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Use substrate that buffers for Shrimps, Different people here will recommend different substrates depending on what they've used and had success with. I've used Up Aqua Shrimp Sand for a few months and had good results however I don't have the experience others here do so I'd follow their recommendations on substrates over mine. The main problem I think you will have is that, I'm assuming you're going to be setting it up in an empty tank with the seeded filters running on it. If your sponge filters have been running and seeded on the pH of 7.6 when you put the new substrate in and that buffers the pH to say 6.4 (As example) it will do so rather quickly and not slowly. This will effect the bacteria inside the sponge filters and may cause them to do a mini cycle again as bacteria in filters don't like sudden changes in pH. I'd personally set the tank up empty with the substrate, hook the canister and sponges up, put a few nice plants in there then fill it with treated water and let it do a bit of a cycle before adding any livestock. Once I felt it was at the point where I was happy with the parameters I'd slowly starting adding livestock a few shrimps at a time and re-test the water the day after each time I added the new shrimp to make sure I wasn't over loading the tank too fast. Welcome to the forum too btw!