The mistake: I kept adjusting conditions, moving things around and trying each new idea.
What happened: The tank never had time to settle. The shrimp were constantly adjusting to my changes instead of settling into breeding.
How I fixed it: I learned to follow a planned maintenance routine and leave the tanks alone between resets. With my thin soil method, I expect a work cycle of about six months. I then carry out a planned soft reset: add a little soil, do a 100% water change and clean the sponge. During those six months, I rarely clean the sponges unless a bad batch of soil makes it necessary.
Takeaway: A calm tank is a productive tank. Stick to a plan, not to every new idea.
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