Interesting: Usually, in freshwater,
most of the cations are calcium and magnesium (In a 3:1 ratio) and
most of the anions are carbonates. The levels for (
GH) and (
KH) will often be similar.
Examples of GH and Types of Shrimp.
| Name | Optimal GH | Limits |
|---|
| Vampire shrimp | 6 – 12 | 4 – 20 |
Change in hardness will not kill your shrimp like that. I keep shrimp in almost RO water and vary the hardness. Shrimp take calcium from their food and not only from the water.
Well, actually, it is not that simple. A lot of
shrimp species prefer acidic (soft) water (For example, optimal
KH is 0-1 for Crystal red
shrimp). Here comes the problem.
High KH will not allow pH to go that low.
Examples of KH and Types of Shrimp.
| Name | Optimal KH | Limits |
|---|
| Blue bolt shrimp | 0 – 2 | 0 – 4 |
| Vampire shrimp | 2 – 15 | |
GH being especially important to shrimp keepers because Calcium Carbonate is vital to the molting cycle of shrimp. Molting is the key to shrimp growth and health. The rate at which a shrimp will molt/shed it exoskeleton has a lot to do with its environment and level of GH.
How to lower aquarium GH – decrease hardness
- Reverse Osmosis/Deionized water (RO/DI) If you need to lower your GH every time you perform a water change, an RO/DI system is your best bet.
- Distilled water. Distilled water is essentially water that has been turned into steam then collected.
- Peat moss.
Rain water per se is fine, but the accumulation and storage can be an issue that may be harder to deal with and keep clean than the effort is worth for what is likely small amounts of water.
To raise both GH and KH simultaneously, add calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Two teaspoons per 50 Liters of water will increase both the KH and GH by about 4 dH. Alternatively, add some sea shells, coral, limestone, marble chips, etc. to your filter.
The most important parameters in any shrimp tank are GH and KH. These two measurements will directly affect the Ph in an aquarium and what types of fish or shrimp you will be able to keep. KH is what directly influences the stability of Ph in an aquarium so for soft water shrimp it is import to keep KH under 3.
pH: 7.0—7.6 · General Hardness: 100—200 ppm. An omnivore, the Cherry Shrimp will accept most prepared foods. Females are more red than males. The darker the aquarium background the darker red the Shrimp will become.
Red Cherry Shrimp reach about 4 cm (1.6 inches). They prefer clean water with a ph of 6.5-8.0, and a rough temperature of 14-30 degrees C (57-86), most comfortable at a moderate room temperature of about 72 degrees. They are omnivores and typically live 1-2 years under ideal conditions.
ShrimpP. Assuming your tap water isn't too hard or too soft for the species you keep, therefore usable. Whether you have had success always using tap water, or if you used to use tap water until one day all your shrimp died because of the water supply.
Their preferred temperatures are 70-80 °F (21-26.5 °C). Red cherry shrimp: do need a heater since their preferred water temperature is between 77-81 °F (25-27.5 °C).
To raise the GH of your tank water you can use Shrimp mineral supplements, Equilibrium, GH booster, wonder shells, crushed coral, aragonite, etc. Alkaline buffer, aragonite sand, dolomite rock, limestone are good for boosting up your KH.
As long as water parameters are where they're supposed to be at and all other care requirements are being met, Crystal Red shrimp are not difficult to breed at all. These tiny shrimplets don't need extra care, though some shrimp keepers choose to feed powdered baby shrimp foods.
The Best Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates for a Harmonious Aquarium
- Snails.
- Otocinclus Catfish.
- Corydoras Catfish.
- Small-Sized Rasboras.
- Small-Sized Tetras.
- White Mountain Cloud Minnows.
As I touched on earlier, KH prevents acids from causing your pH to swing. Rapid changes in pH can shock and even kill your fish.
Proper Water Parameters for Home Aquariums
| Parameter | Freshwater Community | African Cichlid |
|---|
| Nitrite | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nitrate | < 50 ppm | < 50 ppm |
| Alkalinity (Carbonate Hardness) | 4 - 8 KH | 10 - 18 KH |
| General Hardness | 4 - 12 GH | 12 - 20 GH |
If your tap water has low GH but your tank water has a high GH, first check that there is nothing buffering GH, like calcareous decor, then use dechlorinated tap water in water changes to bring GH down.
Yes, they are the same. KH, also dKH, is the units that alkalinity is measured in. You may also see it as meq/l, this is a single digit with 2 decimals: 3.89 meq/l is roughly equal to 11 dKH.
The way to raise the kH with out raising the pH is to buffer it. Add acid buffer at the same time you add Sodium Bicarbonate at a particular ratio and the pH will be set. I typically change 20g of water a week.
Most freshwater fish thrive when you have a pH level between 6.6 and 7.8. If, after conducting a pH test, you find the pH level to be unacceptable, you can raise or lower your pH levels by purchasing chemical products from your local pet store such as Aquarium Pharmaceuticals pH Up or pH Down.
shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Red Cherry shrimp or RCS are a breed of shrimp known as Neocaridina denticulata sinensis. This makes them an excellent beginner shrimp. They are easy to breed, maintain and they will naturally hide from predators.
10 Peaceful Fish That Make Good Shrimp Tankmates
- #1 — Guppies. Guppies and shrimp can be placed in the same aquarium.
- #2 — Celestial Pearl Danio.
- #3 — Ember Tetras.
- #4 — Endler's Livebearers.
- #5 — Pygmy Corydoras.
- #6 — Harlequin Rasboras.
- #7 — Sparkling Gourami.
- #8 — Bristlenose Pleco.
Most species prefer slightly alkaline water, with a pH of 7.2. Others prefer acidic water with a pH as low as 6.5, while some require alkaline water, with a pH of up to 7.5. In all cases, you must match the pH of the tank with that of your shrimp's native waters.
Red cherry shrimp water parameters
| KH Carbonate Hardness | 0 – 10.0 |
|---|
| GH General Hardness | 4.0 – 14.0 |
| pH | 6.4 – 7.6 |
| Temperature | 64°F – 78°F |
| TDS | 80 – 200 |
It is easy to guess, that
TDS is associated with water hardness (PH). However, there is no direct correlation here, because water hardness depends on the magnesium and calcium salts in it.
Examples of TDS and Types of Shrimp.
| Name | Optimal TDS | Limits |
|---|
| Cardinal shrimp | 100 | 50 – 150 |
| Blue tiger shrimp | 180 – 220 | 100 – 300 |
They do not change or alter the chemistry of your water, which is important as Neocaridina thrive best in a pH of 7.0-8.0, GH of: 4-8, and KH (carbonate hardness) of 3-15. Some examples of these are sand, common aquarium gravel, baked clay substrates, or even crushed lava rock.
Freshwater shrimp can live in ponds and other enclosures as they are native to rivers and streams. The oxygen level, temperature, and pH balance of the water must be maintained to ensure the shrimp's health, and predators, such as fish, turtles, and other aquatic life can threaten their survival.
