Dwarf Crawfish care

[Brandon_Krenek]

Hello, I have a 10 gallon tank in the process if cycling, and when its cycled im interested in trying to keep a dwarf crawfish. I’ve never kept one before, and I have some questions.
PS my temperature is 78F and pH is 6.4 right now but I dont know if that will change as the tank cycles and more minerals get added via tap water.
1) What is water hardness and how do I keep track of It?
2) What minerals do I try to provide them with and how do I do so? Will it harm any fish I keep with them?
3) is my pH too low? How can I safely raise it?
4) Is copper from fertilizers bad for them? If so are there safe fertilizers?

 

[Willj626]

They'll appreciate hard water but you don't have to go out of your way to make the water perfect for them, dechlorinated tap water should be fine. Don't worry to awful much about minerals really, but that's my opinion. Copper will kill them so if you've used fertz with copper in the water I probably wouldn't put the dwarf crays in that tank.

 

[Brandon_Krenek]

They'll appreciate hard water but you don't have to go out of your way to make the water perfect for them, dechlorinated tap water should be fine. Don't worry to awful much about minerals really, but that's my opinion. Copper will kill them so if you've used fertz with copper in the water I probably wouldn't put the dwarf crays in that tank.

I have used a fertilizer that contains copper once on my tank to get my plants going, this may sound stupid, but if I switch to an invert safe fertilizer and end up getting inverts later down the road will they be fine? Ive never truly dedicated a tank to inverts before and I want to get my feet wet in shrimp colonies and maybe dwarf crawfish.

 

[Willj626]

I have used a fertilizer that contains copper once on my tank to get my plants going, this may sound stupid, but if I switch to an invert safe fertilizer and end up getting inverts later down the road will they be fine? Ive never truly dedicated a tank to inverts before and I want to get my feet wet in shrimp colonies and maybe dwarf crawfish.

I think if you do/ have done a lot of water changes then it'll be fine. There are copper water tests but you probably don't need them to be honest.

 

[Brandon_Krenek]

I think if you do/ have done a lot of water changes then it'll be fine. There are copper water tests but you probably don't need them to be honest.

I bought some rocks from a pet store, could they also contain copper?

 

[Willj626]

I bought some rocks from a pet store, could they also contain copper?

I would be inclined to say no but don't quote me on that; do you know what kind of rocks they are? I think most rocks sold for aquariums don't contain metals.

 

[Brandon_Krenek]

I would be inclined to say no but don't quote me on that; do you know what kind of rocks they are? I think most rocks sold for aquariums don't contain metals.

Ah no I didn’t ive added some stress zyme i believe that says it dechlorinates water and gets rid of traces of metal so I feel like itll be fine

 

[Willj626]

Ah no I didn’t ive added some stress zyme i believe that says it dechlorinates water and gets rid of traces of metal so I feel like itll be fine

I think you'll be. fine as well. Enjoy your dwarf crays!!! I love them so much- they truly do have loads of personality

 

[qldmick]

I would change to Aragonite or limestone sand/gravel will naturally raise ph and boost hardness, or you could just chuck some in your filter.