Shrimp no longer breeding

[Mark Webb]

If your using RO then there is no way your parameters should be reading what they are! You must have some hardscape in the tank that is buffering the water?

I am using a remineriliser.

 

[Dincho]

How are your parameters now? Have they come down yet?

 

[Mark Webb]

Thanks for asking - Back to using RO since 4 December, but PH is still high at 7.5 despite adding Almond leaves (courtesy of Gill). KH is now 3 with GH at 6.

Should I add more Almond Leaves than the 2 I currently have?

Parameters are better in the newly setup tank with Akadama for Red Cherry. I am getting a PH of around 7 with KH of 1 and GH of 5

 

[Dincho]

If you are using RO and Akadama then your ph should be much lower, something is buffering it. Have you got a photo of your setup?

What are you using to re-mineralise the water?

 

[Mark Webb]

Using JBL Aquadur Plus to remineralise

 

[Dincho]

Nice! Nothing in there looks like it would be buffering the water. What test kit are you using?

 

[Mark Webb]

Using a Vitalsine PH Meter and Nutrafin KH/GH test kit

 

[Dincho]

When did you last calibrate your ph meter? Have you tested the water coming directly out of the RO unit?

 

[Mark Webb]

Calibrated about 5 weeks ago but again this morning. RO Water is reading PH6, the CRS Tank PH7.4 and the Red Cherry PH6.8. I guess that maybe the JBL is increasing the PH?

 

[Dincho]

I have not used the JBL stuff but it looks like the case, we have eliminated everything else. Use something else to re-mineralise and ph should hopefully come down.

 

[Mark Webb]

I have not used the JBL stuff but it looks like the case, we have eliminated everything else. Use something else to re-mineralise and ph should hopefully come down.

Many thanks.

 

[Dincho]

Fingers crossed that is the issue! Come back if not, we'll start again 😀

 

[Mark Webb]

Fingers crossed that is the issue! Come back if not, we'll start again 😀

Many thanks for your help and interest. Can you maybe suggest a remineraliser which wont increase the PH?

 

[Dincho]

Just pm'd you with an offer of my left overs 🙂

 

[Dincho]

Any progress?

 

[Mark Webb]

Yes thanks, I have now done 3 x 50% water changes and parameters are now PH6.6, KH1, and GH5. Whether or not the CRS start to breed now remains to be seen. They are all mature adults.

 

[Dincho]

Good to hear! Keep the parameters as they are and stable, they should be acting like rabbits in no time 🙂 All shrimp have a period where they don't breed, normally a month or 2 between November and March.

 

[Mark Webb]

Good to hear! Keep the parameters as they are and stable, they should be acting like rabbits in no time 🙂 All shrimp have a period where they don't breed, normally a month or 2 between November and March.

Thanks Dane, what water change regime do you have?

 

[Dincho]

I used to do 30% a week, now i do 30% twice a week. I always drip feed the water back in over several hours, it has minimum impact on parameter changes.

 

[basil]

Some good stuff on this post!!