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Wouldn’t be the tank size. Are you running co2? What is your ph and tds? Are you using RO water?

Update: Dry start initiated! One the way!

Hi. I've had these CRS for about a year now and they get pregnant but usually the most that survive us one in each litter. Everything is normal and I do a 10%water change each week. They're all healthy just no offspring. The only thing i can think of is my tank size. It's 60 gallons and my previous setup was a 15 gallon and they seemed to be doing better then. I have a 306 fluval external filter and an air sponge filter. I installed a chiller so the water stays cold. I have a splash bar for surface. I feed them blanched veggies all the time. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong, is it the tank size?

That is the normal route people tend to go, and with larger tanks is probably the most practical for larger quantities of water once everything is set up and plumbed in! Simon

I’m really considering one of these. As a whole, the reviews are fantastic. https://www.amazon.com/LiquaGen-5-Stage-Reverse-Osmosis-Deionization/dp/B01FNAPGPA/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=RODI&qid=1568126541&s=gateway&sr=8-2#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

I use this water jug which is an american product so easily available in US, I think Walmart sell them the link is mine so UK supplier so not good for you, just showing what it is. It may not be what you want as you have large tanks? It produces RO water the easy/cheap way. I have used it for a couple of years and others on here now use it, even in Hong Kong! https://zerowater.co.uk/?variant=48184661572 I would buy the RO water from the shop to set up the tanks as that is easier and then just use it for water changes and maintenance/top up. I get about 100 Litres per filter cartridge with our water here! I use tap water for neo's, but caridina will need RO remineralized of one form or another. You could try tap for the neo tank, if you test the tap water first to find out if it is usable, as I still need to top that up with GH/KH+ on one tank to get to the right figures? Simon

I agree I’m lucky. It could have been so much worse. Question for the crowd. I’m getting a bit tired of buying and hauling RODI water. Don’t get me wrong, at 2.50 per 5-gallons, it isn’t expensive. However, is it worth investing in an RODI setup, or should I keep buying RODI? Or, start testing tap and see if I can just use that?

I’ve ordered a dish already! I’m excited to have a feeding area, as my shrimp are now tanking prepared foods. I’m also considering replacing the rock on the right hand side( the single one inside the sand) with another piece of driftwood from the existing tank, once this one is full of water . I figure it will help move some bacteria, and provide more grazing area. Sponge-filter sponges and bio ball media are inside the sump area of the Spec V now for two weeks, to seed them as well. I lost several CRS during power outage from hurricane Dorian. 3 to be exact, so I’m pretty bummed about that. Even with the generator running, I couldn’t run anything but an air-stone, abs the temp got very high. I guess it could have been worse. Lol, I couldn’t imagine trying to paint a tank that’s already set up. Although, it could be done if you had enough clearance, and used a small foam roller to paint, instead of aerosol.

The sand shouldn't compete with the buffering capacity of the soil so will be fine for the Crystal shrimps tank. You may want to get a clear feeding dish if you are planning to put food on the sand area as it will be difficult to remove food from sand! I have seen people paint their tank rear on youtube, and just use a spray can (aerosol) same as you could buy from a car accessory shop, so it couldn't be any easier, I have never tried it though! As you say, you need to mask the tank well. Best to do it before you do anything else with the tank of course. Simon

I did paint the back of the tank. I have access to some really great painting prep solvent( Final Klean), it’s superior to almost anything I’ve ever used. It’s expensive at 100.00 per gallon, but I have some on hand as I do some firearms coating, personally, and use it for that. Not sure where you’re at, but Krylon fusion is my preferred paint to use on my tanks. It’s fantastic paint. If you decide to paint, just make sure to mask the ENTIRE tank, overspray will inevitably get on other parts of the tank.

The 17 gallon( current build thread) is for your existing CRS, the 10 gallon is slated to hold Neos at some some point. My understanding was was that sand is neutral. I choose this for a non-planted area for two reasons: 1: I like the aesthetics from the contrast. 2. It gives me a clean, easy to maintain area to feed. since the rock and the sand are neutral. I shouldn’t have an issue with them fighting the PH buffering, correct?On a side note, I fixed the original post to reflect CRS instead of RCS.

This tank will be for RCS shrimp. I purchased a second , similar tank for a Cherry tank( sorry if I misspoke in the earlier posts). The rock was tested with muriatic acid, and soaked in the tank during the 6 day water test of the tank. I saw no bubbling with the acid test, and no PH or TDS changes from the rock during those tests. I still plan on some moss for the wood, but I haven’t acquired any Christmas moss yet. Waiting on the postal service.

Are you still going to stick moss on the wood? I have re-read this thread as the title says caridia but you say the neocaridina are going in this tank, threw me a bit but thats not hard! I am assuming it is neocaridina as you say cherry (RCS) in the original post so the sand will work fine as it is in part of the tank, with the soil substrate in the rest of it. The soil substrate will probably buffer the Ph for a while to lower than is 'ideal' for cherry shrimps but as long as you do a long acclimatisation when putting the shrimp in the tank I doubt it will be too much of a problem, I have both my cherries in with soil substrate. Over time the Ph will rise but it should happen slowly enough as the substrate exhausts of its buffering capabilities that it doesn't cause a problem but you should keep a close eye on Ph readings. I'm not sure about the white stone as it maybe some type of limestone? It may work in your favour at the start if this tank is for cherries as it may speed up the buffering exhaustion of the soil as rocks usually raise the Ph, with a few exceptions. You may need to take it out later if the Ph goes too high though! Simon

What are you feeding them, the shrimplets, that is? Do you have a mesh prefilter on the fluval filter inlet?

Have you painted the back glass? I’m thinking of doing that for my new tank as any material I put on the back always gets water damaged