Emergency!! TDS went from pretty normal to AHHH!

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Did a water change, 20-30% , added sm amount of new substrate, all was good TDS around 123 , HOB decided to poop out after cleaning it , ( trusted me guys it died) got new HOB rinsed, took out charcoal, used sm piece of sponge with good bac. ALL seemed good... today I came home and TDS in 150s.. ok freak out... start doing a lil water chance.. let it rest... up to 174!!!! All shrimp don't seem stressed except for 1 who was at a high point in the tank. 6 gallon tank, 7 blue bolt shrimp, 2 pregnant maybe 3.. 2 anubuius, subwursiatang (sp) temp 73.4, I waited, retested with my TDS tester, it went down to 154 then a while later 167, to 174... shrimp don't seem upset but I'm worried!!
Tank completed nitrogen cycle September, aqueon substrate mixed with blue and white bag.. I'm sorry I forget.
Tried to copy and paste Q&A for emergency, but would not work.

 

[APColorado]

Has your TDS meter been recalibrated lately?

 

[Cherryshrimp420]

Adding substrate, cleaning filter sponges will dissolve small particles into the water which will raise TDS temporarily.

Also you removed charcoal so it is no longer absorbing organics in the water which will also lead to higher TDS.

I think 174 is still within the ideal range for Caridina shrimp though.

 

[richiep]

Sounds like your tds meter may be playing up, test your ro water see if it comes out zero

 

[Aprilbeingbasic]

Shrimp aren't that sensitive to tds are they?

 

[richiep]

In this variation of a tds meter no but it dose affect the gh in ro water where it will become a problm with this particular shrimp, this is why I asked whats the ro reading and what minerals are use to get a tds thats there

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Going to recalibrate right now. I use cardina gh+ with ro water, carbon shouldn't be a factor.. haven't have carbon in the filter since the shrimp have been in there but even with rinsinging trace might be there??

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

In this variation of a tds meter no but it dose affect the gh in ro water where it will become a problm with this particular shrimp, this is why I asked whats the ro reading and what minerals are use to get a tds thats there

TDS is spiking again, I swear every time I try to clean that tank something goes awry, but now I have at least 90 babies swimming around eating and pooping too which I know doesn't help the TDS, I worry about moving them to tank 2 as I feel tank to just isn't stable enough because the TDS is in the 200s, I tested all the water the only think that was a lil off was I would say is the KH I would say it at like a 1 ( I'm assuming that a 0 is you put one drop and it changes) But with the TDS that high I feel like I cant feed the adults and they have been going crazy every time I give them a little something. I still try to give the babies a dip of there food. An I take it out as soon as I see they don't show interest. I have a small sponge filter I could add to help out? and more subwassertang on the way. with lil drops of flourish excel to see if that helps... just soo soo scared to look them all... I feel like all i've ever been doing is adding DI water to top off, havent needed to add DI wanted with GH+. IDK maybe i should just let them much on whats in there and leave them alone?

 

[richiep]

Before you freek out with TDS readings you need to understand the water chemistry of your shrimp tank
TDS stands for Total Desolved Solids and this is made up of inorganic and organic particles, every time you add things to the tank or disturb something like cleaning the glass or substrate it can affect your tds,
Tds readings are only there as a guide and nothing else so first what is the gh reading of the tank this is where you start, and what is the recommended gh for the blue bolt you keep

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Before you freek out with TDS readings you need to understand the water chemistry of your shrimp tank
TDS stands for Total Desolved Solids and this is made up of inorganic and organic particles, every time you add things to the tank or disturb something like cleaning the glass or substrate it can affect your tds,
Tds readings are only there as a guide and nothing else so first what is the gh reading of the tank this is where you start, and what is the recommended gh for the blue bolt you keep

Gh was good at a 5 ammonia, was good Ph a lil high, Kh at 1ish, Nitrites and nitrates were good. I'm Just worried abut feeding them and making the TDS go up higher.... How large do you think that the babies should be before I transfer them to my 10g?

 

[richiep]

Can you give us all the readings in numbers from your tank as it stands to see what's going on,
Gh kh ph tds nitrite nitraits ammonia, all these have a bearing on how to solve your problem,

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Can you give us all the readings in numbers from your tank as it stands to see what's going on,
Gh kh ph nitrite nitraits ammonia, all these have a bearing on how to solve your problem,

If I can get some time tonight I will otherwise it will be tomorrow.
Can I send you tank 2 and let me know what you think of it's numbers? Cuz the babies are getting big quick!

 

[richiep]

Any numbers must be current along any problems, its impossible to work on numbers which may be a week old but post anything with as much information as possible, photos of the tank and shrimp will help

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Any numbers must be current along any problems, its impossible to work on numbers which may be a week old but post anything with as much information as possible, photos of the tank and shrimp will help

Will do ! This just started yesterday or the day before, sorry my days all run together anymore with so much to do

 

[richiep]

Just give us what you can pictures are a great help

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Just give us what you can pictures are a great help

These are from today, will get picturesc of water parameters today

Just give us what you can pictures are a great help

And this picture was taken a few weeks ago just for fun weeks

 

[richiep]

Have you done your parameters in the last 9 days since your last post

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Have you done your parameters in the last 9 days since your last post

I did, now where if I can findvwote them down.... different question.. oh... an i lost a baby today.... I'm super sad

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

Have you done your parameters in the last 9 days since your last post

 

[richiep]

That ph is high for blue bolt it should be around ph6 what are you using to buffer your ph

 

[LiLBlueShrimpy22]

That ph is high for blue bolt it should be around ph6 what are you using to buffer your ph

Sorry I thought I replied to you last night, I have my Aqueon Substrate, Cappata leaves, I do have PH up and PH down as well as petco's ph down, I'm nervous about changing the filter media now, I do have a small sponge filter that i can add... don't know if that would help I don't want to do to much all at once. I love my babies.... and it took so long to get them....
Fritz Aquatics pH Neutralizer, but i've never used it before and it scares me with the babies. I haven't added any DI water with GH + because I didn't think it needed it? maybe I'm wrong there ? As of today my GH is at 6
and my KH is at 2 drops to when it turns orange, ammonia has been good like perfect... I've been just topping off with DI water, I give the babies bacter AE a very lil on a tooth pick every other day... and the adults a flake every once in a while and they'll devour that whole flake... sorry rambling just upset that my tank is off again... Oh i did add a aqueon ball when they came in a couple days ago... should I put a lil stress coat in there for them