Hi guys,

I just wanted to run through a checklist with you. I currently have a 30 x 30 x 30cm cubed tank with xmas moss, baby tears that houses approximately 12 RCS in there (a few females are berried). The shrimp seem to be doing well. I live in Inner East Melbourne. My water parameters are:- 

6.8ph

0 ammonia

0 nitrites

10 nitrates

4kh

10gh

 

I was thinking of now playing around with some CRS or something similar. I was wondering what a checklist should be moving forward and what I will need? I don't want to get too fancy just start having a play with some other shrimp.

 

Thanks.

10 gh is a little high 

Anyone else? I was after a checklist of things I should do, be doing or getting done?

Make sure your substrate is inert or a acidic-buffering commercial one. Don't use any gravel or stones with calcareous composition. There's info here on SKF re testing rocks with vinegar or distilled water. 

Drop the GH. KH seems a bit high too; in a quiet shrimp tank I would expect to see the pH above 6.8 with KH at 4 degrees. Perhaps you have a buffering substrate and a calcareous rock in the tank. 

Consider testing Calcium if you aren't already. Get Ca:Mg ratio correct - refer to other info on SKF. 

The water is pretty good for them here in Melbourne. Don't put tapwater into the tank without treatment - mine goes through a carbon filter on the way in. If you're using dechlorinator then probably best to store the water 24hrs+ after treatment preferably with aeration. 

I can't think of anything else. They're not really difficult to keep, you probably don't need to do anything. Everything I've mentioned is typical for all shrimp keepers. 

Make sure your substrate is inert or a acidic-buffering commercial one. Don't use any gravel or stones with calcareous composition. There's info here on SKF re testing rocks with vinegar or distilled water. 

Drop the GH. KH seems a bit high too; in a quiet shrimp tank I would expect to see the pH above 6.8 with KH at 4 degrees. Perhaps you have a buffering substrate and a calcareous rock in the tank. 

Consider testing Calcium if you aren't already. Get Ca:Mg ratio correct - refer to other info on SKF. 

The water is pretty good for them here in Melbourne. Don't put tapwater into the tank without treatment - mine goes through a carbon filter on the way in. If you're using dechlorinator then probably best to store the water 24hrs+ after treatment preferably with aeration. 

I can't think of anything else. They're not really difficult to keep, you probably don't need to do anything. Everything I've mentioned is typical for all shrimp keepers. 

​Hi kidzshrimp thanks for the advice. FYI - my substrate is Cal Aqua Labs fine. I am thinking my GH is high because of I have a seiryu stone in the tank plus a piece of driftwood. Thoughts?

I double checked the pH and it does seem to be more 6.8 I just can never be 100% sure when reading those cards - perhaps i'm colour blind. As for calcium I will look in to this.

As for treatment of water usually I have the water in a bucket for a few days sometimes more using prime. 

 I am thinking my GH is high because of I have a seiryu stone in the tank

​That's it. It's the Seiryu stone.

Thought as much, annoying as it looks pretty good. If I pull it out how long before it shows a lower GH reading?

With GH you always have to change water with softer to reduce the reading. Waiting for things to pull the calcium and magnesium out of the water biologically is too slow and unreliable. 

The cards are difficult to read in the best conditions. Natural light is best otherwise try a few different electric lights before you settle on the reading. With some tests more than others they will change a full colour on the chart for each different light you try. 

I'm using the API calcium kit and there's good instructions on using it in freshwater here on skf. I think some people are also using the salifert kit successfully. 

With GH you always have to change water with softer to reduce the reading. Waiting for things to pull the calcium and magnesium out of the water biologically is too slow and unreliable. 

The cards are difficult to read in the best conditions. Natural light is best otherwise try a few different electric lights before you settle on the reading. With some tests more than others they will change a full colour on the chart for each different light you try. 

I'm using the API calcium kit and there's good instructions on using it in freshwater here on skf. I think some people are also using the salifert kit successfully. 

​Ok great, so i'll get on top of these 2 things the GH and Calcium testing. I guess now all I need is a few CRS, anyone offering any culls to get me going?

The other reading your missing is TDS, this can have an impact on keeping CRS and the like impacting on survivability etc

The other reading your missing is TDS, this can have an impact on keeping CRS and the like impacting on survivability etc

I just bought TDS meter, so I'll aim for between 100-250 hopefully my tap water is close to these.

best thing you can do if you want to keep CRS long term or the fancier ones is to invest in an RO unit though causeyou only have a cube your LFS might sell RO water you will just have to remineralise

best thing you can do if you want to keep CRS long term or the fancier ones is to invest in an RO unit though causeyou only have a cube your LFS might sell RO water you will just have to remineralise

​@OzShrimp I have invested in a RO system, a TDS pen and more Salty Shrimp products to help remineralise the water. Before getting and adding the CRS I did a test of my water parameters and came up with the following:-

6.8ph

0 ammonia

0 nitrites

10 nitrates

2kh

4gh

87 TDS

 

Interestingly out of my water tap I get 34TDS used with Prime and left for 3 days.

 

Should I be looking at increasing the TDS? To my eye the other parameters look fine for CRS.

 

Thanks.

 

Edited June 4, 201511 yr by larrymull

Anyone else have an opinion on this?

 

I have the same tap water as you. Have CRS in with cherries and seiryu rock and I dare say the CRS are doing better than the cherries! TDS is about 200 but I think from what jayc has told me previously...my pH and tds goes up because of the rock. Maybe if you don't have the rock you will probably need to increase your tds with minerals? Jayc will probably have more experience with this.

I have the same tap water as you. Have CRS in with cherries and seiryu rock and I dare say the CRS are doing better than the cherries! TDS is about 200 but I think from what jayc has told me previously...my pH and tds goes up because of the rock. Maybe if you don't have the rock you will probably need to increase your tds with minerals? Jayc will probably have more experience with this.

​Thanks Neo. I have bought some minerals and thrown away the rock. Do you use RO water or just tap water dechlorinated? I was thinking if the TDS is this low do I need to remineralise the water.

I use tap water dechlorinated. Without the rock I think you'll have to add minerals to get it to the same level as your tank.

I use tap water dechlorinated. Without the rock I think you'll have to add minerals to get it to the same level as your tank.

​Roger that, thanks.

Someone will be able to confirm. I think I should should start doing this also.

personally i would aim for a tds of 120-180, 87 might be a bit deficient for the shrimp 

​That's it. It's the Seiryu stone.

​OK I will pump up the water to 120 using salty shrimp.

my tank i used to personally ai for 150-155 but lately i am running 160-175.

 

let us know how you go

my tank i used to personally ai for 150-155 but lately i am running 160-175.

 

let us know how you go

​I currently have it sitting at 130, I can pump up more if you think it is needed? Also just added some Mineral Powder. 

mine is just a personal thing, you should be fine it adds room for changes, just be sure to try and match your RO water when doing your water changes.My last two water changes i added straight RO water to just bring it down so i am sure you will be fine. 

Someone else may comment otherwise but everyone is different :). I would consider your tds in the safe range