Ryanjuds

My ph from tap is 8.4 which actually makes sense for the issue. I have inert substrate and a thing of driftwood in the tank with only a few "mineral rocks" in the tank aswell. Any suggestions on how to lower this other than buying an R.O. unit? And if that's my only hope any suggestions on an affordable descent one to get?

I set up my tank about 3 weeks ago and I'm waiting for the parameters to stabilize so I can hopefully add some blue dreams but for some reason the pH has stayed at a 8.6-8.8 and I can't figure out how to get this down any suggestions??

Hey guys, I'm currently in the process of cycling my new 20 gallon long tank and I'm having a lot of trouble deciding which type of shrimp will be have the most success in my tank. Here's my current setup I'm using Fluval Shrimp stratum, a corner HMF from Swiss Tropicals, I have some cholla and drift wood, a ton of Java moss and other plants from my LFS, mineral rocks Indian almond leaves and some Malaysian trumpet snails. PH is 6.7. Im currently interested in some pandas but I'm curious if I'll have more success with crystal reds or possibly some other kind. Any suggestions for my what kind of shrimp to get that will thrive in this tank or any suggestions for the tank itself would be greatly appreciated!!

Problem solved tank you so much!

im currently using the Tetra Whisperer 20gal air pump, any other suggestions?

It never has pumped any more than this

I got this corner HMF filter from Swiss Tropicals and am overall very pleased with it but I feel like it isn't putting out enough water for my 20 gal long tank. It is working and putting out a descent amount of water but I just feel like it isn't enough to be adequately filtering my tank. Am I just worrying too much or does this seem like not enough? And how could I increase it?

I would suggest Malaysian Trumpet snails, I just got some from flip aquatics they're super cheap https://www.flipaquatics.com/product-category/snails/

I would prefer neos but it seems I've made the mistake of getting an active substrate for them and from what I've read they won't do well with that. I have a ph and a tds meter coming in tomorrow morning though so I guess we'll see how that is and go from there.

I'm trying to decide on what type of shrimp to get for my tank, I like cards but I have heard that they are more difficult to breed? What makes them more difficult and do you have any tips that can help me out with this?

I've been leaning towards Blue Velvets but from what I have read it seems like they won't do very well with the active substrate so I'm wondering if it would be better to go with a caridina

I just set up my first shrimp dedicated tank it's a 20 gallon long tank and am currently waiting for it to cycle. I'm using a Fluval active substrate with a corner hmf filter from Swiss Tropicals. I've got a Petri dish for feeding, drift wood floating on top that I'm still waiting to sink, mineral rocks, an array of plants from my LFS, aswell as Java moss and water spangles (salvina minima) still on the way, I've got Indian almond leaves and finally the cholla wood. I'm curious if there is anything else I'll need or anything else that you guys would suggest to make sure I have the best chances for success with this new tank!

I just set up a 20 gallon long tank using Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum, which is an active substrate. I planned to keep neocaridina species in the tank because I'm told they are much easier to keep and breed but i have also read many conflicting things on what type of substrate they require. Some places say they don't mind an active or inert substrate and some places say they must have an inert substrate. I'm curious if I will have success breeding a neocaridina shrimp with my current substrate or if I am better off getting a caridina species. Also what makes caridina more difficult to keep and breed?