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If TDS & pH are the only parameters we have, then keep reducing TDS to about 160.

You are either using too much GH+ and/or shrimp essentials, or probably more likely is that there is something in the tank releasing stuff! Could be both I guess? Have you removed the cuttlebone? The normal culprit is rock! I expect your TDS has rocketed as well? You could do more halm than good by just panicing and doing big changes so take it slowly, especially if no shrimps have die. The KH of 2 for instance was ok so you didn't need to do anything with that and that probably also added to thee TDS? What is in your tank (everything)? What water do you use (I think rainwater?) and how do you prepare it? What is your regular maintenance/water change schedule? Anything else you add to the tank, plant fertilizer or snail food etc etc? Lets start with the basics and hopefully we can get to the bottom of it before it becomes a big problem. Simon

Sorry to hear you only have 7 left. It may well end up they all die but at least then you can get everything sorted ready for a new batch. Be mentally preparing yorself for te fact that this batch probably will all die off but then you will have a chance to do it properly and don't feel too guilty as we all made mistakes at the start. Your TDS is way too high still and you really need to get the GH, KH and PH test kits so that you can get more of an overall picture of the water. It may also be that the tank wasn't cycled? When you change the water you should add the new water very slowly, usually the best method is to use a dripper of some kind! You can accelerate the rate of reducing the TDS by just using pure RO when you do the water change, but that could also prove too much for the shrimp if the new water is added too quickly and the shrimp may already be weakened from the time spent in the wrong water parameters. Are you still using RO filtered water using the filter that adds back minerals for drinking? I still think the zerowater jug would be your best bet as then you can still use the other RO water for drinking as well! Simon

Hello, I have a 10-gallon tank that I set up for a combination of Neos and PRL/CRS shrimp (as well as some snails and cories). I have a substrate with some Akadama and have been using a combo of Aqueon Shrimp Essentials and a Brightwell GH+. I had the tank around KH 3 and GH 6 and a 7.2 approx pH, which was right where I wanted it. I slept for a while but did a recent read. The pH is around 8.3 (way too high for CRS!) and the KH around 2 and GH up around 10. I’ve tried to slowly water it down with water changes and adding a little calcium carbonate to get KH up a little. Of course that should increase pH so I’ve dumped massive amounts of Alder cones in; the water is tea, but the pH is about the same. The shrimp seem healthy and not dying but not molting/ breeding very fast right now and I’d hate dead shrimp surprises for ignoring the issue. Any ideas on how I can stabilize toward the parameters I’m seeking? thanks!!