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Hello, I am wondering if anyone has good knowledge about the effects of kH and temperature to the pH? I noticed that sometimes the pH of my small 10G tank fluctuated, but the substrate, ADA Amazonia, was still fresh. To this day, it has still not been a year since putting the new substrate. For instance, as the season changed from winter-spring-early summer, the pH seemed to have increased to 6.3 ish (before it was very consistent at 6.0). Plus, during that season transition, I ended up losing blue bolts and some high grade CRS as the temperature unexpectedly increased too much (I suspect it was the temp. because other parameters were all within the normal range) - it was my first time trying out BB :(. So, in order to solve the temperature issue, I moved my 10G tank down to the basement, and now the temperature is consistent at 20~22 degrees Celsius. What is interesting is that the pH is now back to being 6.0; the API test kit appears as yellow! Now, I have more than 40 shrimplets which are very healthy and growing. Many have successfully entered the juvenile stage. + I think that about 3 months after setting up ADA Amazonia, I noticed the pH change once, which I did not consider seriously as shrimps were still healthy. - I did some search online and read that the low kH levels could lead to the fluctuation of the pH... So my question is: Does the temperature usually affect the pH signficantly in a tank with RO/DI water + salty shrimp GH (hence kH <1)? Or... could it be that the substrate was defective? I doubt that honestly but meh there could be many other possibilities. It could be wrong observations, too (but others also noticed the pH increase!). The 10G tank parameters: pH 6.0 or less ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0 GH 6 KH <1 TDS 120 No CO2 injection (only have mosses and low light plants for shrimps) During the season change and shrimp deaths: the temperature increased a lot, and pH increased by ~0.3 Thanks!

I'm about to start my shrimp venture again. I plan on using RO and tap water in a 70RO/30Tap to get a desirable TDS. But. I would prefer 100%RO and to start remineralizing my RO water using my brand spanking new digital scale. Going with a new level of professional here lol. Can someone recommend a brand?

Hello all, I am new to the forum and to keeping shrimp and have some water chemistry questions. I recently purchased ten neocaridinas (five red sakura, two red unknown, one sky blue, one dark blue, and one yellow) and am now left with only four reds and the sky blue. The shrimp remaining are swimming around, feeding, and displaying nice coloration. I would like to purchase more but I don't want them to meet the same fate as the ones that did not make it! Any help on the matter is appreciated. My tank set-up: 2.6 gallon, cycled Fluorite substrate Planted (marimo moss balls, hornwort, crypt, myrio, chinese ivy) One large piece of dritwood Four apple snails No fish My water parameters: Nitrates: 10 Nitrites: 0 GH: 75 (soft) Chlorine: 0 KH: 300+ (super high) pH: 8.4- 8.8 I have well water that runs through a water softener, and thus seems to produce very soft yet very alkaline water. Does low GH but high KH/pH affect shrimp? Is there anything I can or should do to raise GH and lower KH/pH? Will these changes encourage the shrimp to thrive and breed (I know my snails would appreciate an oomph in the GH!)? Is there anything else I might be doing wrong? Thanks for all the help!