Crs tank setup

[LC Bee]

Hey everyone i want to setup a crystal red tank but im not quite sure were to start. I was just wondering if anybody would be very helpful and share with me there techniques and what products they use, because ive been trying to make a plan for quite a while now and a few problems have come up. I'm going to use ADA amazonia as substrate, Up aqua pro Led light Z series, Two sponges, a chiller, lots of Java moss and drift wood and i've already got Mosura Tonic pro, Mosura Bioplus, Mosura Excel and Hikari shrimp cuisine. What I'm really looking for is what to use under the substrate i was planning on using Mosura old sea mud and BT-9 but i was unable to get them, so id like to know of the alternatives. Em also using my tank water and it has a TDS of 60 so i would probably need to know how to increase that, or if some of my products would already do that or if i even need to use some of my products. I think im over thinking and confusing my self so Any information would be really appreciated, Thank you.

[jayc]

Hi LC Bee,

welcome to SKF.

Benibachi Mineral powder is very similar to old sea mud.

BT-9 is more of a bacterial additive. So you can replace with any fish products that are similar, like Seachem Stability, ATM Colony, Probidio Biodigest, Tetra Safestart, etc.

Alternatively, you can also use Borneo Wild Enlive, if you can't find BT-9.

 

TDS can be increased using Salty Shrimp GH+, Mosura Mineral Plus Ultra, or DIY your own Calcium/Magnesium mix.

 

If you are using ADA substrate, the important thing is to cycle the tank properly and well in advance of adding any livestock.

If you have another tank with mature filter media, use some of it in the new tank. 

Test kits, are important here. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, GH/KH test kits and a TDS pen. If you already have these then good.

 

Edited July 12, 2015 by jayc

[larrymull]

Hey everyone i want to setup a crystal red tank but im not quite sure were to start. I was just wondering if anybody would be very helpful and share with me there techniques and what products they use, because ive been trying to make a plan for quite a while now and a few problems have come up. I'm going to use ADA amazonia as substrate, Up aqua pro Led light Z series, Two sponges, a chiller, lots of Java moss and drift wood and i've already got Mosura Tonic pro, Mosura Bioplus, Mosura Excel and Hikari shrimp cuisine. What I'm really looking for is what to use under the substrate i was planning on using Mosura old sea mud and BT-9 but i was unable to get them, so id like to know of the alternatives. Em also using my tank water and it has a TDS of 60 so i would probably need to know how to increase that, or if some of my products would already do that or if i even need to use some of my products. I think im over thinking and confusing my self so Any information would be really appreciated, Thank you.

@LC Bee good timing, I have almost completed a set up using ADA Amazonia substrate. If you check out the Tank Journals on this forum you can read through my set up "ADA Journey". There are a few others e.g., @disciple on here who have used Amazonia too and understand "patience" is key to setting up and cycling the tank before adding livestock. @shrimpdaddy has an amazing understanding of the pros and cons of amazonia and I believe I have quoted him in my journal.

Good luck and ask plenty of questions.

Cheers.

[LC Bee]

Thank you larry i read that and it was pretty helpful, but im probably going to need some help when i start cycling. And Jayc im planning to get Benibachi mineral powder,Borneo wild enlive and salty shrimp but do i get the Gh+ or Gh/Kh+. Could you also tell me when and how to use these products, like the setup process. Thanks guys

[jayc]

Thank you larry i read that and it was pretty helpful, but im probably going to need some help when i start cycling. And Jayc im planning to get Benibachi mineral powder,Borneo wild enlive and salty shrimp but do i get the Gh+ or Gh/Kh+. Could you also tell me when and how to use these products, like the setup process. Thanks guys

Which Salty shrimp product you get depends on what shrimp you will be keeping.

GH+ for CRS, CBS, Taiwan Bees (ie. Caridina). This product will only raise and keep GH at a certain level.

GH/KH+ for Cherries, Rilli (ie Neocaridina). This product will raise and keep both GH & KH at a certain level.

 

Mineral powder and Enlive are used in a new tank. Sprinkle these on the bottom of the tank before adding substrate.

They are also products that are meant to be used regularly. A little at water change times is a good regime to follow.

The amount to use should be on the bottle/packaging. I usually use a little less than the recommended amount.

However, this is where your test kits come in handy. For example, if your TDS reading is 300, you don't want to keep adding the usual amount of Salty Shrimp, instead you should not add any at water change to try to reduce TDS. Similarly, if your GH reading is too high, reduce it with pure water change without adding GH+ additives. 

Enlive is a bacterial additive, that does not change water parameters. So you can safely add this regularly to maintain a healthy tank. 

Mineral powder replaces lost minerals, so again, this can be used regularly. 

[LC Bee]

Thanks alot Jayc.