I have had a 2 gallon tank for about 8 months now with RCS and plants in it. Marina i25 filter, 10W water heater 6 day water changes, fluval shrimp stratum. But in the end none of this has stabilized the water parameters Ph literally will drop2-3 points over nite and I wake up to dead RCS. So frustrating:wall:. I think just the small tank is the reason anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the parameters in check or even what other fish could go in there?
I Hate Small tanks
- Thread starter archaic37
- Start date
always a bummer. What are you running for filtration? Perhaps adding an extra sponge filter may help?
I know that when the lights go off and the plants stop photosynthesizing it can alter the water parameters. one of the challenges with smaller tanks I suppose. I have not added any livestock, just the snails that hitched in on plants into my small shrimp tank. I leave the light on 24 hours a day hoping to increase the algae growth for when I do add shrimp. I have not noticed any changes in my water chemistry, with the exception of when I let it go 2 weeks without changing the water.
Fluval Stratum is designed to lower pH just like ADA Aqua Soil...certain shrimp prefer lower pH and need it to breed, but red cherry shrimp aren't one of them. I would add maybe a piece of coral or limestone to try and balance it out, you could also buffer your water change water with a little baking soda. What's your tap water's pH and alkalinity readings?
I do not know what my tap water Ph is. I was originally taking tap water and conditioning it and let it sit for a long period before adding and that seemed to do really affect the shrimp. I now am using filtered water from a Pur water filter pitcher and that helped. I just ran out of test strips I need to get a liquid test kit ASAP.
I will go to my local salt water lfs and pick up a handful of it. I will try to put it in a bag in my filter.
