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Cherry shrimp in soft water

Surya

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14 Aug 2018
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I'm a new invert-parent to 10 cherry red shrimp, having never had them before. I have soft Manchester tap water - GH and KH both 1-2, pH around 6.8. And I inject CO2. Will the shrimp thrive and breed, or do I need to supplement - and if so how?

I've got seiryu stone in the tank if that makes any difference.
 
Thank you. So it's just the GH that needs to be upped? Not the KH / pH?
And is it the water parameters I need to change, rather than feeding calcium-rich shrimp foods (or do I need to do both?)
 
Thank you. So it's just the GH that needs to be upped? Not the KH / pH?
And is it the water parameters I need to change, rather than feeding calcium-rich shrimp foods (or do I need to do both?)

Just the GH (aim a Ca:Mg ratio of 3-4:1 say 25-30 ppm of Ca and 7-10 ppm of Mg - roughly GH 5-6.5 ). pH say 6.3 - 7 will be perfect as well.
Especially, if you go lower with GH you need to feed the shrimps a calcium rich diet.

Cheers,
Michael
 
Thank you! So - Seachem Equilibrium will do the job? (calcium and magnesium, raises GH but no effect on KH)
Sounds like there's no harm to a calcium rich diet so I'll pick up some high calcium shrimp food.

Also it's been suggested to me to just add a piece of cuttlebone to the tank. That would be so much easier but is it too good to be true...>
 
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Sounds like there's no harm to a calcium rich diet so I'll pick up some high calcium shrimp food.
In the aforementioned GH range supplementing with calcium rich food is an excellent idea. I feed my shrimps Mineral sticks a couple of time a week. Scalded kale and spinach are very high in Calcium and good choices as well - just make sure you put it somewhere where you can easily remove if it starts to decompose. More info here that you might find helpful.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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In the aforementioned GH range supplementing with calcium rich food is an excellent idea.
This is a question for which I seek correct answer.
Snails. Many people insist that they suffer in soft, calcium deficient water. But a respected biologist told me that it's the snails' food which is decisive, not the water parameters. And indeed, my snails live happily in very soft water.
Is it possible that the same rule applies to shrimps? The more so that their outer skeleton is made of chitin - an organic compound not containing calcium.
 
This is a question for which I seek correct answer.
Snails. Many people insist that they suffer in soft, calcium deficient water. But a respected biologist told me that it's the snails' food which is decisive, not the water parameters. And indeed, my snails live happily in very soft water.
Is it possible that the same rule applies to shrimps? The more so that their outer skeleton is made of chitin - an organic compound not containing calcium.

I think a lot of problems people have with snails are in CO2 injected tanks which causes shell erosion.

Shrimp shells are made from chitin but calcium is a major compontent in the shell building. My tanks are all very soft water, I feed a lot of calcium based foods and my shrimp seem to do well.
 
Hi all,
Snails. Many people insist that they suffer in soft, calcium deficient water. But a respected biologist told me that it's the snails' food which is decisive, not the water parameters. And indeed, my snails live happily in very soft water.
Your biologist friend is misinformed, as soon as the pH of the water falls below pH 7 calcium carbonate (CaCO3) begins to go into solution.

Snails can only build shell where the mantle covers the shell and it can't repair the older shell whorls. I get this <"a lot in my tanks">.

In acidic water shell attrition is inevitable and only a very limited assemblage of specialised molluscs that can survive long term.

Cheers Darrel
 
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In acidic water shell attrition is inevitable and only a very limited assemblage of specialised molluscs that can survive long term.
Hi Darrel, do you know if this is still relevant in tanks where the pH only drops temporarily? I.e CO2 injected tanks? My pH drops from approximately 7.6-7.8 to 6.5. Overnight, as the pH rises from outgassing CO2, does this 'respite' from the acidity allow the snails to maintain shell integrity?
 
Hi all,
Hi Darrel, do you know if this is still relevant in tanks where the pH only drops temporarily? I.e CO2 injected tanks? My pH drops from approximately 7.6-7.8 to 6.5. Overnight, as the pH rises from outgassing CO2, does this 'respite' from the acidity allow the snails to maintain shell integrity?
The shell will dissolve, and even though the CaCO3 will go back into solution when the CO2 goes off it won't be redeposited as shell. There is a much fuller discussion of this in <"Nerite Snails in high tech">

Cheers Darrel
 
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OK an update on my shrimp! I tried increasing gH with Seachem Equilibrium at first but it made a big old mess of the tank, so I gave up and just stuck a cuttlebone in there, replacing it as it slowly dissolves over weeks.

Original shrimp are doing great, all survived, grown, molting, active and thriving BUT no babies yet. I don't think they are being eaten as I only have panda cories, ember tetras and green neons...? And a heavily planted tank. So maybe not hard enough for breeding or something? Temp is 23C.

I tried special shrimp food, glasgarten mineral junkie and crab cuisine, but they ignored it.
 
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