ADA New Amazonia??

[jczernia]

So from all of this I learned that I need to let the tank cycle forever and my pH will be in the 6-6.5 range. I don’t have good tap water and all I can get is r/o or distilled water. Why can’t we get good substrate for shrimp in this country? My wife won’t let me have the temporary holding tank for more than 2months b/c it is sitting on the counter top in the kitchen. So I hope the tank will be ready on day 60.
Plamski, How long do you wait till you put shrimp in Amazonia?
Thank you.

[Newman]

I know you're not asking me but i introduced my shrimp after 6 weeks or so.
BTW I lowered my TDS recently because 250+ was too high. My tank is now at 160TDS and about 4dGH. I'm hoping i can get it to 5dGH somehow..

[jczernia]

Newman, did you lose any CRS I know you have some SSS. What do you use to remineralize you water?? Try Shirakura CA+ liquid minerals I get gH 6 and TDS 150-155.
Just don’t know what happened when I filled Amazonia everything went nuts. My gH went down TDS went up

[plamski]

Amazonia has a lot of plant nutritions probably that why TDS is up.
It will be OK lather on. I always have GH 5 and more with TDS 150.

[Green_Flash]

Originally Posted by jczernia

So from all of this I learned that I need to let the tank cycle forever and my pH will be in the 6-6.5 range. I don’t have good tap water and all I can get is r/o or distilled water. Why can’t we get good substrate for shrimp in this country? My wife won’t let me have the temporary holding tank for more than 2months b/c it is sitting on the counter top in the kitchen. So I hope the tank will be ready on day 60.
Plamski, How long do you wait till you put shrimp in Amazonia?
Thank you.

I feel you for sure. I am using new amazonia too and it is nice and all but I hope that next time I do a tank I can buy BW, Benibachi or Shirakura soil. I really hope they become available soon because they sound great.

[Newman]

Originally Posted by jczernia

Newman, did you lose any CRS I know you have some SSS. What do you use to remineralize you water?? Try Shirakura CA+ liquid minerals I get gH 6 and TDS 150-155.
Just don’t know what happened when I filled Amazonia everything went nuts. My gH went down TDS went up

I did lose 2 CRSs when i started to mess around the substrate in planting my plants. Never do this. kicks up too much garbage from the deep substrate and i guess the SSS are sensitive to the ammonia, sulfur, or w/e else is toxic to them. I lost one shrimp every time i disturbed the substrate. each time it happened on the day following the planting(one shrimp was lost). Disturbing the substrate is very dangerous. I'm not planting anything anymore luckily, so i shouldn't lose anyone anymore.

My current TDS is 171ppm and i still have to check my GH. probably 5dGH.
I use Mosura Mineral plus to remineralize. once i run out of it i'm going to try something else, like what you suggested.