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Having some water issues, at least I think..... GH seems high. PH: 6.1-6.2 TDS 165 GH:7-8 KH: 0 Temp: 72 I’ve been remineralizing to 150 TDS with Distilled water. Creeps up with the single dose of fertilizer I do after water changes to 160-165. I Don’t get why KH is so high? Edit: I checked the water I’m using, KH/GH are at 0.

I don't think there is much there to worry about but the fertiliser is obviously raising the TDS/GH so you can either reduce the remineralized new water to a lower figure, maybe aim for 120 TDS (that will be GH6) for the new water! The new water will need to be added slowly (dripped or similar) when you do water changes but the overall effect will be a very slow lowering of the TDS over time assuming you do small water changes (20%). This should also reduce the GH unless there is something else causing the increase? Your figures in September were GH7 TDS140 which sounds about right for the remineralized water. - 1GH=20TDS. The usual mid-range ideal figure for bee shrimp is about 140 anyway so you may as well bring it down a bit from 165 as that is getting a bit near the 180 usual upper limit anyway? I don't think you should need the fertilizer now that the tank is established and the shrimp waste should feed the plants naturally so it might help to reduce/ween the fertiliser to a point where you can stop using it altogether. Just keep a close eye on the plants as they will soon tell you if they need the fertiliser by looking less healthy! It is better anyway not to use fertilisers with shrimps! The rocks you have may also be affecting the TDS/GH depending on what type they are? Though I tend to think from the above it is more likely to be natural increase that JayC mentioned before and the fertiliser. Also, any topping up for evaporation between water changes needs to be pure water, not mineralized! Don't worry too much as the figures aren't that bad so just a little tweaking should be sufficient and overdoing it WILL do more damage so be cautious, especially if everything is running well, shrimp breeding and not dying off! Simon

You may still get some CBS if an adult CBS and CRS breed I believe? I got all sorts of taiwan bee colours/patterns from just red ruby and blue bolts mixed together, even blacks and none of the shrimp showed any black! Simon