Low TDS in Breeding tanks - to Low?

[Duds1000]

Hi my L333 and L260 have spawn a few times now, fry hatch then die!! Checking the TDS in the tanks gives me a reading of 67-68ppm in both tanks, im using HMA water that has a reading of 50ppm. Is this to low for breeding? do I need to get the TDS up higher? say 200ppm? If so how please?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
The TDS reading is quite low, but a lot of S. American rivers have TDS values even lower than that, so I would suspect it's not the waters low TDS that is causing the problem.

I don't know much about breeding Hypancistrus spp., but if you give some details of what happens to the hatched fry? it may allow the experts on here to make some suggestions.

If you are worried about your water you can buffer the value up with a product like "Kent RO right" or "Sera Mineral Salts", or a cheaper option is to add some carbonate containing compounds, "baking Soda" is sodium bi-carbonate, or plain calcium carbonate from egg shells, coral sand, oyster shell "grit" etc.

cheers Darrel

 

[macvsog23]

TDS of around 15 to 200 is best

I would check the Kh and the Gh also.

 

[Irene0100]

Hi,
with low tds, the ph can swing a lot - what is your ph like?
are they dying before egg sack used up?
what temp is the tank, (it holds less oxygen the warmer it is.) do you have an airstone or venturi bubbling?