sarah

Good luck! Take it slowly and don't panic
 
We're all learning as we go. Once you get this immediate nitrate issue sorted out, we can post a few clear and thorough links and videos that will talk you through fishless cycling. It's fairly simple with active substrate (more complicated with neutral substrate since you have to add ammonia).
 
As I mentioned above, based on your current parameters I am almost sure your tanks are already cycled. When you get the nitrate down to shrimp-safe levels, move the fish out. Then you can add a tiny bit of pure ammonia (make sure it has no surfactants or fragrances) to bring ammonia up to 2ppm, then test 24 hours later to make sure you have no ammonia or nitrites. Then you can do a water change to lower the nitrates and you're good to go.

Good luck! Take it slowly and don't panic
 
We're all learning as we go. Once you get this immediate nitrate issue sorted out, we can post a few clear and thorough links and videos that will talk you through fishless cycling. It's fairly simple with active substrate (more complicated with neutral substrate since you have to add ammonia).
 
As I mentioned above, based on your current parameters I am almost sure your tanks are already cycled. When you get the nitrate down to shrimp-safe levels, move the fish out. Then you can add a tiny bit of pure ammonia (make sure it has no surfactants or fragrances) to bring ammonia up to 2ppm, then test 24 hours later to make sure you have no ammonia or nitrites. Then you can do a water change to lower the nitrates and you're good to go.

Her eyes are awesome, and her temperament is sweet. heh
 
I know what you mean about gecko feet.  Scientists have worked to re-create that type of application instead of velcro for years.  Finally not too long ago they had a breakthrough, and have been using it for all kinds of insane things.  Mostly Military.  Check it out:
 
http://www.designntrend.com/articles/15108/20140607/us-military-developing-gecko-gloves-allowing-soldiers-to-scale-walls.htm

Wow those eyes look unreal!
BTW, I am not so into reptiles/birds, but I am totally in love with gecko feet. Have you ever seen a photo taken under a microscope? So awesome.

Doctor Who had a wild companion called Leela,
 

 
so my goyle is now officially Leela.
 
As you can see, Leela is changing her clothes, but not shy at all.
 

 

 
She's super relaxed and loves to lay in the hand-ock. heh

Here's 2 rare videos of vampire crabs in the wild.
Maybe you can do a setup that closely follows their natural habitat.
 

 

I'm sure everyone here knows this already, but just in case someone new is reading this thread - it's important to know that fiddler crabs must be kept in brackish water. No matter how they sell them at the store, these crabs will not survive in freshwater for long.
 
Also important to not overstock (most places recommended a 1:3 male to female ratio, but I had one male that eventually killed all but his one chosen female). They need space to create and defend their territories.

Well, after less than 24 hours, the pH in the bucket is 7.65.
Water change time
 
Thank you all for your input!

Here's the latest set-up prior to introducing the cardinals.  Moved some stuff around and added a smaller holey rock.

 
Also, here are a couple of pics of the cardinals.  These guys are hard to photograph being shy buggers.  My photo skills aren't the greatest either.  Hopefully I can share some better pics once they get braver.

Schweet!  Should settle to something reasonable in your tank.  

Well, after less than 24 hours, the pH in the bucket is 7.65.
Water change time
 
Thank you all for your input!

This is an interesting gadget if you have money to burn.  SS would have to be placed over the holes for shrimp.
 
http://www.reefgently.com/
 
Seems to me basically you could do the same thing by using an air valve and hanging one small dollar store bucket above another and doing the same thing . LOL

I have the same result when I use Gh/Kh+. The PH goes up to at least 8 when I mix the water to a TDS of about 150. It drops a bit when I let it sit but remains quite high. I decided not to worry about it and haven't had any problems in the 8 months or so I've been using it for neos and tigers.

only reason i clicked on the thread...lol.

I'm curious to what your remineralized RO pH does after 24-48-72 hours.  It has been documented that there are many challenges accurately measuring pH in low-TDS, softwater scenarios (freshwater shrimpkeeping using RO).  
 
Without being sure that pH is what is causing your molting issues, I wouldn't start fiddling with pH much, specifically since your tank pH of 7.81 is still within suitable neocaridina parameters.
 
I'm hoping that over time, your new water will drop pH to something below 8, and you can proceed as before.

maybe you need to calibrate your ph pen. 
i don't test ph,but it does sound high with that little kh.

"One of the most common issues that reefkeepers face involves supplementing alkalinity while maintaining a reasonable pH. Alkalinity supplements impact pH in a variety of ways. One of these ways is the immediate altering of the pH."
 
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/5/chemistry_album/figure1.gif/image_preview
 
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/5/chemistry

you know,after many uses of the pen the tds will show a higher tds then what it really is.
with SS GH/KH+,200 tds is not 8 gh.
tds is closer to 150.
you need to test the water you mix once in a while and adjust your tds number or calibrate the pen.
you should also test the gh of your tank once in a while.

So.. Ive got dwarf puffers so I am raising scuds in a small tank to feed them...
 
There's duckweed on top of that tank, so catching the little bastards is a nightmare.
I thought id try to catch them in a trap instead.
 
Made this little trap, and after 6 hours it was about 1/2 full of planaria.   Turns out my scud tank has lots of planaria too.
 
So, thought id share my design as it appears to be a very effective planaria trap.
 
 
 
So.. I started with These http://www.amazon.com/SEOH-100mm-Plastic-Test-Tubes/dp/B002JA5NMY/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1457914283&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=test+tubes+with+caps&psc=1
and these http://www.amazon.com/G2Plus%C2%AE-Disposable-Graduated-Transfer-Pipettes/dp/B00W4QJNYW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457914478&sr=8-3&keywords=pipettes
 
I already had these because I use em for testing water, and feeding fry/shrimplets but both are cheap and usefull
 
 
So.... the tubes have these little caps
 
 

 
 
Cut the very tip off so you've got a tube, I just used scissors.
 

 
 
 
Shove a pipette in there and push until it's snug.
 

 
 
 
Trim the excess off the long end and cut the short end just where it starts to taper out, and pop the cap back on.
 

 
Fill it with water, drop a food pellet inside, and stick it in the tank.

OK, this is unbelievable, the same shrimp is back in the breeder box... There must be a lot of nice biofilm in there. I am going to leave it there for a day or two and see if it decides to crawl back into the main tank on its own as it sure does not care about where I would like it.

I like the painted black wall myself. Also dont use paint thinner, just scrape off the paint with a razor blade.

I think you should try this with remineralized water. The pH of RO/DI is very hard to measure accurately since it's so pure.

I honestly don't remember the details, but here's a couple cool links:
 
http://www.npr.org/2010/11/16/131359561/unfamiliar-accents-turn-off-humans-and-songbirds
 
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/04/bird-accents-change-elevation
 
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-16154490

Received a paypal refund with this note:
"My wife has been hospitalized the last couple weeks since I offered this food. Right now I just can't get my shipments together. Sorry for wasting your time."
No worries Ryan. Hope your wife gets better and everything works out alright.

I switched my tanks from controsoil to fluval stratum and it does release ammonia. Even after using a seeded filter I see some ammonia. I would recommend checking your parameters to make sure you're cycle is fully complete.