Which substrate

[keego]

I was planning on using Fluval Stratum in all my tanks to house cherries. However my LFS advised against it based on it will limit further expansion to keep other shrimp???????????? The substrate they recommend has a pH of around 5.6. I understand people keep both cherries & crystals together to increase tank/shrimp volume.

As I'm only planning to keep cherries, I hoping SKF member could provide suggestions on which substrate to uses.

Thanks in advances.

Keego

[Aquathumb]

Of all my tanks that have cherries in them, the one with Fluval Stratum breeds the slowest. I dont like it at all. My other tanks just used inert substrate. I recommend Tahitian Moon Sand for a nice fine black sand that will not effect your water parameters. If you are only planing on keeping cherries then I would not use a buffering substrate. Cherries do best at 7-7.5.

[Squiggle]

+1 for the Tahitian moon sand, if you use the GH/KH+ if will buff the ph to about 7.3-7.5 & if you use Stratum with that it will fight the minerals to buff the ph down, definitely something inert will work the best. :encouragement:

[ineke]

I actually have had very good success with my cherries in tanks with Fluval stratum, also inert gravels and my Chocolates never stopped breeding in the low ph of BeniBachi. I have been using Fluval for about 6 months so can't say how long it will last before it goes muddy. I haven't noticed any difference in the different substrates so I tend to think an inert substrate ( gravel or sand) is adequate for Cherries. I just like the look of the Fluval Stratum.

[keego]

Thanks all,

@Aquathumb, just checked it out, lot cheaper toooooooooo, what was the white one you had your choc's in & are you happy with it?????

@Squiggle, makes sense using an inert substrata with Bee shrimp minerals,

@ Ineke, I too like the look of Fluval Stratum, but like you setting up 10 tanks, I can save over $300, which can uses to buy more shrimp

Thanks guys

[Aquathumb]

@Aquathumb' date=' just checked it out, lot cheaper toooooooooo, what was the white one you had your choc's in & are you happy with it?????[/quote']

The white sand was from a pet shop, I think it was pet city, sold as reptile sand, I think the brand was reptile one and no I'm not happy with it. lol. It gets dirty to fast have to clean it daily to keep it nice so I have replaced it with a light sandstone coloured propergating sand from Bunnings (takes agest to wash out the clay but only $7 a bag). But I'm only using lighter coloured substrate as a test for my dark chocs, mainly to identify the ones that have a blue base. All my other tanks have a dark substrate and it really brings out the colours of cherries. Eco-complete is another dark, inert substrate to check out.

[KiwiBigD]

I've also used a Cichlid substrate that came in both a small and medium size gravel. Ph was great but plants didn't do as well in a Ph of 7.4, just something to bear in mind.

[keego]

I've also used a Cichlid substrate that came in both a small and medium size gravel. Ph was great but plants didn't do as well in a Ph of 7.4' date=' just something to bear in mind.[/quote']

Hi KiwiBigD, , what about moss with it, do you add shrimp minerals??