BKK Tank (advice anyone?)

[Betta Maniac]

CURRENT SPECS
20G-long
Fluval Shrimp Stratum
SunSun Cannister Filter (fully cycled already)
Coralife Light (med/low light for low tech tank)
Large Sponge Filter
Manzanita
Java Fern
Xmas Moss
Peacock Moss
Frogbit (and prob Duck Weed, but not if I can help it!).
Cholla Tubes
IAL

Water will be RO reminerialized with Nutrifin Cichlid Conditioner (as per Speedie)

Am I missing anything? I really want these guys to do well. They're my first expensive shrimp.

[sbarbee54]

scape this Fluval Shrimp Stratum
and go with Amazonia New

[somewhatshocked]

If you can afford it, ditch FSS and get something that will hold up and provide better buffering power.

ADA Aquasoil, UP Aqua Shrimp Sand, Azoo Plant Grower Bed, among others.

Be sure to search around the forum to see what everyone uses as a remineralizing product. There are several that are great and clean. Shirakura Ca+, Mosura Mineral Plus Ultra, Salty Shrimp, etc.

I'd let the tank run 4-6 weeks - even if it's cycled - to make sure there are tons of goodies ready when the shrimp arrive.

[dhgyello04]

Originally Posted by sbarbee54

scape this Fluval Shrimp Stratum
and go with Amazonia New

This is true… The FSS will buffer your ph around 6.8-7.0 depending on how hard the water is. The Amazonia substrate will allow you to go lower in the ph.

[dougolasjr]

I can't comment on what you have so far but I commend you with starting your fist expensive shrimp with BKK's.

[Overgrowth]

Go for 6.5 or lower.

Liam says that a cause for Taiwan Bee deaths is long gestation periods. There was something else too, but I forgot. Anyway, I would get some Mosura Gravidas because I tried it because it claimed to help berried shrimp not drop their eggs, and it actually worked! Now I have 4 berried CRS (out of 9) and there were two OEBT females that berried, but they never did before.

[Betta Maniac]

It's RO water, so soft as soft can be (my tap water is practically RO too). I’m trying to achieve the params Speedie is keeping them at (hence using the same remineralizer and aiming of a close to neutral pH).

[speedie408]

Everyone has their own opinion of keeping Taiwan bees. I'm just keeping them in similar params as my source. If you follow what I've advised you, you'll be just fine.

Of course you can change it up and do your own methods as folks give you their advice, but that just means your shrimp will have to readapt even more. There's def more than one way to skin a cat.

[sayurasem]

Aquasoil is a must for keeping Taiwan bee. In fact Aquasoil is cheaper than Fluval Stratum.

9l Aquasoil $30 (AFA) = 22lb of substrate. Where 8.8lb FSS is $20.

I use Nutrafin ciclid as well and it has been nothing but great consistency on TDS level for the past 3 months.

Choose your substrate according your shrimp's need. Amazonia bring ph down to 6.4, Africana bring ph down to 5.9, Malaya brings ph down to 5.5.

Good luck on your shrimp journey!

[Vincent Tran]

Originally Posted by sayurasem

Choose your substrate according your shrimp's need. Amazonia bring ph down to 6.4, Africana bring ph down to 5.9, Malaya brings ph down to 5.5.

My Amazonia brings my pH down under 6. I heard that the new Amazonia buffers around the same as Africana/ Malaya too? Anyway, a lot of people have had success with Amazonia but there are mixed reviews on FSS.

[aznrice247]

FFS is really for Neos. If your gonna go with the good shrimps you needa treat em well with the good stuff.

[plamski]

Amazonia NEW or ADA Africana and PH under 6 for breeding. PH under 6.7 for keeping them alive. You can add peat moss to lover PH but it is not permanent solution.

[sbarbee54]

Ph drop with Amazonia is depending on your starting conditions as I have found some bags stronger than others it is currently dropping my 7.4 tap tds 30 I remineralize it to gh 5 tds 150 to 5.1-4.8


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[antiquefloorman]

Originally Posted by speedie408

Everyone has their own opinion of keeping Taiwan bees. I'm just keeping them in similar params as my source. If you follow what I've advised you, you'll be just fine.

Of course you can change it up and do your own methods as folks give you their advice, but that just means your shrimp will have to readapt even more. There's def more than one way to skin a cat.

What parameters are you keeping them at??
Thanks,
Tim

[plamski]

Keeping VS Breeding !