Ideal PPM of TDS in CRS tank

**zachsta18** · 20th Jan 2012, 03:17 PM

Is there a specific amount of TDS I need to keep in my tank? I know that I need to re-mineralize the water, and I have a TDS meter, but what's "sweet-spot" for CRS water in terms of TDS? I use a DI system, and that takes the water down to 2ppm, and I have minerals I can add as needed. Currently, my tank has 269 ppm TDS, and the shrimp seem happy and fine, but is there a better amount that the shrimp will enjoy more? I have read online maybe somewhere in the range of 150-200 ppm, but I'm not sure if this is correct information...
Any information you guys can give me would be great! Thanks!
~Zach

**Caleb19** · 20th Jan 2012, 08:32 PM

I've read/heard that multiple people who keep CRS, use a wide variety of TDS levels. Ranging from 35 ppm to as much as 400 ppm for one individual. But I can say this, it would appear that 150 - 200 ppm is the "optimal range". (If such a thing exists) I believe that an important factor in maintaining your water parameters is stability. People have been successful with different levels, but stability seems to be the key. That's my 2 cents. Cheers!

**zachsta18** · 21st Jan 2012, 03:59 PM

Alright, so as long as I stay within a *reasonable* range, and stay stable, the shrimp should stay healthy and happy, and breed for me?

yay! Thanks for the help Caleb 19

~Zach

**Abhishek** · 21st Jan 2012, 05:19 PM

Well for me it always is from 120-160ppm.
But seen some of them to survive at 400ppm also. But best is 120-160ppm range.

**triscene** · 27th Mar 2012, 11:34 AM

i would agree to this range of 120-160ppm, too.
the difference is when you shrimps are living, not dying and being berried..this can occur when having higher TDS but actually survival rate of shrimplets is usually low.

whats your experience?

**shrimp2626** · 27th Mar 2012, 12:02 PM

Need helps here.

My tank TDS is 60-70ppm. how to increase to 120ppm?

i have tried add mosura TDS up, BW minerax, BW mine rock. i still fail in increasing the TDS.

please advise

**Bedfordshire** · 27th Mar 2012, 01:12 PM

Hi, unless you are using a substrate that sucks up minerals, your TDS should be relatively stable. Try Mosura Mineral plus ultra? Or even tap water.

My optimal range where my CRS & TBs breed is 170 TDS with no molting problems.

**GeToChKn** · 27th Mar 2012, 09:02 PM

Whatever works for you. I gave up a long time ago going by any numbers. If my shrimp are breeding, molting, babies living, than that is the idea TDS for me. Mine is at 260 right now and babies like crazy, so should I go for what others do and lower it by a 100ppm just to get it where someone says it should be or stick with the fact that I counted over 100 babies last night, all various sizes and colors and ages.

**Bedfordshire** · 28th Mar 2012, 07:47 AM

Of course don't change it, if it works! 160 - 200 is a guide to aim for when first starting. The mean TDS is about 175 statistically, a figure arrived at by more people having success at that number. If a few people have success at 100 or 400, this will not change the mean.

So stick with your parameters.

However if you are a breeder and have success at say 400, when you send your shrimp to a person and they have TDS at say 175, then you might have acclimatisation problems. That's why I think it is a good idea to aim for a mean TDS

**triscene** · 6th Apr 2012, 09:42 AM

in the first months of CRS keeping i had success and even now i see berried females but no shrimplets for a long time..my EC i got borrowed is showing 436 converted into TDS it is about 292. Bought RO so i am mixing it and lowering to EC 210 meaning about 140 TDS. currently moved it to TDS 201..looking good...how big jumps you would do (+ time period) or just looking at shrimps and fish whether they are not in stress?