General Hardness (GH) Doesn't Really Matter In Shrimp Tanks
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the significance of measuring General Hardness (GH) in shrimp keeping, challenging the conventional belief that maintaining GH within a specific range is crucial. The presenter conducts an experiment with two tanks, one with high GH and the other with low GH, both outside the recommended range for neocaridina shrimp. Despite these extremes, the shrimp thrive, suggesting that the ratio of minerals, particularly calcium to magnesium, may be more important than GH levels. The video emphasizes the importance of using a remineralizer to ensure a healthy mineral balance, even in tap water with the right GH, and suggests that RO/DI water with added remineralizers is the best option for shrimp health.
Takeaways
- π¬ The video aims to explore the importance of measuring General Hardness (GH) in shrimp keeping and challenges the conventional belief that GH is critical for shrimp health.
- π¦ Despite many hobbyists maintaining GH within recommended ranges, molting issues persist, suggesting that other factors may be at play.
- π§ͺ The experiment conducted involved setting up two tanks with significantly different GH levels to test the resilience of shrimp and the impact of GH on their health.
- π‘οΈ One tank was set at a very high GH of 30Β°, and the other at a very low GH of 2-3Β°, both far outside the normal range for neocaridina shrimp.
- π The experiment suggests that the ratio of minerals, particularly calcium to magnesium, might be more important for shrimp health than the absolute GH level.
- π§ The use of a remineralizer can help ensure a healthy mineral ratio, even if the GH is high, indicating that GH testing alone might not be sufficient.
- π The video highlights the limitations of the experiment, such as the lack of replicates and the potential influence of other factors like microbiome and water source.
- π The results indicate that shrimp can survive and breed in tanks with extreme GH levels, provided the mineral ratios are correct.
- π The video encourages hobbyists to consider remineralizers and remineralization, especially when using RO/DI water, for better control over mineral balance.
- π For those looking for more in-depth information, the video recommends checking out Shrimply Explained's resources, including their YouTube channel and website.
Q & A
Why is GH measurement considered important for shrimp keeping?
-GH (General Hardness) is considered important for shrimp keeping because it is believed to be critical for ensuring that shrimp molt properly. It has been a staple measurement for a long time, and many guides on the internet emphasize the importance of having GH within a certain range for the health of the shrimp.
Why might shrimp still experience molting issues even when GH is within the recommended range?
-Shrimp may still experience molting issues even when GH is within the recommended range because the ratio of minerals, particularly calcium to magnesium, might not be optimal. The video suggests that the right mineral ratio is more important than just having GH within a certain range.
What is the purpose of the experiment described in the video?
-The experiment aims to test two hypotheses: 1) whether the recommended GH ranges for neocarinidae shrimp hold true when pushed outside of these ranges, and 2) the importance of matching the parameters of the breeder's water to ensure the health of the shrimp.
How were the two tanks in the experiment set up to test the effects of GH on shrimp?
-The two tanks were set up with the same amount of water, substrate, and sponge filter, with 10 shrimp in each. The only difference was the GH level: one tank was at 30Β° hardness and the other at 2 to 3Β° hardness, both of which are outside the normal GH ranges for neocarinidae shrimp.
What was the outcome of the shrimp in the tanks with extreme GH levels after three months?
-After three months, the shrimp in both tanks were doing well, had bred, and their offspring were surviving, suggesting that extreme GH levels may not be as detrimental as previously thought, provided the mineral ratios are correct.
Why is the calcium to magnesium ratio important for shrimp?
-The calcium to magnesium ratio is important for shrimp because it affects the flexibility of their shells, which is necessary for proper molting. An imbalance in this ratio can lead to molting problems.
What is the significance of using a shrimp-specific remineralizer in shrimp tanks?
-Using a shrimp-specific remineralizer ensures a healthy calcium to magnesium ratio, which is crucial for shrimp shell formation and molting. It provides the necessary minerals in the correct ratios that may not be present in tap water or well water.
What are some potential issues with the experiment described in the video?
-Some potential issues with the experiment include the limited number of replicates, which could affect the reliability of the results. Additionally, the experiment was not perfectly controlled, which could introduce variables that might affect the shrimp's health.
What is the recommendation for hobbyists regarding GH testing and mineral ratios in shrimp tanks?
-For hobbyists, it is recommended to test for GH and, if necessary, use remineralizers or adjust the calcium and magnesium levels to achieve a healthy mineral ratio. Using RO/DI water with a remineralizer allows for complete control over the mineral content in the tank.
What resources does the video suggest for those interested in learning more about shrimp keeping?
-The video suggests visiting Shrimply Explained on YouTube or the website Shrimply Explained for more guides and scientific-based resources on shrimp keeping, including a shrimp basics course and a PDF guide on setting up a low-maintenance shrimp tank.
Outlines
π¦ Understanding GH Importance in Shrimp Keeping
The paragraph discusses the significance of measuring General Hardness (GH) in shrimp tanks and questions its effectiveness in preventing molting issues. The speaker shares their experiment with two tanks, one with high GH and the other with low GH, to test the common belief that GH is critical for shrimp health. The goal is to see if shrimp can thrive outside the recommended GH range and to challenge the notion that matching breeder parameters is essential for success.
π§ͺ Experiment Results: GH and Mineral Ratios in Shrimp Health
After three months, the shrimp in both tanks with extreme GH levels are thriving and breeding successfully. This suggests that GH may be less critical than previously thought, and the ratio of minerals, particularly calcium to magnesium, might be more important for shrimp molting and health. The speaker recommends using a shrimp-specific remineralizer to ensure the right mineral balance, rather than relying solely on GH measurements.
π Addressing GH Testing and Mineral Ratios in Tap Water
The final paragraph addresses the limitations of GH testing in tap water and the importance of mineral ratios. It suggests that even if GH is within the recommended range, it does not guarantee the correct mineral balance. The speaker advises using remineralizers or RO/DI water to ensure a healthy mineral balance. They also mention plans for future experiments and invite viewers to engage with the content and explore more resources on their website.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘GH
π‘Molting
π‘Neocaridina
π‘Mineral Ratios
π‘Salty Shrimp
π‘White Ring of Death
π‘Reminalizer
π‘RO/DI Water
π‘Shrimp Rack
π‘Anecdotal Evidence
Highlights
The importance of understanding GH levels in shrimp keeping and its impact on shrimp molting.
The common belief that proper GH range is critical for shrimp health.
The paradox of shrimp molting issues persisting despite ideal GH levels.
The setup of an experiment to test the effects of GH levels on shrimp.
The use of two tanks with extreme GH levels to challenge conventional wisdom.
The experimental conditions mimicking natural environments with varying mineral content.
The surprising finding that shrimp can thrive outside the recommended GH range.
The role of calcium and magnesium ratios in shrimp molting success.
The potential overemphasis on GH levels in favor of mineral ratios in shrimp keeping.
The recommendation to use shrimp-specific remineralizers for optimal mineral balance.
The caution against using crushed coral due to variable calcium to magnesium ratios.
The success of shrimp in high GH environments when mineral ratios are correct.
The limitations of the experiment due to the number of replicates and control over variables.
The practical advice for hobbyists on testing GH levels and adjusting mineral ratios.
The suggestion to use remineralizers or RO/DI water for better control over mineral content.
The future plans for more rigorous experiments and the expansion of shrimp keeping knowledge.
The availability of resources for shrimp enthusiasts to learn more about shrimp care and science.
Transcripts
how useful is measuring GH really that's
what I want to answer in this video and
with the experiment that I've done
behind me before we get into that though
we have to talk about why we are even
testing that I mean GH is a staple
measurement for shrimp keeping it's been
around for a very long time according to
basically every guide on the internet GH
is absolutely critical to shrimp keeping
having your GH in the right range is
incredibly important to ensure that they
Mt properly why is it then that so many
hobbyists still have molting issues even
when their GH is in that range that's
what this video is about today it's all
about understanding more about GH and
why having your GH in the right range
doesn't necessarily mean you aren't
going to have molting problems it's
really frustrating when you are when you
think you have all of your parameters
right everything seems right on the test
and yet you're still having shrimp dying
from the White Ring of Death why the
heck is that that's what this video is
going to explain that's part of what
these tanks behind me are going to do
because one tank is at 30Β° hardness
right here while the other tank is at 2
to three degrees hardness if you don't
already know these are way outside of
the normal GH ranges for neocaridina
especially what's recommended and so if
our shrimp actually do well in these
conditions what does that mean we're
going to learn more about that by
explaining the simple experiment behind
me if at any point in this video you do
have any questions comments concerns
please leave them in the comment section
below or give us an email we love
interacting with any other hobbyist who
has the same interest as us cuz I mean
why wouldn't we so please don't hesitate
to ask questions start a conversation
that's what this is all about so we can
all learn together I do also really
quickly want to apologize this video
quality and the sound quality is not
quite up to the standard that we'd like
uh but unfortunately this experiment has
to be taken down tomorrow I'm just
recording on my phone and so I really
appreciate your patience here uh we will
be back to regularly scheduled quality
uh in future videos with that let's go
ahead and get into the experiment so I
had two questions that I wanted to try
to test with this experiment one is how
true are the actual like GH ranges that
we see online for neoc Karena yes there
are recommended ranges uh but how do
they do when they are pushed outside of
these ranges the second question I
wanted to answer here was how important
is it to match readers parameters we
often see things online of people saying
like oh I you got to match the
parameters of the breeder that's why
your shrimp aren't doing well in your
tank and I don't know if I believe that
I have had shrimp that I have moved from
quite a few different parameters again
neoc carinaa and they've done well
they've thrived they've been happy and
healthy so again I wanted to test these
two questions about how important GH
range actually is and whether you need
to match breeders parameters I figure I
could do that with a really simple setup
like what we have behind me and so I
decided to test that by using these two
tanks right right here on either side so
one of them is extremely high GH and one
of them is extremely low GH and in order
in order to be like semi-scientific here
at least I filled both of these tanks
with the same amount of water initially
they had the same exact weight of
substrates in this case Eco complete
they also have the exact same Sponge
Filter and then I put exactly 10 shrimp
in each the big difference between these
two tanks is of course the GH level and
so this one is 30 plus GH that's all
from adding salty shrimp GH plus I did
it because that ensures that we have the
right ratios of minerals so we have
healthy calcium to magnesium ratios
along with the potassium and other uh
various micronutrients that are in there
the same thing was done for this tank uh
where I got it to about two to three dgh
the point is that these tanks are well
outside of the GH range that we would
expect to keep neoc caradine in and so I
was really curious to see how they do
obviously here if I saw that all of the
shrimps started dying if I had like two
to three losses uh in a matter of few
days or weeks then I would have just
stopped the experiment would have been a
good indicator that these conditions are
not good for them they're not healthy
the way this tests the second question
of how closely do you need to match the
Breeders parameters is because these
shrimp were originally kept in this
middle tank here and that middle tank
was at about 7 to8 degrees hardness uh
about 2 to 3 KH uh it was just a very
neutral standard tank Eco complete has
some algae in it again doesn't look the
healthiest but it it works the shrimp
are breeding perfectly happy and healthy
so then I moov 10 shrimp from this
middle tank to here so they went from 7Β°
hardness to 30Β° hardness and then
another group of 10 went into this tank
and so they went from 7Β° hardness to two
degrees hardness and you would expect
that if you did need to match breeders
parameters that these would be enormous
jumps that the shrimp Simply couldn't
handle now the shrimp have been in there
for about three months at this point at
that hardness level and they're doing
well they have bread the babies are also
surviving so I wanted to keep them in
long enough to actually verify that the
babies would be able to mol and thrive
in the tanks and they're doing that
so what does this tell us can we infer
from what we're seeing in these tanks
obviously a good scientific experiment
would have like three to 20 replicates
of each of these tanks going and to be
really closely monitoring the shrimp I
mean it's not perfectly controlled so
that's a bit of an issue but these
parameters are so far outside of the
like healthy range of neocaridina that
you would have expected something to
happen if something was going to happen
I mean there's not much that you could
do for an environment if it just doesn't
provide the right minerals so they're
not getting any extra really nutrients
from anywhere they were barely fed at
all frankly because there's so much
algae in this tank that I knew they'd be
just fine what these results seem to
suggest is that GH matters a lot less
than we think it does at least the way
that we measure it matters a lot less
than having the right ratio of minerals
it's we have the right ratio of calcium
magnesium uh which is best achieved by
using a shrimp specific REM mineralizer
like salty shrimp Brands then that is
what's most important the the shrimp
need to have the right ratio of calcium
and magnesium to have the right
flexibility in their shell to mol if I
were instead to have put crushed Coral
in this tank to bring it up to 30 GH
then we might have had different success
levels because Crush Coral varies in how
much calcium to magnesium it has
depending on the time period that it was
formed in some parts of our history our
ocean was much more magnesium heavy and
in other parts it was more calcium heavy
and so the ratios can vary significantly
for Crush Coral that's part of the
reason why we would not recommend Crush
Coral actually for molting problems we
just don't know what's being added to
the tank and whether it may actually
make the problem worse if for example
you already had an excess of calcium in
your tank and now you're adding crushed
Coral that also is only calcium again
that ratio of calcium magnesium is
incredibly important if you saw our
in-depth video on GH what we found was
that salty shrimp at least tends to keep
their calcium magnesium ratio at about 2
to one another common remineralizer
we've seen that isn't shrimp specific
but hobbyist have used and had success
with is CM equilibrium if I remember
correctly is about
3.5 to four parts calcium to one part
magnesium and so that suggests that that
range is reasonably healthy there are
potentially some other micronutrients
that need to be thrown in in the right
ratios as well like potassium manganese
or iron but the calcium and magnesium
ratio is likely the most important for
proper shell formation at least if you
haven't already seen the in-depth GH
video i' highly recommend going to check
that out after this as it explains the
calcium to magnesium ratio more and how
it actually affect shell formation how
we can actually go about measuring the
calcium to magnesium ratio in our tank
and then adjusting it let's discuss a
couple of issues with this experiment
again one of them is just being the
number of replicates that we had the
fact that there's only one replicate of
each experimental group would be an
issue in most experiments and it
certainly would have been an issue if we
had seen shrimp dying because if shrimp
started dying we wouldn't necessarily
know okay is it because the tank isn't
set up properly it just didn't have the
right microbiome is uh like is this
getting more heat like variation than
the other if there had been a bunch of
shrimp that started dying we we
definitely couldn't have proven that it
was conclusively caused by the hardness
in the tank the fact that my last count
of this tank only had nine shrimp means
I could have missed one and I'm going to
pull out the shrimp later to check and
verify that the fact that they all
survived means that these are survivable
condition they completed their life
cycle and there are now quite a few
babies in these tanks we can prove that
they can survive these conditions and so
just one tank of each is enough to prove
that some takeaways for the average
hobbyist then become the fact that
testing for GH in Say tap water is
useful it can provide some information
of how many minerals are in there but
even if the GH is in the right range
it's not necessarily going to guarantee
that you have the right ratio of
minerals and and that's that's part of
where things can frustrate hobbyists
because they just maybe they see molten
problems ah but I have the right GH why
can't I why doesn't this work I I get it
I get it that's very frustrating
this is part of why that's happening the
ratios of minerals in your tap water
they're affected by all of the geology
around where your groundwater is or well
well water wherever your water is coming
from the mineral ratio is being affected
by all of the Rocks the water is coming
in contact with and then that's
providing a different calcium or
magnesium ratio the GH test won't work
for testing this really it'll give you
an idea of if it's in the right range
and you can try shrimp in it and if you
have molting problems then it's time to
go and get a calcium test from there
with a calcium test you can go ahead and
calculate the calcium and magnesium
ratio using the calculator on our
website and then our website also
provides information on how to dose
calcium or magnesium in your tank to get
it into more healthy ranges so we've
tried to do most of the math for you and
make this as easy as possible if you do
want to use tap water the other option
instead of buying the test kit measuring
then buying the C or magnesium
supplements is to add remineralizer so
even if your GH is relatively high you
can add a remineralizer we've seen that
shrimp can do well in a high GH
environment without issues if the
mineral ratio is correct and so adding a
remineralizer is guaranteeing that
you're going to push the balance closer
to that healthy range even if you had
like all calcium this is going to still
add calcium but it'll also add magnesium
it maybe wouldn't be as good as like
taking the time to measure the calcium
find the ratio and then order the right
supplementation but it's a quick and
easy way to definitely improve the
mineral ratios in your tank the best
option though is of course to use a re
mineralizer with Rodi water for those
who aren't familiar Rodi water is just
very purified water so it has all of the
minerals nutrients stripped from it and
then we just simply add them back in so
we add exactly the right ratio of
minerals at exactly the quantity that we
want in our tanks and so it gives us
complete control over that it is a bit
cost prohibitive for some people uh or
time intensive to say buy an Rodi system
or get Rodi water and lug it back from
the fish store or from your grocery
store but that may be the best option if
you want to keep shrimp so hopefully you
found this useful helpful again I know
it's not perfect it's not like
incredibly scientific this was just a
quick setup that I wanted to try and see
if it worked after that all these tanks
are going to be moved and replaced with
a shrimp rack here on the wall it's
going to be holding quite a few more
tanks for experiments in the future
because I have a lot of ideas a lot of
things I want to test here and I just
need to have the time and resources to
do it hopefully you've learned something
new today by watching this video
shrimply explained is all about actually
testing hypothesis or looking for
research to back up statements as
opposed to just providing anecdotal
evidence so that's our goal here we are
with the shrimp rack I am going to be
trying to set up more actual experiments
with replicates and do some
semi-professional testing but that is
going to take time and resources so
we'll see how that goes if you do have
any questions comments feedback please
leave those in the comment section below
I try to respond to every single one of
them uh if you want to send me an email
you're also more than welcome to at
contact shrimply exp.com for more useful
guides scientific based resour you can
check out shrimp explain on YouTube or
visit shrimp explain. comom where we
have a whole like shrimp Basics course
on the website we also have a PDF
available explaining how to set up a
really low maintenance neocaridina tank
and just care for them uh it also just
provides all the basic information you
need to get started with your shrimp
tank and get it set up I think you'll
find that shrimp are just fascinating
and you maybe want to try to learn more
about them whether that's for breeding
purposes or just like you enjoy science
and if so that's where the rest of the
shrimply explained resources just come
in thank you so much for watching and
happy shrimping
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