adding shrimp substrate to an existing neo tank?

[mbenjamin16]

Hi,

Im going to be getting Mischling really soon and my parameters in my tank are good my ph stays between 6.4 and 7.2 using filtered tap water. I dont have an ro/di unit. I want to use fluval stratum shrimp and plant substrate because i can get it locally. I already have 3 neo tanks set up. If i put the existing water from the tank in a bucket and wash out the tank of the old substrate and add the new stuff can i add my shrimp back in or do i have to wait a few days? I have marina breeder boxes(large and medium) that i can put my shrimp in if i cant add them right back into their tank(s). my tanks are all cycled and have biofilm on the filters, moss, and cholla wood.

Thank you for your help in advance.

[mbenjamin16]

Thank you . My filtered tap water is 7.4 ph very soft nitrates and nitrites 0 and i forget what the rest was. Will test it tomorrow. I can go slow with my neos. I usually leave the jugs of filtered tap out with airstones in it for 2-3 days before adding it to the tank to lower the ph.

[metageologist]

Do you know why your pH swings so wildly. If I remember correctly yours is swinging by nearly a factor of ten.

have a gneiss day

[DETAquarium]

I am assuming you will be using the same filter as well? What type of filter are you using? I have never used Fluval Stratum, but you want to be 100% sure it doesn't leech any ammonia. If it doesn't I would still take precaution, add substrate, add your old tank water and filter. Then monitor your water parameters. 

[mbenjamin16]

im not sure why it swings i think outta the water jugs after using the airstones for a few days it goes back up to 7.2 after settling in the tank. I have a double sponge filter and a round sponge filter in my 5g tank and just the round sponge filters in my 2.5g tanks.