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OK, I got an API GH and KH kit, tested pH as well with my API bottle. Also let some tap water sit for 24 hours (same faucet I use to water change, and there's no filtration or anything). Here's what I found. My tap and tank water have the same GH of 7 degrees (100-200ppm) and pH range is...

Yesterday, my tap water was GH 25ppm. Today it is 300ppm. Same method, same faucet. Tested the tank too and it was 50ppm yesterday and 300ppm now. In case you'd want to know, KH is about 40 in both and pH about 6.5. How do you "out-gas" the co2?

I visited Aquarium Co-op and told them about my situation. They said they've seen many many people use fluval stratum and have the same issues that I'm having of low pH but very hard water. It's a battle I decided I'm done fighting, so I replaced my substrate with sand. I tested the faucet water...

pH is low because I use Fluval stratum for the substrate. The source water has a pH of about 7.5. I live in a house that's over 50 years old so I'm guessing the hardness is the pipes. We are moving soon. When we moved here, I thought it was soft water, not sure why but I was getting soft...

300ppm or 12-18 dGH. It's hard water.

Hi, looking for opinions. This is my 38 gallon planted tank and looking to add one more fish species to complete it. Here's what I have: 9 green neon tetras 10 black phantom tetras Amano and red rili shrimp kept at 74-78 degrees 2 HOB Aquaclear 20 filters pH 6.4 GH 300ppm I'm thinking either 2...

In my experience, bettas get along fine with peaceful fish like corys, endlers, and tetras. They like to chase dwarf shrimp though. If it were me, I'd introduce the betta into your 20gal and closely monitor for a while to see how it goes and have a backup plan and net in hand. If it works out...

Well nothing is getting better. I lose at least 4 shrimp a week. I'm not sure what happened but I took the tank down. Bathed the shrimp in some salt and relocated them into larger, cycled tanks. I was able to save 19 out of the original 30+. Here's hoping they thrive with more space and more...

I have some volunteer duckweed? It's looking beautiful but what is this on the roots?

Found a wiggly worm on my shrimp's head this morning and what in the world is on the glass?? Could either of these be the culprit?

I feed shrimp food twice a week and a tiny bit of frozen food twice a week

Oh, and also. I have a scarlet badis now, so how come worms and whatever the tiny white specks are are thriving? :\

An update: I've been changing 30% of the water every other day, keeping a close eye on things, not feeding too much, and treating the tank with conditioner and bottled bacteria every day whether I change the water or not. Haven't had a death in several days, and then this morning I wake up to...

Something I definitely need to work on. 😁

You know I've done that a couple times and one of them literally cracked when I filled it. 😭

Good idea, but it's kinda hard to get going with a business like that, isn't it?

It's the dang substrate and plants. Especially when you've just started out and keep accidentally killing things. 😬

Not only am I married, but I have 2 young kids as well! 🤣😬

Let's be real for a second. 😂 How do you afford this hobby? I'm a beginner, as in, less than 6 months into it. I have 3 tanks and enjoy aquascaping and fishkeeping, but I've spent SOOO much money. Like, hundreds and hundreds. To make matters worse, practically every time I run into a problem and...

No, but the tank has some calcium supplements (crushed coral/wonder shell) because my tap water is very soft. I think temperature might be the bigger issue though. Typically I fill a bucket, treat it, then slowly siphon the water into the tank. Hard to be sure it's the same temperature.

Are you able to ensure the new water has the same parameters? It's something I can't do very well. I am aware of the mixing colors and I'm OK with it. :)

Do they eat these leaves? I'm not sure what you mean. Also I've cut way down on feeding as that was the original issue and now I have a better idea of how much to feed. And I don't feed every day.

Ok I spent the extra money to get an EPI master test kit. Two dead shrimp yesterday - both red rilis, one juvie and one adult. Tested the water - ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25ppm. Did a water change, added bottled bacteria, and some good calcium-rich food.

Why not? I was thinking of getting some.

I think what happened was, while I was cycling the tank to prepare for the shrimp, I put in some fish food. It probably was too much and the tank got overrun with pests/worms. I felt as though the tank was cycled when I added the shrimp. But perhaps they were being killed by sneaky planaria from...

I don't know what else to do at this point. Changing more than 20% will kill them too. And how do you account for the ones that died when it WAS 0?

As I said in the post, I'm getting readings for nitrite because I had to change out the gravel because of pest worms and such. I don't think it's the cause of my problems because shrimp were dying when the tank was cycled previously. I use Aquarium Co-Op test strips and ammonia is 0. I use...

Yes I am. Molts are translucent and hollow. But the dead shrimp are fully formed with colors intact.

My pH in every tank I have is low and I don't know how to raise it or if I need to. Seems most fish like a pH of 7ish, but my tanks are always around 6. My 30 gallon might even be below 6, the test strip is really yellow. I have honey gourami and neon tetras and loaches in that tank, so I don't...

I have a 5.5 shrimp tank and for the past week or two, every other day I notice a dead shrimp in the morning. Doesn't seem to matter if it's an adult or juvenile, or what coloration. I have about 10 red rilis, 5 orange cherry, and 5 blue velvet. It's a planted tank with pearl weed, java moss...