Ok, I didn't know you hadn't kept any before. If you're not sure how they'd do in your water then go for the cheaper ones first. The only special thing I do for them is feed them special food (Mosura CRS Specialty and Mosura Excel). They're super expensive (seller sent me some as a bonus when I bought CRS- I didn't actually buy any
) so I don't think they're necessary. You could probably feed them Fluval Shrimp Pellets, Ken's foods (barley pellets probably) and/or Flakes. I found that giving them a varied diet helps with the colors. I just tested my tap water.
GH- 10 degrees
KH- 5/6 degrees
PH- a whopping 9 out of the faucet. I think as it gasses off it gets lower (also lowered by tannins).
I don't have a TDS meter and have never needed one. Note that my CRS are doing well right now (haven't had a death in several months) but aren't breeding. I think they would breed if I buffered it down even more.