Shrimp colony substrate

[fishyd]

Morning all, I am starting up a couple 15gal tanks for 2 separate shrimp colonies but not sure what to use for substrate. I'm leaning toward just the basic black sand or gravel from the store. Is there any reason for me to use a live substrate? For those that have colonies of their own, what do you use?

Colonies for me will be blue jelly/velvet and orange sakura/pumpkin. Tanks will be lightly planted, some basic low light plants and moss. Tap PH is 7.

 

[bud29]

I just use plain ol' gravel or sand. Some people swear by the expensive buffering substrates but I don't find them to be necessary (especially when keeping the hardier neocaridinas like you will be).

 

[fishyd]

Is there any real difference between using sand or gravel that you've noticed?

 

[Kribensis_2004]

If it were me i would use dark sand as a substrate just so that the shrimp would pop out more vs a lighter color. Also just for fun i would look into some of the caridina species as well.