Very often beginner shrimp keepers ask the question why their shrimps are suddenly dying off or not thriving like before. From my experience, I will share with you the connection of GH and KH of your water and the well-being of your shrimp colony and how to raise these parameters to maintain a lively shrimp tank.
To raise the GH of your tank water you can use Shrimp mineral supplements, Equilibrium, GH booster, wonder shells, crushed coral, aragonite, etc. Alkaline buffer, aragonite sand, dolomite rock, limestone are good for boosting up your KH.
You who have just started keeping shrimps must know about GH and KH first because these two factors have a lot to do with your shrimps, with their survival, development, temperament, breeding, and much more.
In this article, I’ll try to clear all those questions that came to my mind about GH and KH so that without any trial and error you can keep your shrimp colony happy forever!
What Is GH?
The overall amounts of salts (especially calcium and magnesium salts) or multivalent cations (calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.) in your water.
What Is KH?
The total amount of base-carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, hydroxides, etc.) in the water that neutralizes the acids to counter a sudden change of pH.
GH and KH are interrelated. Because GH refers to the sum of temporary hardness (which is the carbonate hardness or KH) and permanent hardness (non-carbonated hardness) of the water.
KH is called Temporary hardness because Ca and Mg carbonates precipitate as minerals if you boil the water.
But when Ca and Mg are associated with sulfates, chlorides, or nitrates they do not get changed even they are heated that is why they are called permanent non-carbonic hardness (NCH). You can increase it by adding calcium or magnesium sulfate into your tank water.
Actually,
GH= KH+ NCH+ PsH (where PsH stands for pseudo hardness caused by the carbonates by the monovalent cations-K, Na, Ammonium)
Can GH Be Raised Without Raising The KH And Vice-Versa?
Well, this question can be raised naturally.
From the above equation, you can see that you can increase the GH in your shrimp tank by simply increasing the temporary hardness (i.e. KH) or permanent hardness or both of them.
While Ca or Mg carbonates raise both GH and KH of water, K or Na carbonates will raise the KH of your water only because the GH of your water is concerned with only the amount of Ca and Mg salts.
So, you can raise your water’s KH easily by adding a significant amount of KHCO3 or NaHCO3 keeping the GH same.
Again, if you add Ca(SO4)2 or MgSO4 it would only raise the GH as KH is concerned only with the changing of HCO 3 or H(CO3) 2 in the water.
So, you can raise only the GH without affecting the KH and vice versa when you need to do so.
How To Raise GH In A Shrimp Tank
So, if your tank contains soft water but your pet shrimps demand hard water, these are some ways how you can raise the GH to keep them happy.
1. Shrimp Mineral Supplement
Shrimp mineral supplement will provide all the minerals that your shrimps do not get from the soft water. It can re-mineralize RO-water, rainwater, desalinated water-raising both the GH and KH keeping the GH double of the KH.
If your pet shrimps are from neutral pH water, they also get acclimated to this water.
You will get hundreds of shrimp mineral supplements on the market that will re-vitalize your shrimp colony and give you a lively shrimp tank.
2. Seachem Equilibrium
This equilibrium is very popular among the shrimp keepers that will raise your GH which contains calcium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. Use it when you want to keep the KH and pH stable. You need to use it whenever you change your tank water.
3. GH Booster
You can also use a GH booster which will add calcium and magnesium sulfates to your water when you use soft water or RO water in your shrimp tank. GH Booster contains Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium Sulfate, and Calcium Sulfate in a 1:3:3 ratio.
4. Crushed Coral
Crushed coral mixed with the substrate or simply kept in a media bag in your shrimp tank slowly releases calcium and carbonate into your water. So, along with raising the GH, crushed coral will raise the KH of your shrimp tank.
So, if you want to only raise your GH, it is not for you. Again, crushed coral causes a sudden rise in the pH. As there is no instruction, you have to depend on guessing how many pieces you may need for your water.
5. Wonder Shells
If you want to raise the GH without impacting the KH and pH, then wonder shells can be a good option. They are completely natural and can dissolve in the water slowly and release magnesium and calcium into your shrimp tank.
They compensate for harmful acids that create in the shrimp tank from organic decomposition if you keep them in a place of your tank where the water flow is low. Besides, they help to condition your water removing chlorine and chloramine.
Try a few of the shells at a time to get the optimum GH.
6. Cuttlebone
A safe way to raise your GH without causing overdosing. As the cuttlebone takes time to dissolves, it does not have the risk of overdosing.
7. Aragonite
An available ingredient that comes as rocks or sand abounds with calcium carbonate. It will raise both GH and KH of your shrimp tank and also add charm to your shrimp tank.
Why Is GH So Important In Your Shrimp Tank?
GH or the amount of Calcium and magnesium is very essential for your shrimp tank as these two elements are necessary from the forming, digestion, health to the breeding of your shrimps.
1. Molting:
Molting is the sign that your shrimp are thriving with good health. Calcium Carbonate plays an essential role as one of three main components in the molting cycle of your shrimps.
The new delicate shells of the newborn shrimps are developed and hardened when your shrimps absorb calcium carbonate from the water. The shell of a mature shrimp consists of of30-50% of Calcium Carbonates according to the studies.
So, if the total amount of calcium carbonate is low in your tank water, shell development of your shrimps will be at stake.
2. Bodily Functions
The proper heart, muscle, and nerve function and digestion of your shrimps are also concerned with the concentration of Calcium in your tank water. Calcium and magnesium salts and cations of the water conduct electricity that is essential for these functions.
3. Osmoregulation
Osmoregulation is a natural process where your shrimps balance the salts and water inside their body with the salts and water of the tank. So, it is necessary that your tank water contains the proper amount of salts (GH) because any imbalance of it can cause stress to your fish or even death.
Calcium and magnesium salts impact food digestion and level of stress by controlling the osmoregulation process in your shrimp tank. It reduces stress in your shrimps and maintains their good health.
4. Improve Immune System
Calcium carbonate also controls the oxygen level and the toxicity of ammonia in your shrimp tank. Developing the immune system helps to fight toxins, infections, and diseases in the shrimp body to improve their overall health.
5. Breeding
GH is an effective factor in the breeding of your shrimps. If your shrimp tank does not have the optimal GH, your shrimps can lose eggs or stop breeding.
Although Magnesium does not impact your shrimps directly, do not dare to exclude it from the essentials!
It will help your shrimps to absorb Calcium Carbonates from the water so if you do not use Magnesium, the shrimps will face the deficiency of calcium carbonates and eventually die.
There should be 3 parts of Calcium and 1 part of Magnesium in the GH of your tank water. And this hard water will be enough to provide your shrimps the amount of calcium and magnesium they need for their healthy life and breeding.
When Do You Have To Raise Your GH?
- If your tank has very soft water
- If you have the species of shrimp that thrives only in hard water
Check this table to know the level of GH your shrimps will love!
Different Shrimp Species And Their Required GH
| Species | Optimal GH (ppm) | GH Limits (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo shrimp | 6 – 8 | 1 – 15 |
| Caridina cf. Babaulti | 6 – 8 | 4 – 14 |
| Snowball shrimp | 6 – 8 | 4 – 14 |
| Crystal red shrimp | 4 – 6 | 3 – 7 |
| Ghost shrimp | 5 – 8 | 3 – 15 |
| Amano shrimp | 7 – 8 | 5 – 15 |
| Cherry Shrimp | 6 – 8 | 4 – 14 |
| Cardinal shrimp | 6 – 8 | 4 – 12 |
| Blue tiger shrimp | 6 – 8 | 4 – 10 |
| Blue bolt shrimp | 3 – 6 | 3 – 8 |
| Vampire shrimp | 6 – 6 | 4 – 20 |
Source: https://aquariumbreeder.com
Can GH Change Without The Changing Of Water?
GH can get lower even without changing tank water as your shrimps use the mineral from the waters for different biological processes. GH can be higher than the optimal limit only when the water evaporates from your tank.
How Often Should You Test The GH Of Your Tank?
Normally, you need not test your GH regularly if your water source has a moderate hardness. If your pet shrimps are very sensitive you should do the test every time you change your tank water.
Now, let’s dive into KH of your water!
How To Raise KH In Shrimp Tank
Now, if you have a low KH level than the optimal KH of your pet shrimps these are some ways how you can raise KH of your shrimp tank safely.
1. Water Change
Changing your tank water can be a way to raise KH if you have enough KH in your water.
You can restore the KH using Tap water if your KH is a little lower than optimal because you do not normally change the whole shrimp tank that eventually raises the nitrates from the decomposing organics on the bottom of your tank and hampers the molting cycle of your shrimps.
2. Crushed Coral
As I have mentioned earlier, Crushed coral is abundant with mostly calcium carbonate so it will raise your KH high easily.
3. Alkaline Buffers
Alkaline buffers raise KH safely and keep its level stable in your shrimp tank. They are available on the market.
3. Dolomite Rock (CaMg(CO3)2)
Another natural solution for raising KH which contains a high percentage of mineral CaMg(CO3)2 that will provide calcium and magnesium to the water raising the GH while the carbonate will raise the KH. It is available in different colors on the market that will add beauty to your shrimp tank.
5. Aragonite Sand
It will be both a substrate for your shrimp tank and a good KH booster providing calcium and carbonate to the tank water.
6. Baking Soda (Sodium Bi-Carbonate)
Now, the most available ingredient from your kitchen. It can be a little tricky because you have to guess and try how much you will give in your water.
As it has no calcium or magnesium it will not raise the GH, only change the KH and pH.
7. Limestone (CaCO3)
Limestone will raise your KH. It can also change your pH very high. So, do not add overdoses or it will cause pH shock to your shrimps and scatter it evenly in your tank.
Why Do You Need To Raise The KH?
The nitrates caused by defecation are acidic in nature that can cause a sudden drop in pH level.
We cannot get rid of these nitrates permanently. When you change the water, they eventually will go. But naturally, they will be back again.
That is why your tank water should have higher KH so that it has the capability to neutralize more acids to balance the pH level. Thus, KH will act as a guard before the pH level of your water and accept and neutralize all the attacks from the acidic nitrates.
Does KH Get Low Without Changing Tank Water?
Carbonate hardness is consumed by the harmful nitric acid created from biological waste, respiration of shrimp, etc. As these processes go on, the KH level gets low gradually.
Why pH Consistency Is Crucial In A Shrimp Tank?
Sudden drops or rise of pH can cause shock to the shrimps. They can even die if they cannot get acclimated with the sudden change. That is why you should maintain pH consistency in your tank water.
How Will You Understand The Sudden Fall Of pH In Your Shrimp Tank?
Your fish will show some signs of stress when any sudden changes in pH occur. If you notice agitated swimming, inertia, fast breathing, or such unusual behaviors in your shrimp colony, test the pH of your water and take necessary steps to keep it balanced.
Can’t I Keep My Tank’s KH Very High?
This question may peep through your mind as you have seen how KH fights with the nitrates and keep your water’s pH stable. So, why do many people keep their KH low? Well, there is a good reason behind it.
While many shrimp species like alkaline water or hard water, there are some species who love to live in acidic or soft water. So, the optimal KH and pH for these species are very low.
Here is a list of some shrimp species and their optimal KH for your convenience.
Different Shrimp Species And Their Optimal KH
| Species | Optimal KH (ppm) | KH Limit (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo shrimp | 2 – 6 | 1 – 11 |
| Caridina cf. Babaulti | 3 – 8 | 0 – 12 |
| Snowball shrimp | 2 – 4 | 1 – 8 |
| Crystal red shrimp | 0 – 1 | 0 – 4 |
| Ghost shrimp | 5 – 8 | 3 – 12 |
| Amano shrimp | 2 – 4 | 1 – 8 |
| Cherry shrimp | 2 – 4 | 1 – 8 |
| Cardinal shrimp | 4 – 8 | 3 – 10 |
| Blue tiger shrimp | 2 – 4 | 1 – 8 |
| Blue bolt shrimp | 0 – 2 | 0 – 4 |
| Vampire shrimp | 2 – 15 |
Source: https://aquariumbreeder.com
How Will You Test The GH And KH Of Your Water?
To make sure when you have to raise these parameters you have to do a test of your tank water.
With the API Test Kit for GH and KH or any other test liquid test kit, you can check the GH and KH regularly.
Conclusion
So, maintaining the optimal GH and KH in your tank water is a must for the proper growth and breeding of your shrimps and for giving them a stable life with a constant pH level. Because men can keep pace with the ups and downs in their life but your shrimps can not!
