shrimps that seemed ok (not got the courage to look yet today) and in the process of getting those into the old 15L temporary home for probably a week. I ordered the substrate 'shrimp king' and that was sent yesterday and should arrive today, and a thermostat to stick on the outside. I will look at what you recommend JayC at some later stage when it is all back UP and RUNNING again, and I can relax a bit! You are right JayC, although it is a disaster, it is good to KNOW what caused it and as you say heaters break, though before when they have broken to where they didn't work, which just meant the occupants just got a bit cold and caused no problems, but it is a valuable lesson learnt. I will get thermometers for the other tanks as well, but only ordered one at this stage to see if I like it and it works etc. I have ordered 2 x 4L shrimp king soil as they say that needs no preparation and very quickly the shrimp can then go back. I was planning to put double the amount I used previously (so thats 6L, though that was a different substrate) so it will be about 1.5 inches. Any advice on that would be appreciated? And as you say JayC I will pretty much use the plants etc from before. I appreciate the advice and thoughts a lot, thank you both! edit - Total wipeout as the ones I fished out still died! It does mean I don't need to hurry to set everything up at least and I will need to go shrimp shopping sometime in the summer. Simon

New breeding project. Green strain from tang tigers. Love the banded pattern on the legs.

When I fed my shrimps on saturday I counted 80 and yesterday all appeared well also. This morning all I can see is dead bodies with a reddish colour shell to the head area.............. I assume it is rust but am not certain, only going by what I have read here. From what I have read here it could be because the substrate was exhausted and the PH had risen to 7.5 last time I checked (though that was slowly over time)? I doubt there is much I can do at this stage, but I will set up the old 15L to put any ALIVE healthy looking shrimp in IF THERE ARE ANY! and close down the big tank and start again. I guess I know next time that when the PH indicates that the substrate isn't working properly to act quicker???? When does the learning finish! My main queries at this stage are: 1) Is it safe to put stuff from this tank with the dead shrimps into the small tank where I will put any healthy shrimps (If there are any alive that is) or will that be a bad idea, I am thinking, water, heater, maybe a plant or 2 etc. 2) How do I make the bad tank good now so that it won't be contaminated for the restart? Tank, filter, heater, plants, decorations etc. I will use new substrate. Simon