Since I relocated over a year ago, every time I try and introduce shrimp to my tank, they die within a week of introduction. This includes Cherry Shrimp and CRS.
I go through a lengthy introduction process by drip acclimatising them before they go into the tank.
Originally, I thought it was because I was dosing high levels of Easy Carbo so decided to go pressurised co2. However, that didn't solve the problem.
I would like to think it has something to do with water quality as I've moved 2 hours drive within the UK. The water company stats are as follows:
Element New | Old
-------------------------------------|--------
Turbidity (NTU)............... 0.057 | 0.149
Arsenic (ug/l)................ 0.378 | 0.2075
Copper (mg/l)................ 0.006 | 0.0075
Iron (ug/l)................. 14.026 | 25.29
Nitrate (mg/l).............. 21.700 | 2.0632
Selenium (ug/l).............. 0.276 | 0.3
Sodium (mg/l)............... 34.125 | 8.82
Total Trihalomethanes (ug/l) 36.888 | 44.625
Total Pesticide (ug/l)....... 0.010 | 0.05
Sulphate (mg/l)............. 60.188 | 30.225
Total Organic Carbon (mg/l).. 2.153 | 1.658
Now, I notice that in my new house, Nitrate is rather high and I generally dose a good amount through EI. I have made the following mix...
I get in 100mls for 1ml dose per day to my 14 litre tank
KNO3 12g
K2SO4 6g
KH2PO4 6g
MgSO4 3g
Trace 1.5g
Would the high level of Nitrate be causing the problem or will it be CO2 or O2 related?
I'd love to keep shrimp but I don't want to keep killing them. Many people I know seem to keep shrimp without a problem, so I'm thinking that I'm doing something fundamentally wrong.
Any ideas, experience or comments would be greatly appreciated.
I go through a lengthy introduction process by drip acclimatising them before they go into the tank.
Originally, I thought it was because I was dosing high levels of Easy Carbo so decided to go pressurised co2. However, that didn't solve the problem.
I would like to think it has something to do with water quality as I've moved 2 hours drive within the UK. The water company stats are as follows:
Element New | Old
-------------------------------------|--------
Turbidity (NTU)............... 0.057 | 0.149
Arsenic (ug/l)................ 0.378 | 0.2075
Copper (mg/l)................ 0.006 | 0.0075
Iron (ug/l)................. 14.026 | 25.29
Nitrate (mg/l).............. 21.700 | 2.0632
Selenium (ug/l).............. 0.276 | 0.3
Sodium (mg/l)............... 34.125 | 8.82
Total Trihalomethanes (ug/l) 36.888 | 44.625
Total Pesticide (ug/l)....... 0.010 | 0.05
Sulphate (mg/l)............. 60.188 | 30.225
Total Organic Carbon (mg/l).. 2.153 | 1.658
Now, I notice that in my new house, Nitrate is rather high and I generally dose a good amount through EI. I have made the following mix...
I get in 100mls for 1ml dose per day to my 14 litre tank
KNO3 12g
K2SO4 6g
KH2PO4 6g
MgSO4 3g
Trace 1.5g
Would the high level of Nitrate be causing the problem or will it be CO2 or O2 related?
I'd love to keep shrimp but I don't want to keep killing them. Many people I know seem to keep shrimp without a problem, so I'm thinking that I'm doing something fundamentally wrong.
Any ideas, experience or comments would be greatly appreciated.