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This is Cleopatra. She's a lover, not a fighter. And a bit of a purr slut. And finally, here is Marshmallow. She was a rescue kitty when she was little more than skin and bones and a puffy tail. Now, she's a foot warming, pillow stealing, moth hunter who gets away with anything. Who has a puffy tail. lol

Thanks for the intro! I haven't looked into a RO unit yet, but have been looking at test kits and TDS units. A local tropical fish shop carries a kit similar to this one - http://www.alphaprobreeders.com/aquarium-pharmaceuticals-freshwater-master-test-kit/ - although I think it's a different brand name. I'm also thinking of ordering this TDS pen from Amazon if anyone has had experience with it to vouch for it - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C0A7ZY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000VTQM70&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=086R2AFC38GTYCDP52Y3 I was considering this ph neutral substrate for the tank, but I'm a firm believer that everything in a plan is fluid until it's actually set up (no plan survives first contact). http://www.bigalspets.com/fish/substrates/super-naturals-river-of-doubt-5-lb.html You mentioned Cherry shrimp are some of the hardiest, would you recommend them as a good starting point before jumping into the Tigers and CRS? As for pets, there are quite a few snakes, so posting pics of each of them would take up quite a bit of space. I can offer a link to my collection thread on BP.net, if anyone would want to check that out to see my snakes. (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?233081-Smooth-Scales-Snakes) As for my kitties, I guess I need to downsize the picture sizes or post one at a time? I just got an error message about size. :P This is Punkin. She's an indoor cat who likes to pretend she's brave and ventures out onto the front porch. I've also had her the longest, so she gets posted first. :)

Since Jayc has answered your questions all I can say is Cool snakes!

The API Master test kit is ok for the Ammonia, Nitrite, GK & KH kit. But you'd still need Nitrate. The pH kit is not the most accurate, highly suggest a pH Pen instead. TDS pen is a must have. And that one is a good brand. I have the HM Digital AP1 which has temperature measurements as well, and does automatic temperature compensation for TDS. HM digital is a good reliable and accurate TDS meter to get. Get the AP1 if it doesn't cost much more than the basic model you linked. Substrate is highly dependant on which shrimp you plan to keep. Tigers and Neocaridina (cherry shrimps) are ok with that pH neutral gravel you linked. But consider a good plant substrate for Caridina (CRS/CBS, Taiwan Bees) even Tigers can adapt to this substrate. So let us know what you want to start with. And if you want suggestions on which plant substrate to use, let us know what brands/types you can source where you are located. Yes, this is good advice. Start off with Cherries and learn how to look after them. Cherries are more tolerant to a wider swing in water parameters, and they are cheaper to start out with. Nothing worse than seeing a big investment in shrimps die off because you were new to the hobby. If you have kept fish before, than you will have some good basics. But shrimp requires a bit more of a learning curve compared to fish.

Ohh these nerites are naughty, after shutting up shop nearly all day and stubbornly making out they where dead, in desperation to ensure they where not dead I put them back into their mostly salt water bucket with an airstone running. Of course within a few minutes of being back in the bucket at least half of them have sprung back into life and are once again making their escapes up the side of the bucket, while others are for now randomly wondering across the bottom. Short of continuing to add pure fresh water to the bucket and only removing water once the bucket is full I am not sure how to proceed with converting these guys. They obviously did not like (for what ever reasons) the intended tank and I doubt the tank that has my Nerites from Gladstone could support so many more nerites as well as the Notopala snails in the tank. The Gladstone nerites never gave me this much grief but then they probably are a different species and where more used to times of fresh water. At least as far as I can tell none of the new nerites have died, so I will follow the philosophy of "where there is life there is hope". Keeping it safe was exactly the reason we bailed out of the search in Moores Creek at Kershaw. Aside from appearing denude of most aquatic life even algae it looked rather hazardous when we approached a deeper section of water with regards to a croc that had been sighted near there a few weeks ago. Why is it crocodiles have to always get in the way of a interesting search for local aquatic critters?

Ahahahaha.

Yes, I noticed how neat the silicon finish was, that is why I asked. Where is the builder located? PM me details please? Get what first? a plan? Give the tank to me, I have plans...

Hello, and thank you for the welcome. While I don't have any shrimp right now, I am doing research on different shrimp, setups, and necessities to have a successful tank. I'm really interested in black tigers, blue tigers, and crystal reds because of their vibrant colors, but would obviously want to start with cheaper and hardier shrimp until I get some experience. I joined this forum to get more information on what I'll need, what to expect, and guidance as I progress with my tank. Other things about me - I am an animal lover of all types and currently keep Ball Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, and am kept by three cats. :)

It is a really good chart, and a lot of effort has gone into it so congrats and round of applause for doing it. The only trouble I have (and its probably because of my red/ green colour blindness that only stops me from determining subtle colour variations) that I always have trouble with any chart depicting colour where matt colours have been used. Many times I find it easier to actually see a real life picture of the colour in question. I don't know how hard it would be to do but maybe a link attached to the main colours depicted could bring up a real couple of photos of the shrimp in question. Then hopefully people will see for themselves the clear sections of a Rilli or the clear bodied red of a red wine as aposed to the non clear looking painted. (please correct me if I am wrong on the colour gradings or how they are ranked/ rated/ graded). Maybe photographs will also help people match their grades properly and clear a lot of confusion.