Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

My plants do fine -- I don't test my ph very often -- but when Pigheadd tested my water when he came to pick up some shrimp -- it was 6.5. It is my understanding that animals do not do well in ph under 6.0. Of course, plants do fine! My water is soft -- like yours -- but I try to make sure that ther...

I'm not very good with chemistry, but harder water is better with Co2, because otherwise there can be very unstable water. You need a kh (carbonate hardness) of at least 3 for some water stability. This is the buffering capacity of the water. Harder water is fine for shrimp -- the reason people say ...

Hello winwin!

You can post pictures, but you have to link them from a photo hosting site, i.e. imagestation, photobucket, etc. Some others may have better recommendations.

You will need to add calcium -- your water is too soft. A little crushed coral in a bag in your filter is probably the easiest way to do it, although I add Calcium carbonate in powder form. You may want to add a few drops of Reef Iodide (Kent or Seachem or maybe another brand available there?) as we...

I will have to admit that this can also be the case for *some* lower light tanks too -- please refer to Diana Walstad's book "The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" for some excellent information on planted tanks, their ecology, their chemistry.

I personally do not like ten gallon tanks for anything other than quarantine/hospital/fry tanks, but I had suggested one to Pigheaddd as opposed to even smaller tanks -- which I don't even think should exist other than for plant only. Small tanks fluctuate in temperature, parameters, etc. much more ...

Pigheaddd -- that upsets me very much! Is your water conditions good? What are you feeding them? Is there calcium and iodide? Do not fert that tank! Are you doing water changes? Use a gravel vac with a nylon stocking over the vac -- or a cup, but make sure there are no shrimp in the cup when you dum...

I would suggest either Rustarific's drip method or another such slow, method. I personally use a 2-hour method for shrimp and fish -- I have a hang-on breeder box type thing that hangs inside the tank. I slowly add water from the tank to the box until it is filled, then remove water from it and dump...

With Carbonate that low, I doubt your shrimp have sufficient calcium carbonate to molt. You may want to add some crushed coral to help with that.

for the sweet potato, I microwave it until soft -- like for human consumption -- let it cool, then scoop out some for the shrimp. For other vegies, you can blanche them.

What the shrimp don't finish -- the snails do. Actually, the snails start covering the potato in a very short time, so the shrimp don't always get too much of it -- but they are faster and get there first. Lately, I've tried to put smaller, tiny pieces for them so harder for the snails to cover up. ...

You will probably get some that say they do and some that say that don't -- however, I wouldn't risk it myself.

Pictures please!

I would not suggest adding substrate to a bare-bottomed tank in any other way than slowly. Because beneficial bacteria will have settled on the glass, when one pours substrate over it -- it will kill the beneficial bacteria. I had this happen with my 10 gallon quarantine tank. I have 5 ottos in ther...

Yes, but sometimes the 6700 Kelvin bulbs show a greenish cast to the tank.