Shrimpie123

I never thought I would have fish tanks. I have one. I never thought I'd have a planted shrimp tank. I now have two. And I NEVER thought I would EVER be interested in snails. I'm fascinated. 
 
I've been mesmerized at how my pink ramshorn snails will jump off a leaf or piece of moss. They just float to the next thing. So carefree.

Very cool picture!

It's been a while since I posted here. Here are some updated pics

This is the first i heard of this - do you have a source or more details? Can't see what type of liability there would be with shrimp food though... and if there is some sort of liability issue, I would imagine it would affect other imported shrimp food as well.
 
I will check with my GlasGarten rep and report and what he says

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As a small tank keeper (3G JBJ Picotope), I have to be diligent with testing, water levels and maintenance. I have no experience with large tanks, but what I have are three nano's and they require a good amount of TLC. I enjoy it. When our children get older, we will do larger tanks out in the house. So for now, nano. 

I do not have near the advanced tank as yours and I'm going on a week long trip and was wondering what to do. Good to know all is well. Part of my evaporation problem is my cat likes to drink out of our tanks. Luckily, they won't be here while we are gone. 

Hello SS
 
Thought I should do an little update
Not the best but some cell pics
 
CRS tank doing awesome, counted 130+
 

 

 
 

Thanks Shrimpie123!
 
I just made a gallon of remineralized RO/DI water using Lowkeys GH. .75ml of remineralizer gave me gH5 using the API test kit. 87 TDS.

Good to know. I did a large water change tonight and I added less LK's GHMB and my TDS is now 134. I have another tank and I like them meticulously clean so the algae and diatoms are driving me crazy. I'm forcing myself not to mess with it and wait for the shrimp and snails to clean it up. Mine will be a Taiwan Bee tank. 
 
I've really enjoyed your journal and have learned a lot. I've got two 3 gallon JBJ Picotopes (shrimp tanks) and a 5 gallon Fluval Chi (my son's little community tank). I want to get a large tank for our family room once the kids are a little older. Keep sharing your progress. 
 
Thanks for your response. 

I did have the diatoms before adding the shrimp. I noticed them starting just before the cycle was finished. However, they really bloomed after I added the shrimp. I don't think they minded and everything went well. I did brush some of the diatoms off the wood but left it on the glass.I saw shrimp graze on it every now and then.
 
When I was using MK-Breed, it was around 130, and after the first water change with Lowkeys it bumped up to 140. I didn't start with Lowkeys so my TDS will no doubt be a bit skewed compared to yours. Two water changes of 10% later it's sitting at 147.
 
I usually never measure the TDS of my new water, but I'll make some now and test.

Is there anything inside the filter that is clogging it up? Such as something that is stuck to the impeller, or is the prefilter clogged?

Isolate each phase. Run it with no media (I think you can do that?) and add each item back in one at a time.
You may need to replace the sponges if they are too clogged.
 
 

I have seen amano's eat baby pond snails.

Once a year or more
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I no longer use Mosura TDS+. I just upped the GH to 8-9, which has put me at about 230 TDS, and they are breeding like crazy. They bred best at GH 10 for me, actually, but I feared the GH getting too high so I dropped it a bit. =)

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Edit: Hadn't realized this post was back when I was using SS GH+. I switched to liquid remineralizer which put my GH at about 6-7 for a TDS of 170. So I increased it, and they've been good since. =)

I'm kind of taken by their eyes and leg joints. Unreal photos

When I first started keeping shrimp, I had them. I was feeding too much. I had small planaria and detritus worms. I would get the detritus worms out with tongs and the planaria I left. Ultimately, I was over feeding. I dialed in my feedings and I don't see planaria anymore, but now and again do see 1-3 detritus worms. I don't mind them too much because they clean up detritus which isn't a bad thing.

May I suggest using Seachem alkaline buffer and acid buffer to finalize the recharge process?  These are both non phosphate based buffers unlike neutral regulator.  I don't have trouble with PH swings with regenerated purigen at all.
 
Seachem acid and alkaline buffer
 
All of the steps below are much easier if you use one of the reusable coffee maker filter screens the biggest size you can find.  This makes it so easy to rinse well and prepare for storage.  See this one, and the handle on top of it is even better.
 
Coffee Filter
 
1) Soak in regular household bleach with no scent additives or any other additives of any kind.  This is very important.  Soak for 24 hours, but stir the solotion of bleach and Purigen periodically when you can.
 
2) Rinse very well in RO water.  If you use tap with chlorine, add some prime to the next step 3.
 
3) Add the ratio of acid buffer to alkaline buffer that matches the aquariums ph you intend to use it in.  Instructions for this ratio are on the back of both bottles.  I use 1 teaspoon as a starting point so there is a powerful mix of buffer to infuse into the Purigen.  Soak for at least 24 hours. Stir the mix periodically.
 
4)  You may rinse this mix in RO water, which is best. If not, put the purigen into the filter, reactor, or whatever you use for purigen right away, or store it in the original bottle drained of excess water.  If you use tap water for this step add prime to the aquarium directly, or make a bowl of tap and prime water to rinse it before you store it.
 
Never let purigen dry out!  Never use slime coat additives as it will foul the purigen.
 
Hope this helps.
 
 

I got some for my 3g marineland a while back. It looks nice and came in healthy.

I have Royal Blue Tigers and one of the guys I purchased from said you will see the females do this when they are ready to breed or berried. I have a female that looks like this. 

Gorgeous blue bolt!

APC has a chart that tells you how many watts it can hold for approx. how long. That is what I based it on prior to purchasing, after your purchase your APC Backups will tell you how many minutes it can hold with the amount of watts it has plugged into it.

If you start sponge filter ASAP then you should have enough bacteria colonized in it to prevent a mini-cycle.

battery powered air pumps are handy to have.