LOL, you could never tick me off Bob. Yes, we do have crap water in Perth !

LOL' date=' you could never tick me off Bob. Yes, we do have crap water in Perth ![/quote']

I wouldn't go so far as to say NEVER Marcus...now he will think he can get away with anything!

An Analysis of a Sample of Cuttlebone

Acid insolubles 1.4%

Moisture content 2.3%

Organic content 8.9%

Calcium 85% Calcium Carbonate

Magnesium 0.42 % Magnesium Carbonate

Potassium 63 mg/kg

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 8,300 mg/kg

Total Phosphate 20 mg/kg

Heavy Metals (mg/kg = parts per million)

Zinc 167

Iron 101

Cobalt 19

Copper 11

Manganese 8

The following heavy metals were not detected above the detection limit of 1 mg/kg: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver and tin

So is the copper too high for shrimp??.?

So copper is 11 parts per million? Well will have to try to know for sure...there are a lot of people who have tried with great results, just google it. I may try in the filter and small bits in tank.

The fact is shrimp need traces of copper in their blood like we do. No copper at all is not good for them as they can't survive without traces of it. Very Small levels Apparently ok

The fact is shrimp need traces of copper in their blood like we do. No copper at all is not good for them as they can't survive without traces of it. Very Small levels Apparently ok

This is what I heard as well...small amounts are required

An Analysis of a Sample of Cuttlebone

Acid insolubles 1.4%

Moisture content 2.3%

Organic content 8.9%

Calcium 85% Calcium Carbonate

Magnesium 0.42 % Magnesium Carbonate

Potassium 63 mg/kg

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 8' date=300 mg/kg

Total Phosphate 20 mg/kg

Heavy Metals (mg/kg = parts per million)

Zinc 167

Iron 101

Cobalt 19

Copper 11

Manganese 8

The following heavy metals were not detected above the detection limit of 1 mg/kg: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver and tin

11 ppm is fairly strong

especially in small tanks

11ppm is only 0.0011% so it is fine...a lot of shrimp foods have more than this

Oyster shell

Phosphorous (ug/g)* 195

Potassium (ug/g) 393

Calcium (ug/g) 400,000

Magnesium (ug/g) 2190

Iron (ug/g) 2065

Zinc (ug/g) 4

Copper (ug/g) < 0.7

Manganese (ug/g) 643

Boron (ug/g) 13

Molybdenum (ug/g) 1

Lead (ug/g) 10

Chromium (ug/g) 2

Cadmium (ug/g) < 1

Nickel (ug/g) 2

Cobalt (ug/g) < 0.3

Aluminum (ug/g) 2400

Sodium (ug/g) 1920

Strontium (ug/g) 1080

Barium (ug/g) 22

Vanadium (ug/g) 5

Beryllium (ug/g) 0.3

Mercury (ug/g) 1.5

Tin (ug/g) < 3.3

* ug/g = parts per million on a dry weight basis.

The sample were analyzed as received, with no further drying.

Damn, i feel like i am in chemistry class. Hahahaha. Very good info guys :encouragement:

Dam I love you computer nerds and I say that in a flattering way, so what about a Coral break down or are they all different?, with that info I can balance all my future systems, I don't suppose there are breakdown rates anywhere?

As I have water with SFA in it that is just the best info.

BOb

I just realised the you put both up Matt, any chance you could email that to me? I can PM you my email but I think you have it.

Bob

So which is the better of the two, cuttlefish or oyster shell?

The cuttlefish has a much higher percentage of calcium also wouldn't the oyster shell be a bit hard for the shrimp to munch on? I would use the cuttle fish bone as many others have used it with great results.

Wouldn't the cuttlefish bone or oyster shells raise pH?

i wouldn't use too much if you are trying to keep pH low. But a few small pieces shouldn't effect the pH.

Most Calcium Sources will raise pH the exception is Calcium Sulphate, Calcium Chloride etc.

Cuttlefish will increase the pH as it is Calcium Carbonate. That 11ppm Copper we are talking about is in the dry cuttle bone.

So putting that kilo for kilo with water and allowing it all to dissolve will yield only 5.5ppm, but who does Cuttle kilo for kilo without waterchanges?

Far more likely would be 100gm's of Cuttle in 100L of water (and that's a lot) and allowing it all to dissolve without a single waterchange.

Thats 0.011 ppm Copper at a worst case scenario.

Personally, i would be using CaCO3 dissolved in a glass of tank water, use your Salty Shrimp stuff and then add an extra 5-10ppm TDS if you're comfortable with that.

That's what i'd do in theory, but in practice i often just put shellgrit in the tanks and let it dissolve naturally (same idea as using cuttle).

Your substrates will also chelate Ca so it is important to add it.

For me I will stick with Coral with a little bit of Cuttle in the shrimp systems and the other systems I will be loading up with the rest according to what I need and some will have it all and filtered through towers.

Bob

I was actually thinking that if ever some Sulawasi were discovered in a creek somewhere, the oyster shell might be useful.

I was actually thinking that if ever some Sulawasi were discovered in a creek somewhere' date=' the oyster shell might be useful.[/quote']

first DIBS if you find some in a creek

Thanks Matt for PMing the info to me, TA heaps

Bob

Wouldn't the first dips be me fishing them out of the creek, lol, if your after first DIBS, I will put you first on the Lalaland list! Lol

The next few years will see lots of new goodies coming from Australia, not as good as the Celebies stuff but nice and very different.

Keep your Oyster shells Ninja as there is some good Limestone country to be looked at soon.

Bob

The next few years will see lots of new goodies coming from Australia' date=' not as good as the Celebies stuff but nice and very different.

Keep your Oyster shells Ninja as there is some good Limestone country to be looked at soon.

Bob[/quote']

Uploaded with ImageShack.us Like this, water follows out of this limestone cave

Any shrimp in there?