Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

In the past 2 weeks I've had 3 Amanos die in a 29 gal. 2 were 1 1/2 '' plus in size and female. The other one was about an inch. The 2 larger ones had a blueish shine to them before the died.(?) The other one I found in some java moss. I never saw that one before it died. Traped maybe? I also have one with a missing eye. I do have loaches, rasboras, a SAE and an Oto in this tank. There were 6 to begin with and all were fine and producing eggs for 6 plus months. The 6 in another 29 are doing fine. I did have a cherry die in a 15 gal while all this was happening too. The rest seem ok.

Water test in the 29 went as follows:
Ph: 6
Ammonia, Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 20ppm
Gh: 6 degrees
Kh: .5 degees

Could the Kh be the problem here?

Mustafa, Thank you creating this forum!! I think it is much needed, as there is very little info on these guys. GREAT site too!!

Water with a Kh of 0.5 degrees is going to have wild pH swings, especially if you inject CO2. Have you tracked the pH over a 24 hour period?

Yep. No swings.

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.

About calcium... Is there any other way to increase the calcium in the tank?

Other than crushed coral?

I have seen my RCS molting b4 and the snails in my tank haf dark coloured shells.. Is the a good sign tt calcium is abundant in the tank?

There are many calcium supplements out there. Both SeaChem and Kent make them. Usually these are for marine aquaria, but you might be able to use them -- read the label first.

Many of the products used to reconstitute reverse osmosis water supply calcium carbonate. The cheapest solution, if you can find a source, is to buy calcium carbonate from a chemical supply company.

You might also try sodium-free baking soda. Some of these are calcium based. Some are potassium based.

Don't you think 20ppm of Nitrate is high for a Shrimp tank?