questions about Ph and viablity of CRS

[dwaffer]

Hi,

I'm currently working on a deal to obtain some S grade CRS.
The problem is I have learned that the source tanks PH are 6.3 to 6.5 and my tank are all at 7.6
I am very concerned now that these CRS will not be survive in my tanks unless I alter Ph.

I do keep RCS and just stated keeping Bee or Diamond shrimp. RCS are doing extremely well over the past few years and Diamonds Ive only kept for awhile but seem to be doing okay.

I feel it may be a rare oportunity to get high grade CRS but if they will not survive it may be better to pass.

Hoping to get some opinions. Will I have to change my PH to safely keep these CRS?

[Barra21]

hi,

personally i feel that ur ph should be ok to keep them. The main thing you should focus on is 0ppm of nitrates,nitrites and ammonia. High ph would most likely kill ur shrimp only when u suddenly introduce the shrimp in without acclimatisation.
The shrimps u intend to buy would probably come from a tank with ph6.5-7 so just try to take as much time as u can to introduce the shrimp in the tank.
I keep my shrimp in a ph 6.8-7.2 tank.

Another alternative would be adding ph down solutions slowly.

Hope it helps. :)

[dwaffer]

Thanks.

I have decided to try seachems acid buffer to see if I can get the ph down and stabilized. I will hold off on getting the CRS for until I'm confident its stable. I was a tough decision between the buffer and the peat moss+RO method. Hope I made the right decision.
It just seem like a bit much to try to acclimate CRS that far from what they where raised in. Its my first attempt at altering PH. :undecided

[turbomkt]

Dwaffer,
You could also try a substrate like ADA's AquaSoil that lowers pH. That way you don't have to worry about adding stuff to your water every time.

The last option is to make a peat filter for your water. Something like this (http://www.marksfish.me.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63).

[MariaMakiling]

Turbomkt,
thanks for that link about peat filtering. Very useful. I shall try it and try Bumble shrimp again.
Anybody else try to peat filter?

[dwaffer]

That is the substrate of the tanks where they currently reside.
It seems to be the method of choice.
Very intresting peat filter method.
Thanks.

[dwaffer]

I have a couple of more questions on this topic.
I'm setting up a 55g long shrimp only tank. My 10th tank in a 1 bedroom apartment :D

The Aquasoil substrate that seems very popular for CRS is it the amazonia type?

How safe is using peat used for gardening in a shrimp tank?
The stuff I had in mind comes in large bails from garden stores to use in the above linked method of filtering the water through peat.

Just seems like there could be a big risk of introducing pest and perhaps toxins like pestecides etc. into the aquarium.
Anybody have thoughts on this or expierence?

[turbomkt]

As long as there are no fertilizers added it should be fine. Canada (not your part) is where most of our peat comes from, BTW ;)