Spastic death syndrome

[CEF]

I usually get my amanos from the LFS and they have a mortality rate of about 50%, and then they settle in and live np as long as there aren't any predators. I set up a nano cube 12g dx this past winter, and furnished it with some rocks I got at a stone company nearby. This is when the problem started. The tank is high light, and presurized Co2 .

Parameters
PH 6.6-7.4
NO3 <5ppm not good didn't realize it was this low for the plants
P ?
NO2 0
ammonia 0
KH 8
GH 3

I use RO/DI rebuilt with a Instant ocean, and my blend of macros for the plants. The rocks have a PH buffering ability to about 7.4, I have done a test with a small rock in a glass. Overnight the plants themselves can drop the PH to 6.6 pulling in O2 and letting off Co2, and during the day I have to maintain a high bubble count to get the PH to stay down. Once the PH starts to get a little acidic, the amano shrimp begin kicking like mad like they're in a chorus line. I see one followed by the other. I blame the rock, anyone else want to blame something? BTW if the name sticks I coined it.

[badflash]

Amanos (and most shrimp) don't like pH swings and they don't do well in acidic water.

[Neonshrimp]

I guess it had to be called something. But SDSyndrome? Let's see if it beats Kicking Death Syndrone (KDS) or Shaking Death Syndrome (another SDS). Whatever it is called let's try not to let it happen. Hope your shrimp get better!

[CEF]

I just decided to crank the CO2 and see if i can get it to stay at 6.6, it's not likely though the tank is only controlled with a solenoid, need a controller. It should be well within their ph range.