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Wayne, Thank you for the fun competition. That was the most fun I have had on SKFA for a long time. I have done more research on Endlers than I would have cared to a couple of weeks ago. And I can gladly go away saying I know a little bit more than when this competition was started. Can I ask what water parameters you keep these Blue Stars in? I have cleared out a 2ft tank ready for these fellas. Its already an established tank, so it's fully cycled. Just wanted to get the parameters right. Thanks again Wayne. Appreciate the generosity.

Well Guys the time we have been waiting for, The above competition has now ended. Thank you to all who entered. The winning numbers were: 1,3,4,5&9 Congratulations to our winners: Crabby, Jayc Frosty & BlastedPorpoise Sorry guys I don't know your names: the Blue Stars will be sent tomorrow Thanks again hope you all enjoyed this little competition Cheers Wayne

I don't have the chemistry knowledge that you seem to have Beanbag, but I can read the results of a pH test. I've used both the Fluval wide range kit and the previously mentioned Sera pH kit, and both gave the same the result - 5.5. I use a liquid GH remineralizer now, but have used Salty Shrimp in the past. I have never been able to get my pH above 5.5 for any length of time so I have no idea what I could possibly be doing wrong. I am simply telling you my experience with my water. Since reading your post some weeks ago now, I've again tried to lift my pH using bi-carb and again it dropped back to 5.5 over night. I've since bought some potash from the hardware store and this is working so I'll stick to that. But now for an update on the chitinolytic disease. I read up on the disease and treatment and did the best I could to follow all the steps but unfortunately it was all in vain. The last of the colony died yesterday. We fought hard but lost the battle. If nothing else it has taught me to pay attention to unexpected deaths and not to take short cuts when setting up a tank. I've also learnt how (finally) to raise my pH after battling with acidic water for several years. My question now is how do I sterilise everything in the tank so that I can start again? I'm guessing the substrate needs to go in the bin but what about the sponge filter, rocks, plants, glass etc...?

I mean, personally I would PM Wayne instead... dunno what you’re gonna get from sending a PM to Walter, but each to their own ? Also, I don’t get how, but it seems Wayne sent jayc a public, private message. I’m totally stumped at how that happened, but whatever. Maybe if the forum hosts any more comps, we could work out a general way to go about it so there aren’t any unfair advantages? Such as ppl guessing in the same chat, etc. Just an idea. I know that I might like to host some sort of comp to give away some of my apisto juvies, once they’re grown up, just to get a few off my hands.

Boil anything that can stand the heat. Like rocks and sponge. Throw out the plants. Plastic parts of the filter and the glass of the tank should be washed in 5 parts water: 1 part bleach. And rinsed thoroughly and let dry in the sun.

Oops sorry autocorrect I have a friend named Walter in my contacts. *Wayne

Hey! no I did not. I got it from one of my lfs. But yeah it does look like those Caridina Malanda hey? Just a little lighter in colour. Never heard of them before till now.

Please if you have a guess from now on PM Walter so it’s still fair for others and it isn’t just free fish. That being said I hope everyone wins! -G

Did you get it from Abquatics? Because I also have ordered their NQ algae shrimp on a whim and one of mine looked just like the one you received. I keep mine with my neos and they honestly look identical but they haven't hybridised yet so I'm thinking they're perhaps not the same species. I don't know where abquatics gets their livestock from but the shrimp I have and yours too also highly resembles the Caridina Malanda species someone posted here a good while ago but other than that I am also stumped!

When you change some water it is normaal for the shrimp to get a bit 'excited', it can trigger a moult as well so you may see some ghosts a day or so afterwards! The salts contan everything in a perfect balance for the shrimp therefore you don't need to check Calcium, Magnesium or Phosphate. As Crabby says, just use a TDS meter, they are cheap and the easiest test to do! Also, as per crabby, you should only do smaller water change and add the new water slowly (a dripper is best) over several hours. Shrimp in a tank with no fish don't produce much bioload. Simon