Water changes and shrimp deaths

[James0816]

Still having this issue and it is getting a little puzzling to me. Even when being more cautious. :wall:

On Wednesday, I did a normal 20% water change. Water has been treated with prime (5 drops for 2.5g water), aged (brings the PH and temps up) and aerated (air stone runs in the jug prior to and during water change).

My method here. Slowly remove water from tank using small tubing to fill a 2.5g jug. Then, slowly add water from fresh 2.5g jug (mentioned above) using same method but clamp hose so the flow is even slower than the removal rate.

Takes a while, but it doesn't bother me a bit.

Evening check yesterday and I found maybe around (10) dead baby CRS shrimp. I didn't lose any adults this time.

I'm curious if anyone else is experiencing anything like this during water changes to the first 24 hours after?

Even taking that extra step with the slow removal and adding of water didn't help. I know the fresh water parms don't match exactly to the tank water, but that is why the very slow addition to the tank (so I thought at least).

[supersudo]

try mixing some RO water or distilled into your new water maybe?.. if you have hard water in your area.. topping off when it evaporates just makes it harder and harder... use distilled or RO when topping off when it evaporates.. and add a chunk of driftwood or something to soften the water.. i know CRS like soft water

if you alrdy have soft water.. i'd add a bit of crushed seashells or maybe a calcium carbonate pill to bring up the hardness a bit.. so there's a pH buffer so there aren't any pH swings.. i know that aeration temporarily brings pH up especially in soft water..

i'd also add some live plants if there aren't any as they help with water quality..


also try.. maybe adding more plants and a 10% water change instead? any of these are worth a shot but just keep an eye on your water parameters

[Rugh1982]

did u check the water parameters? (nitrite, nitrate...)
maybe try changing the water jugs u use for the changes (it`s a longshot but who knows)
are they molting before dying?
can u check for metals in the water? (some stores here have an expansive test {40$} that will tell u EVERYTHING that`s in the water)

[James0816]

try mixing some RO water or distilled into your new water maybe?.. if you have hard water in your area.. topping off when it evaporates just makes it harder and harder... use distilled or RO when topping off when it evaporates.. and add a chunk of driftwood or something to soften the water.. i know CRS like soft water

if you alrdy have soft water.. i'd add a bit of crushed seashells or maybe a calcium carbonate pill to bring up the hardness a bit.. so there's a pH buffer so there aren't any pH swings.. i know that aeration temporarily brings pH up especially in soft water..

i'd also add some live plants if there aren't any as they help with water quality..


also try.. maybe adding more plants and a 10% water change instead? any of these are worth a shot but just keep an eye on your water parameters

Yep...already have soft water and tons of plants. I may just try to go back with crushed coral in the jugs. I used to do that all the time.