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Ah true about the filters being more readily available for Zerowater even though they do look the same or at least very similar. I'll see if I can find more reviews on both and compare. Glad you liked the video though! Definitely worth trying even if you get an extra few weeks out of a filter. Seems a waste throwing it away at 6ppm.

I have never had any smell with the zerowater filter and suspect the complaints are by people who aren't changing the filters when they should and trying to get extra life from the filters than the manufacturers suggests. Given the choice of whether it is the user or the product that is the problem, my decades of experience know it will be the user not the product................ I have tried brita water filter and just tap water and they didn't work. Obviously it is your choice as to whether yu want to try something other than the zerowater but I expect you will be setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment and extra expense in the long term. There have been others on here that have used the zerowater and found it works. Looking at that Maxblue, it may work if it is as stated in the advert but I don't see the point as the priice is the same/similar and you will be able to get filters more readily! There are a variety of aize jugs with zerowater as well www.zerowater.co.uk .The filter cartidges look the same so they may b erowater filters in the maxblue??? The video is very ingeneous and I understand how that works and it makes complete sense. I may try thay, though I have so many new filters its probably not worth it to me? You can just cut the Indian almond leaves into better sizes if you want to still use them. Simon

Thanks for the links and tips Simon. I'm not in a rush to get the shrimp, but there's a breeder about an hour away in Plymouth who sells on eBay. I'm going to contact them to see if it's possible to collect the shrimp when it's time. I've received cherry and amano in the post before but as you say its a bit risky with the delays and bee shrimp are less hardy so I will try and avoid post if possible. I've noticed there's a few other jugs/filters around other than Zerowater since I've been researching this morning. With Maxblue you get a larger jug compared to the 1.7l from Zerowater around the same price and they appear to use the same style filters as Zerowater so I might actually try that one. It doesn't come with a TDS pen, but I have one of those already. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxblue-Pitcher-Filtration-Fluoride-Chlorine/dp/B089NSX17Y/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=zero+water&qid=1605786645&quartzVehicle=3443-1424&replacementKeywords=water&sr=8-13 In the reviews I see both have complaints of "fishy" smelling water. Have you experienced this? I also wondered if it would be possible to "recharge" the filters some how like we do with Purigen. I've not found anything on that yet but I did come across this video on how to make your filters last longer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d92ydHBwmcg The GH+ liquid would really help also thanks! I'll get some of that. This was one thing I was worried about getting the dosage right but yes a liquid would be much easier. Same with the humin fluid as I've got some almond leaves from when I bought a bundle of aquarium stuff from someone local but they are too big. I've already got some Shrimp King Complete which I feed to the cherries every few days and they like Sera Shrimps Natural too. I could probably stick that in a pestle and mortar for babies maybe? Assuming I make it to the baby stage! Jason

The zeroater jugs are widely available now, Ocado, Amazon, direct from importer, Morrisons and is an easier option to an RO system or buying the RO water and would suit your small tank. I get about 100 littres from each filter cartidge, but that will vary depending on your water. There are a cuple of options I know of for Blue bolt shrimps, https://www.shrimpcorner.co.uk/freshwater-shrimp/blue-bolt-shrimps.html or https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/taiwan-bee-shrimp/172-taiwan-bee-wine-red-red-ruby-red-king-kong-panda.html or even ebay. Deliveries are a bit hit and miss since covid19 and obviously xmas will make that worse so bear that in mind, if you can be patient it may be better to wait until the new year???? Always drip acclimate new shrimps over a few (or more) hours before adding them to the tank! This is the GH+ I use to get the right water (from RO) for the shrimp and it is pobably the easiest one as it is drops rather than powder, https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/shrimp-king/803-shrimp-king-mineral-fluid-double-gh-4001615061413.html , it will last a long time with your small tank, well over a year I would expect. There are a lot of different foods as you will see on pro-shrimp, the main thing is NEVER overfeed (very common error) and with a small tank I would get a powder food (will be good for babies as well) or something as small as possible. Some of the foods come as quite large/hard pellets (shrimpking) which I used to use but smashed them up with a hammer, but it would be easier just to get smaller food. Indian Almond leaves are good for shrimp but can be large for such a small tank. You can use this instead if you don't want to use the leaves as they are too big, https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/shrimp-king/804-shrimp-king-humin-fluid-vital-4001615061420.html . Simon

Good point. We should start seeing the ammonia readings drop. Test it again and let us know. Wash as many filter media you have from other tanks into this 20gal and keep testing. Water changes with RO or rain water will help. Tap water has some ammonia in it, so avoid a water change for now if tap water is all you have.

It is probably the ammonia as JayC, but just check the water isn't getting too hot as that dead shrimp looks exactly like mine did when the heater stuck on! Simon

Hi Simon, I found your topic when I searched Google for bee shrimp and tap water. I recently setup a spare 15l cube and built an Asian style undergavel filter in the back. It was mainly for fun and just to see how well it performs but I later planned on keeping some blue bolt shrimp in there (if all went well) until I read in several places that tap water was out of the question and I almost gave up. I will also give Zerowater a go on your recommendation, my tank is only a couple of weeks into its cycle so I don't plan on sticking any shrimp in there any time soon anyway. I noticed that Amazon are selling the jugs and filters so I'll probably order from there soon. I've looked into RO water but plumbing it in would be a pain so you've given me another option to explore, thanks Simon! Jason

The 20 Gallon has a matten filter so I guess I will need a lot of gook from another tank to populate it Gunk

Ok doing now thank you

Definitely not fully cycled, as you have a fair amount of ammonia detected. Do you have another tank that is matured? Squeeze the gunk from the filter into this 20Gal tank. Immediately.

So I’m constantly loosing shrimp It’s my 20gallon long cardinia tank Maybe it’s still cycling? Params... Tds 130 Ph 6.2 Gh 5 Kh 0 Ammonia .50-.75 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 20-40 What can I do besides water change?