Substrates for rillis and cherries

[BRISSY]

Hey guys, just wandering what substrates you recommend for keeping rillis and different colour variants of cherries?

Thanks

laurie

[BRISSY]

Also is there anything I should use as an underlay or dont worry about it?

[Squiggle]

I always use a good sprinkling of Benibachi mineral powder & bee max under any shrimp substrate to help with cycling & keeping mineral levels up. :encouragement:

The substrate required for cherries really depends on whether you plan on keeping crystals, GB's or SW's with them later on, if not then any inert substrate will do the job(I use Tahitian Moon Sand) but if you do plan on keeping them later on, then Benibachi Fulvic soil is the best there is for shrimp breeding tanks, it buffs the PH down to the correct levels for Caradina's & the cherries can adapt to the lower PH better than the Caradina's can to higher PH. Another thing to think about is whether you are going to make your tank a planted tank or just a breeding tank, something like Black Earth Premium is awesome for keeping shrimp & growing plants.

[BRISSY]

thanks, I just plan on keeping variations of rillis and cherries, nothing else. So I'll go inert with some of the Benibachi mineral powder & bee max underneath.

[KillieOrCory]

For cherries I also use Tahitian moon sand or bare bottom tanks. Both work really well. It just depends on the look you are after.

Under the sand I put Serkaniachi nothing powder & Mr.Miyagi wax! :hiya:

By the way, I would never listen to me!

[ineke]

For cherries I also use Tahitian moon sand or bare bottom tanks. Both work really well. It just depends on the look you are after.

Under the sand I put Serkaniachi nothing powder & Mr.Miyagi wax! :hiya:

By the way' date=' I would never listen to me![/quote'] LOL Serkan wax on wax off:beer:

Lauri I breed a lot of different types of cherries quite successfully. I have them on Black quartz, ordinary aquarium gravel, fluval stratum and benibachi substrates and honestly I don't notice much difference in the breeding or shrimplet survival once they adjust to the conditions they are in. I have them breeding in PH 6.5 up to PH 7.5 I do use RO water and salty shrimp minerals and I always do weekly water change of 10-20% plus feed a good variety of commercial and homemade foods. Given a clean stable enviroment and good food they should do well for you.

[BRISSY]

That is really usfull info hahahaha

but seriously, is bare bottom tanks a good option?

[ineke]

Cherries will be fine without substrate but it is a visual thing you will see all the mulm etc on the bottom. It is easier to keep clean but substrate adds surface area for biofilm to grow on. If you watch the shrimp they turn the top layer of substrate over and clean it by eating the biofilm growing on it. Crystals generally need a buffering substrate to keep the ph below 7. If you throw in some moss and places for the shrimp to hide you should be ok without substrate.

[ineke]

thanks' date=' I just plan on keeping variations of rillis and cherries, nothing else. So I'll go inert with some of the Benibachi mineral powder & bee max underneath.[/quote']

Just a little thing but Rilis are cherries too

[BRISSY]

Just a little thing but Rilis are cherries too

Yup thanks for the info on the substrate too, I might just have a thin layer of sand or moon sand.

[KillieOrCory]

My cherries with Tahitian Moon Sand

My Sunkist bare bottom

They are doing great in both.

[BRISSY]

Ok, how think is the layer of substrate in your red tank Serkan? :cheerful:

Thanks

[KillieOrCory]

I would say it is less than 5mm thick