Water Params And Caridina Shrimp

Hey guys,

I'm trying to get my feet into shrimp keeping and see a lot of information online about Caridina shrimp and needing a Gh of 3-6 and a Kh of 0-1.

I run an RO filter and my Gh comes out at 6-7 and my Kh comes out at 3-4 and was wondering if this is normal for water straight out of an RO unit.

How can I drop my Gh and Kh? I have Indian almond leaves in the tank and have it heavily planted.

it is a 20 gallon and I do 20% water changes once per week. It has been running for over a year.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
pH: 6.4

Thank you.

 

Theres something wrong there a RO system should produce everything at zero except ph which would be neutral at 7 then the water is reminerilise to what you need
What type of ro unit are you using

 

Theres something wrong there a RO system should produce everything at zero except ph which would be neutral at 7 then the water is reminerilise to what you need
What type of ro unit are you using

It’s an Aquatic Life RO Buddie

 

Ok. I tore it apart, took out the membrane the put it back in. Maybe I had a small leak in it somewhere.

My Kh and Gh now register at 0.

I decided to check my pH... Water straight out of the tap, the pH is 7.2 and out of the RO unit, it's 6.

I guess for shrimp, low is ok?

 

If you have a TDS meter that needs celebrating do it your ph should be 7 neutral
You are also going to.need salty bee minerals to add to the water to get the perameters right

 

I’m going to be ordering one with the filter for my 2 gallon

 

Are you using strips or liquid to do your ph readings

 

Liquid. API tests

 

Ok I find it strange its lowering your ph, do you have minerals to add to get the perameters correct, plus we would normally use an active substrait to lower the ph but I don't know what's happening to yours, mine always comes out at ph7

 

I thought it was weird. Apparently, I'm not the only one. I've been studying and reading for a while about filtration and shrimp keeping and there are some others that have a pH of 6 out of their RO.

 

I found out some interesting things while researching RO filters and water.

Reverse Osmosis water tends to be slightly acidic with a pH of 5-6. This is because the semi-permeable membrane successfully filters out contaminants, but is not able to filter carbon dioxide – which can also dissolve in the water after it passes through the filter.

Source: What is the pH of Reverse Osmosis Water?

 

You will find after you produce ro water the co2 will gas off over 24hrs putting the ph back to neutral 7. Most people who produce RO water store it and a pump added to turn the water for it to gas off

 

Oh ok. I need to get a pump then.

 

Test some water after letting it stand for 24hrs first an see where you ph as settled, I just leave mine in containers for 4days before using it and it is fine

 

Interesting. I’ll set some up tonight. Need to do a water change tomorrow anyway.

 

Are you using minerals in the ro water

 

I’m not. I plan on getting some shrimp salts.

 

Like what ones

 

I’m torn between saltyshrimp and brightwell. Not sure if I want to do powder or liquid.

 

I use salty bee gh+ which works fine

 

Awesome. I’ll get that for my 20 for Caridina and the gh/kh+ for a Neocaridina tank. That one is 2.5 since they are a bit more tolerant.