[fplata]

Experts,

i have a quick question:

I have a couple of CRS and other shrimp tanks, the two tanks in question are a 20 gallon and an 80 gallon tank. i currently reconstitute my water in the following manner to attain a PH of 6.8 GH of 4 and kh of 1.5 at a TDS of 155 - i use equilibrium with Alkaline buffer and acid buffer.

i use ADA amazonia ii and i am heavily planted on both tanks and i do use CO2

the other method i use is to mix my RO/DI water with well water at a ratio that gives me a a ph of 6.9 (amazonia will drop the ph to 6.7) gh of 4 and kh of 4 (which i know is high) at a tds of 120, if i add the Seachem acid buffer to lower the kh to 2 the TDS spikes to 150+

my question is what is the best method to reconstitute my RO/DI water and is 150 TDS too high. keep in mind that i am reconstituting water for 100 gallons and i need to make sure this is affordable.

I thank you all for your help

 

[somewhatshocked]

150 isn't too high.

The best method, if you can swing it, is to buy a better remineralizing product like Mosura Mineral Plus Ultra, Shirakura Ca+ or the Salty Shrimp products. They're all cleaner, lower TDS, better goodies for shrimp as they're shrimp-specific. Salty Shrimp will be the most affordable and Alpha Pro Breeders keeps it in stock.

 

[fplata]

Thank you, wich one is the best one, maybe ill try it just on my smaller tank

 

[somewhatshocked]

Shirakura Ca+ is my personal pick. It's the cleanest (lowest TDS) but most expensive.

But if you have a large amount of water? Then 1,000 grams of Salty Shrimp Bee Shrimp Mineral GH+ will last a long time. Especially if you're only remineralizing the water you use for water changes and not your entire body of water.

 

[fplata]

Thank you, ill look into it for sure

 

[Lkittredge]

I am new to this, but I bought the smaller size of the Salty Shrimp Bee Shrimp Mineral GH+ based on recommendations here and I have been pleased with it. It gets the R/O water to a GH of 5 by using the recommended amount. TDS is in the 120s. It does not take much either so it seems like it will last a long time. I have berried females and some baby shrimp so seems like a good product to me.

 

[fplata]

Thanks man, does it have any effect on the kh? I need a kh of 2 due to the fact that I infect co2

 

[Lkittredge]

Honestly I will have to test the KH to confirm. I used an older (5 years) KH test kit that showed it to be either 1 or 2 don't remember for certain, but I don't trust it and just last week got a new KH test kit that I have not used. I will test it tonight and let you know. The GH I mentioned was tested with a new test kit and I comfortable with those readings.

 

[fplata]

Thank you

 

[Assassynation]

Honestly I will have to test the KH to confirm. I used an older (5 years) KH test kit that showed it to be either 1 or 2 don't remember for certain, but I don't trust it and just last week got a new KH test kit that I have not used. I will test it tonight and let you know. The GH I mentioned was tested with a new test kit and I comfortable with those readings.

How do you get those KH readings, Is that how many drops it takes for the water to turn yellow?

 

[fplata]

Yes sir

 

[Lkittredge]

Yes sir

Ok I tested and it has a kh of 2. Unfortunately that is not a pure test as I forgot I had a small piece of limestone in the bucket. I will make a new bucket tonight and test tommorrow.

 

[Lkittredge]

Made new 5 gallon bucket of RO water. I added one level scoop. Test results GH of six KH zero TDS 104. Note that package says a level scoop treats 3 gallons or 20 liters. The liter to gallon conversion is off. 20 liters is a little over 5 gallons so the scoop treats 5 gallons to a GH of six.

 

[fplata]

Thank man, I really appreciate your help.

 

[randyl]

... Note that package says a level scoop treats 3 gallons or 20 liters. ...

I think the instructions mean 3 grams (full spoon) treats 20 liters (~ 5Gallons).

 

[Lkittredge]

Makes sense - thanks

 

[Assassynation]

Yes sir

So when I test tank water in the 5ml tube, the first drop of KH solution turns the sample yellow, is that a KH of 1 or 0?

 

[Lkittredge]

Good question that I don't know the answer to. I was assuming it was zero since it went straight to yellow. On the other hand when it took the second drop to turn it yellow I take that to mean it is a 2. Not sure how you know 0 vs 1.

 

[somewhatshocked]

Drops are really an estimation, so it'd be safe to say your KH is 0-1 rather than 0 or 1.

 

[Assassynation]

Thanks, that makes sence. I've been reading about keeping crs and have slowly created a tank. When one is looking to create the optimum environment for crs. What perameters are best?