Questions about parameters and water changes

I have a heavily planted 10 gallon shrimp tank. Recently I had a berried shrimp give birth so I have quite a few babies in the tank. Ph- 7.6, ammonia- 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate- 0, kh- 2, gh-6, TDS-228. How can I get my nitrates up? I’d like to keep it around 10ppm so the plants can have some stuff to use. Also I like to keep my TDS between 150-200 and it’s definitely ready for a water change (I’ve been neglecting it because of the berried mamas and then babies) Any recommendations on how to do a water change without risking sucking any babies up. They’re only a week old so they’re still pretty tiny and most are still pretty clear/white. Thank you

 

I don't think you should want to raise the nitrate. Just add a little shrimp safe fertilizer (thrive for example makes some that is designed for shrimp tanks called thrive-s). For TDS I'll let someone comment. I presume you are not concern about TDS but perhaps calcium for shells? As for water change - i use a python and siphon into a pail and then check the pail for 'babies' (in my case baby guppies); net them out and flush the rest of the water.

 

You may be able to attach a piece of super fine netting to the end of your siphon tube. You may want to push it an inch or so up into the tube. That should prevent babies being sucked up but if they are they should fall back into the tank once the siphon is stopped.

What I do though is watch the tank end of the siphon tube like a hawk. Even then it is still possible to siphon up a baby. I siphon into a white container so it is easier to see the little guys. The blue babies are fairly easy to spot. The clear ones are not as easy until they move.

If your plants are doing well they may be getting all they need. If they are struggling you may want to consider the all in one liquid fert jake37 suggested.

 

I use the liquid fertilizer It's also safe for shrimp.

 

I don't think you should want to raise the nitrate. Just add a little shrimp safe fertilizer (thrive for example makes some that is designed for shrimp tanks called thrive-s). For TDS I'll let someone comment. I presume you are not concern about TDS but perhaps calcium for shells? As for water change - i use a python and siphon into a pail and then check the pail for 'babies' (in my case baby guppies); net them out and flush the rest of the water.

You may be able to attach a piece of super fine netting to the end of your siphon tube. You may want to push it an inch or so up into the tube. That should prevent babies being sucked up but if they are they should fall back into the tank once the siphon is stopped.

What I do though is watch the tank end of the siphon tube like a hawk. Even then it is still possible to siphon up a baby. I siphon into a white container so it is easier to see the little guys. The blue babies are fairly easy to spot. The clear ones are not as easy until they move.

If your plants are doing well they may be getting all they need. If they are struggling you may want to consider the all in one liquid fert jake37 suggested.

My plants are doing excellent and growing at an alarming rate. But my worry with water changes is I get a big build up of detritus so I like to siphon that out with water changes. Should I let the detritus be and just change the water? Because the fine mesh/sponge on siphon won’t work if I’m removing detritus and it’ll make the bottom of my pale/bucket dark and possibly even the water making it hard if not impossible to spot the tiny babies.

 

I haven't figured that one out. My guppy tank which does the best with regards to plants has massive overload of fishes (you know guppies are guppies); with lots of 'stuff' from the guppies. I vacuum what is sitting on the substrate but don't really bother to go lower. On the one hand that 'stuff' is fine fertilizer for the plants on the other hand maybe it is bad for the fishes - i don't know. Water seems fine but i wouldn't drink it

My plants are doing excellent and growing at an alarming rate. But my worry with water changes is I get a big build up of detritus so I like to siphon that out with water changes. Should I let the detritus be and just change the water? Because the fine mesh/sponge on siphon won’t work if I’m removing detritus and it’ll make the bottom of my pale/bucket dark and possibly even the water making it hard if not impossible to spot the tiny babies.

 

My plants are doing excellent and growing at an alarming rate. But my worry with water changes is I get a big build up of detritus so I like to siphon that out with water changes.

Have you tried using a turkey baster to lift the detritus and then syphoning it directly in the water column ?

 

My plants are doing excellent and growing at an alarming rate. But my worry with water changes is I get a big build up of detritus so I like to siphon that out with water changes. Should I let the detritus be and just change the water? Because the fine mesh/sponge on siphon won’t work if I’m removing detritus and it’ll make the bottom of my pale/bucket dark and possibly even the water making it hard if not impossible to spot the tiny babies.

I don't deep clean the gravel in my shrimp bowl. I just kinds try to pick up the biggest detritus. I kinda swirl the siphon hose right above it and get all I can that way. My tiny shrimplets tend to get out of the way.