We all know that high levels of nitrates can cause stress to caridina.

I'm interested to know what you think is an acceptable level of nitrates for CRS?

We all know that high levels of nitrates can cause stress to caridina.

I'm interested to know what you think is an acceptable level of nitrates for CRS?

I like to keep my nitrates below 10ppm.

 

I have just moved my blue bolts into a new tank and I have noticed that they have lost a lot of blue. The lower grade ones look almost like snow whites. Tested the nitrates earlier tonight and they were between 10-20 ppm, I think this is the cause of the colour loss. I'll reduce the nitrates and see if they colour up again to test this theory.

 

The blues were fantastic in the previous tank that was always below 10ppm.

I don't keep Crystal type shrimp, my experience with native shrimp and all fish I have kept a reading of 0 of any of the pollutants is always best, a level they can suffer would be a low as you can get it. Shrimp for the most part live in the more pristine parts of creeks where there is less likely hood of pollutants.

 

Just a thought path for you, what I tell customers that do evap top ups and dont like water changes, lock you self in the toilet turn the water off and have three meals a day in there, after a couple of days it wont be a nice place to live, I am not point fingers or making suggestions just a thought train

 

 

Bob

Below 10 is good below 5 is better. I used to be a heavy feeder but since cutting back I don't have nitrate issues just remember leaf litter also slowly raises nitrate levels- I wasn't aware of that initially. I have kept them with nitrate as high as 20 but it's not ideal I had stopped extra feeding but kept mulberry leaves , IAL. And gave spinach leaves meanwhile wondered why my nitrates still crept up. Now I count the leaves as food and only add dry food a few times a week while the leaves are in the tanks except if there are babies in there then a bit of powdered food daily for them.

lol I love the analogy northboy.

but what if the toilet is in a hugr forest - with acres of space to poop in? lol

LOL revo LOL now you have clouded the water.

 

Ineke every thing that has the potential to rot is food, reminds me I have not feed my shrimp for 3 or 4 day best do it, tomorrow will do

Ineke I have not picked on you for a while best get to it, tomorrow to

 

Bob

Thanks for the input..... I try to keep mine under 5ppm.....

Bob, is it possible to keep Nitrates at 0 in a closed system?

Hi Mate

 

It is with loads of water changes and light feeds, the over looked and unsaid fact is, my water up here is nothing short of fantastic, so for me that is easy for those with liquid concrete I really feel sorry for you. when I was in Brisvagas or Dayboro to be more precise I had medium hard water there, so I kept what worked in the water there and did well, but I was not keeping shrimp then. BAD ME BAD ME.

 

I kept Crystal type when I first came to Cairns 10 year ago and used tap water then with out issue and no chiller, they were under a concrete house then

 

Bob