am i ready to have CBS?

[Paulcm10]

and those are RO?
which is distilled? =o

[Merth]

IIRC Ro is passed thru a series of membranes/filters where as distilled is heated to steam and steam is collected and cooled hence distilled.

If at walmart they have water labled distilled, drinking and spring. drinking and spring are both RO processed.

Also at walmart the gal jugs are in the "water aisle" which is next to the soda aisle

[ShyShrimpDoc]

RO is not heated, it is just pushed through a really fine membrane that only let's water through.

Distilled is where they heat it to steam and collect the steam. They are different processes but yeild a very similar result.

[aznrice247]

Originally Posted by pmcarbrey

I'm actually going to have to disagree with everything you said here, I have a colony on CRS breeding in 8.6 ph water (completely untreated, that's what it comes out of the tap at) with nitrates steady at 20ppm. They are in a heavily planted tank and were introduced to the increased ph and nitrates over a period of 4 days (an extremely slow drip acclimation) as babies and have done extremely well ever since

As with any fish or invert, the key is acclimating them when young, if you do this they can and will survive.

[acitydweller]

my spidey sense is tingling

[shift]

What's your KH and TDS in your ph 8 tank?

[speedie408]

In my experience, keeping CRS/CBS in alkaline water params although they can give you "ok" breeding, they give off weak coloration in the shrimp. Switch to RO reminerlized water and the shrimp color up like crazy. Breeding is also better with the use of remineralized RO. Only way to go IMO when it comes to Caridina sp. Cantonensis.

I've yet to see a solid colored CRS/CBS that's been raised in alkaline conditions.

[shift]

How exactly do you re-mineralized? Would just doing the 50-50 mix work?

[speedie408]

Originally Posted by shift

How exactly do you re-mineralized? Would just doing the 50-50 mix work?

Remineralizing is when you add back the necessary minerals into your RO water so it becomes optimal for Caridina Cantonensis shrimp. Some folks are able to get away with doing their own water mixing and that's fine too, but I don't recommend this because tap water is very different from city to city/state to state. Best to start with a clean slate and add only what the shrimp like.

[shift]

So what/how do you re-add it in?

RO is only $2 for 5g from a dispenser so its not a big deal other than the hassle of getting it. What minerals does one generally re-add?

[speedie408]

I personally use Nutrafin African Cichlid Conditioner for my shrimp and they absolutely love it. Sad thing is this product has been discontinued and whatever is being sold online and on lfs shelves that you can find now, is all that's left on the market.

You can also use Mosura Mineral plus or other name brand shrimp remineralizers work well too.

You will need a TDS meter (look on ebay or Amazon). They're like $15. Best tool to have for shrimp keepers, hands down.

Maybe you should take a gander at this thread created by member, youjettisonme: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=176557 Lots of good info for beginners there.

[Paulcm10]

im just curious. will the change of water affect my bamboo shrimp at all?
or should i just get some culls and try it out first?
maybe my water is already good for them =o