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Those galaxy pintos are so nice.

Thats quite a difference! Did you swoosh them both through the water? Take a look at the 2 prongs on each and they should both be parallel to each other, ie straight? If the prongs aren't straight it will be wrong! Otherwise take a sample of some water from one of the sources, to a nearby local aquarium place and get them to check what reading they get and 'hopefully' it will agree (near enough) with one of the meters? The zerowater one is nearer the figure correlation that beanbag mentioned so maybe? If you want to change the water in the tank before you can get confirmation which is right then I would use the Zerowater meter as those figures are higher, so if it turns out the lower old meter is right you can just add more GH/KH+ which is easier (and a lot less wasteful) than trying to reduce it! As the zerowater figures correlate better to GH figures etc that is probably the most accurate! Simon edit - sorry, just realised beanbag TDS/GH correlation is on another UK thread! 1 GH is very roughly USUALLY approx 20 TDS.

My Zerowater jug arrived today with a free TDS meter. I had already bought a meter a couple of weeks ago so I decided to compare them. These are the results: Free meter Bought meter Tap water 317 227 Filtered water 0 1 190L tank 510 but dropped to 484 334 Nano tank 384 but rose to 410 306 Knowing nothing about these meters I don't know how reliable or accurate they are but these readings are wildly different. I suppose the important thing is that I'm getting pure water from the filter so once the cycle is over and I do a big water change I'll have the water I want.

Thanks. I think next time I will try boiling longer to soften the leaf more.

People will try to make money off anything. All you need is a little sprig of java moss and it will grow in any tank. You will soon be throwing out the overgrown moss you will have in the tank. When that happens, give it away to a fellow aquarist. That's how I got mine. Someone gave me a handful.

G'day Simon, Thank you for your reply. I cannot understand why if Java Moss is so quick and easy to grow. It is expensive to buy. I already have Red Cherry & Blue Cherry Shrimps. I am soon going to get some Yellow ones.The Substrate I have is Black Sand and ADA Amazonia. I also placed small walnut size stones in one corner so that the shrimps can hide. Cheers Perry

Sorry for slow reply, been re reading the thread.................... I would do the 100% water change with zerowater and GH/KH+. It will take a lot of time to filter the water and you will need a few buckets! Once you have filtered the 50L for the tank it would be a good idea to do the TDS/GH/KH /PH tests on pure zerowater as they should all still be 000? If you fish out the shrimps, Amano and cherry and put them into a bowl/bucket you can take some of the newly mineralised water and try drip acclimating them but best assume they won't make it long term (the new water put into the tank will change in parameters due to the soil buffering to start with) so you will be pleased if they do! I would run the new setup for a week or two to settle water parameters before getting new stock! You may have better luck acclimating the shrimp you already have to the 123L fish tank water and putting them in that tank if that is possible. I am not sure how this water change may affect the 'cycle' especially as you currently have nitrate and nitrite readings, so I would regularly test that once the zerowater is in the tank for a couple of weeks as well? The zerowater filter should remove the chlorine as well! The GH/KH+ is already balanced sp you only need to use the TDS meter when mixing the new water - I would aim for 180 but it doesn't need to be exact so some lee way either side is fine! Then from there go back to the 10% water change each week. If you need to TOP UP between water changes just use pure zerowater without any GH/KH+. Looks like your going to have a busy weekend??? Hope I haven't forgotten anything................ Simon

Hopefully you will get the new shrimps later this week, exciting stuff! They grow fairly quickly! The babies will feed off the sponge so it doesn't surprise me to hear they like it there. Pleased to hear it is going so well! Simon

The babies are showing up more and more, they really like to hang out on the tiny driftwood on the right side, under the sponge filter. I’ve been using your suggestion, and using my pipettes to blow some of the Baby Shrimp, Shrimp Fit into that area when dosing the Glasgarten mixture. The shrimp have not yet arrived, this place doesn’t ship overnight, and the were shipped yesterday. The galaxies my buddy ordered on this order were still in quarantine until yesterday, so it delayed shipping. However, I will give this fish supplier credit, as I’ve never had a casualty from them from anything I’ve ordered, and they throw in plenty of spares( 2-3 on average). They also offer a DOA refund policy. I anticipate them being here Friday or Saturday.

If it is working as it is then I would do as JayC says, TT are almost as tough as cherry shrimps so they may be fine. The GH/KH will increase those at 2:1 respectively and I think it may also increase the PH also. It is designed for cherry shrimps but I think you may be ok with TT as well as many people keep those together as they don't interbreed and both are tough? Just be aware that GH/KH+ will affect those 3 parameters and not just the GH! As I say though, if the shrimps are doing fine maybe don't use anything - if it's not broken don't try and fix it! Simon

Going to be difficult to get rid of it without using chemical. Zero planaria uses a natural betel nut extract. And you can use half dose if you are worried.