Water for Sulawesi shrimp: species, minerals and preparation
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“Sulawesi” indicates origin, not a water recipe. Identify the species and its existing husbandry system first. Cardinal, Caridina dennerli, comes from Lake Matano; C. spinata and C. woltereckae were described from Lake Towuti. Use that identity to find species information rather than automatically applying one table to all animals.
Why the mineral blend’s identity matters
RO water with a suitable blend can make preparation repeatable. Two products labelled “Sulawesi” are nevertheless different. These characteristics come from manufacturer descriptions; use the instructions on your actual product for preparation.
| Example product | Manufacturer-described behaviour | Preparation consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Sulawesi Mineral 7.5 | pH around 7.5; KH/GH ratio about 0.42. | Relatively easy dissolution; mix outside the aquarium. |
| Sulawesi Mineral 8.5 | pH around 8.5; KH/GH ratio about 0.78. | Additional dissolution steps; any CO2 used must subsequently be expelled outside the tank. |
The manufacturer describes both products as usable for Cardinal. This does not establish that every other Sulawesi animal tolerates both systems equally. A product name also does not guarantee that your tank reaches that exact pH. Substrate, gas exchange and starting water contribute.
Create one accountable preparation record
- Record the exact species, source water, product name and water volume. Obtain current supplier readings and choose a supported intended system.
- Prepare outside the tank according to the product’s own instructions. Do not interchange scoops or gram amounts between blends.
- Check temperature, GH, KH, pH and conductivity after required dissolution and gas-exchange steps. Record units; a TDS reading in ppm is not the same as µS/cm.
- Compare the prepared batch with earlier batches and the aquarium. Investigate differences before adding the water.
- Record the batch and water change. Do not automatically replace evaporation with the same mineral dose: minerals do not evaporate with the water.
Matching GH or TDS does not establish identical ion composition. Do not keep adding powder simply to match one display. Change a long-running successful recipe only for a concrete reason and through a controlled transition.
Ammonia loading in a warm, alkaline system is an additional reason to investigate promptly. Adding pH reducer to the occupied tank is not a standard solution to that loading. Check the cause, filter and suitable replacement water through the water-choice route. For housing and purchase decisions read Cardinal care.
Sources and scope
- von Rintelen & Cai (2009): revision of Sulawesi lake Caridina
- SaltyShrimp: Sulawesi Mineral 7.5 instructions
- SaltyShrimp: Sulawesi Mineral 8.5 instructions
- UF/IFAS: Ammonia in Aquatic Systems
- SRAC 464: Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalinity and Hardness
- NDSU Extension: Electrical conductivity and TDS meters
The taxonomic source distinguishes species and lakes. The comparison uses SaltyShrimp’s own instructions, not an independent product test. Numbers describe product behaviour, not proven minimum, maximum or optimal values for every species.
