Expiring ferts in shrimp tanks

**yongkeat** · 9th Feb 2013, 14:31

Hey recently i have read up that after every 2 years ADA ferts will expire and begun to break down and ruin the tank`s parameter any idea how do i resolve/prevent this from happening? I don`t want my shrimps to die before i know its expired x.x

**Shrimpboii** · 9th Feb 2013, 14:35

Wow I never knew about this until you post it , hope there will be good reply and answer ai we can all learn from it

**alvinchan80** · 9th Feb 2013, 14:53

Originally Posted by yongkeat

Hey recently i have read up that after every 2 years ADA ferts will expire and begun to break down and ruin the tank`s parameter any idea how do i resolve/prevent this from happening? I don`t want my shrimps to die before i know its expired x.x

It's actually about the soil's capability to buffer PH after a period of time.. 2 years is just a rough gauge as it depends on the shrimp keeper's way of water change, dosing, etc...

That's why many shrimp keepers has to reset their tank when they are unable to pull down PH in their tank anymore or when shrimps started dying/no breeding/shrimplets not surviving..

Ways to resolve this? Change soil and cycle again..

Happy shrimping..

**cheetf** · 9th Feb 2013, 15:04

As per any finite environment, there is no way of preventing this. I am not sure if you mean the ferts or the ability to buffer the PH as bro Alvin says. But if you mean the ability to buffer PH, then the sure sign is when you notice your PH creep up as time goes. You then have to take a decision how much you want the PH to be and change the soil accordingly.

**yongkeat** · 9th Feb 2013, 15:06

ahhh thank you guys for you help! Looks like i`m going to start my new no ferts planted tank project.

**cheetf** · 9th Feb 2013, 15:19

What's a no ferts planted tank?

**yongkeat** · 9th Feb 2013, 15:35

To make a tank absolutely planted with onli moss and drift woods,using moss wall concept and make it into a base so that the moss will grow as foreground followed by tying moss on drift woods which lower my pH using its tanins, this way i do not have to buy or change substrate and also since moss require low maintenance i don`t risk adding fert into my tank which may harm my shrimps.This is the rough overview of this project for now i am going to gather moss sellers and extra money to complete it ;D.

**alvinchan80** · 9th Feb 2013, 17:02

Originally Posted by yongkeat

To make a tank absolutely planted with onli moss and drift woods,using moss wall concept and make it into a base so that the moss will grow as foreground followed by tying moss on drift woods which lower my pH using its tanins, this way i do not have to buy or change substrate and also since moss require low maintenance i don`t risk adding fert into my tank which may harm my shrimps.This is the rough overview of this project for now i am going to gather moss sellers and extra money to complete it ;D.

It's good to try, but there is a limit on how much the driftwood will release its tannins until it doesn't release anymore..

Even putting in ketapang leaves to try create a 'blackwater' results of low PH might not work as well as soil.. Soil is just a yearly issue.. Driftwood might be much much shorter.. Keep changing driftwood to release tannins?

Not all plants require fertilizer.. Quite a number of shrimp keepers are keeping plants with shrimps but non-CO2 and fertilizer condition..

Just an advice in my opinion..

Happy shrimping and a Happy Chinese New Year...

**cheetf** · 9th Feb 2013, 17:12

Hahaha, good idea but how are you going to control the PH? At least with soil you can expect a certain PH range. The other problem with drift wood is yellow water. Unless you like keeping your shrimps in tea that's fine.

**yongkeat** · 9th Feb 2013, 22:01

wait....so normally people will have two tanks and keep swapping every 2 years?

**alvinchan80** · 9th Feb 2013, 22:12

Originally Posted by yongkeat

wait....so normally people will have two tanks and keep swapping every 2 years?

Or more..... Hahahaha.... That's why shrimp keepers always says... 'Tank is not enough...'

**yongkeat** · 9th Feb 2013, 22:13

Ahhhhhh teach me master alvinchan how did you keep your shrimp without substrate?!?!?!!? >

**alvinchan80** · 9th Feb 2013, 22:15

Originally Posted by yongkeat

Ahhhhhh teach me master alvinchan how did you keep your shrimp without substrate?!?!?!!? >

I am still learning.. Far from being master.. Just a normal shrimp keeper..

All my shrimps are kept with ADA Amazonia soil... So reset is a must for me...