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Allo SKF crew. I though i would do an update of my 4ft after 6 months. Everything is running smoothly so far. My colonies have grown a little bit. Anyyy whoooo pics below and enjoy :) Titibees and Rilis TBMs and Blue Velvets PRLs and Chocs OEBTs and Snow Balls

How much IAL are you using that it stains the water brown? I use IAL, 2-3 leaves per 50L. Can't even notice the water changing colour. EasyLife Catappa X is a good alternative. I did a review here somewhere... Found it. http://shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/index.php/topic/7241-easy-life-catappa-x-review/ The thing is with black water extract and macropore is ... 1) macropore is not a leave in and forget product. You use it for a specific purpose. If and when you want to reduce Nitrates - use macropore white. If and when you want to reduce pH use Gold. Use it only IF and WHEN you need to. This is where a fluid bed filter comes in handy. 2) Blackwater extract needs to be continually added. Even if you don't use macropore, the effects wear off. Don't forget water changes. You're throwing water out, so it's gotta be replaced somehow. So bearing 1 & 2 in mind, it doesn't matter if macropore absorbs the nutrients and humic/fulvic acids. If you only use macropore as needed and remove it when the mission has been accomplished, and you continually add blackwater extract you have the benefit of both. If you really need to achieve something that macropore white or Gold can do then, don't let it stop you. Cause the effects of Gold is temporary. Remove it after it's done it's job, and then resume adding blackwater extract with water changes. If the aim is to reduce pH, there are other methods. Macropore Gold might not be the first choice on my list, but if there is no other choice, I'd use it. Alternatives are... Peat Moss, Blackwater extract, Driftwood, dried organic leaves are all good at reducing pH - but staining could be an issue for you. I actually like the natural light brown colour. CO2 - but could be a slight risk with expensive shrimp. Plant specific substrates - ADA, Cal Labs CEP, Benibachi, etc will help reduce pH. You should be using this for CRS, CBS and TB anyway. But the BIG tip to pH reduction is to stop using tapwater. Not only is tapwater already high in pH, it's loaded with chemicals that resists lowering pH. So you need 2, 3 maybe 4 times as much to move down 1 pH compared to rain and RO water. Tapwater is also loaded with stuff that doesn't agree to shrimp and fish. Tapwater is just an uphill battle. Hope that helps.

Just a heads up, some of the regular members will have noticed a few minor tweaks as of this morning: PM limits are now 20 instead of 10 Image upload size is now 2MB instead of 500KB Number of moderated posts for new members is now 1 instead of 3 Enjoy!

Would it be fair to say they must be constructive posts and not random babble throughout the whole forum ?

Awesome shrimp John! I really like some of the patterns you got there. The tibees are doing well too.

In answer to the original post: #3 I dont think you can remove the tannins (the chemicals that change the colour of the water) without removing the beneficial properties of IAL. I wouldn't be surprised if the tannins themselves are beneficial.

A number of people, including myself, have used Macropore White. Still do. It's great for reducing Nitrate. However it is no replacement for a mature filter to remove Ammonia and Nitrites. Macropore Gold , however, uses an "ion exchange process where Calcium is replaced with sodium" (salt). Knowing what it does, I've never used it for my shrimp tanks. We want Calcium in the tanks, and not salts. It will have an affect in reducing calcium and increasing GH. Not something you want in shrimp tanks. (But I've not used it, don't want to risk affecting my tank parameters). So 1) It will lower pH , but not the effect you want by removing Calcium and increasing GH. 2) They can be used together,but i've not used Gold. The sodium introduced might not be significant however. Someone else might be able to comment. Macropore white by itself to reduce Nitrates is fine. 3) Don't know. But why add it only to remove it?