Caribsea floramax and shrimp

[ksimmons8001]

I have a 30 gallon planted tank with caribsea floramax substrate. My pH stays around 7.6. I saw the warnings on the floramax bag that says it is not compatible with invertebrates. Does anyone here have success with amano or cherry shrimp with this substrate?

 

[Autumnsky]

Never noticed that warning. Very interesting. Do you have Original or Midnght?

Just got some midnight in an aquarium I got, and just threw away the bag.

Didn't see any info from CaribSea - Hmmmm.

https://caribsea.com/aquarium/#freshwater-substrates

 

[ksimmons8001]

It is the midnight black. The last little leaf on the front says may raise pH: may not be suitable for discus and some freshwater shrimp.

 

[Autumnsky]

So what does your pH seem to be running at, and what is it out of the tap, and then after sitting for 48 hours?

This note would be especially for some Caridina shrimp like CRS.

Some shrimp like a little hardness but not really above 7.5 pH - Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina) and Tangerine Tigers (Caridina) as examples.

Really it will depend on your tap parameters as a start.

 

[ksimmons8001]

My phstays steady at 7.6. I have crushed coral in my canister as it is below 6 out of the tap. We have well water here with a lot of pines around. Our well is only 40 feet down.

 

[Autumnsky]

Have you considered getting Crystal Red or Black shrimp then they love the soft water?

 

[ksimmons8001]

Possibly. I haven't settled on anything yet .

 

[Autumnsky]

I have ideal water for them out of the tap other people dream of having / or use RO and remineralize, and they are doing great.

 

[ksimmons8001]

Very lucky. It's an uphill battle with my water.

 

[Autumnsky]

Do you mean the 30G?

I use Kent Marine superbuffer dKH for calcium and plain no additives also inexpensive for water changes to stabilize / add buffering capacity.

Before that there was some issues with pH crash.