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Solid advise from everyone, as usual. I'll just add that even when the filter gets old and produces 6ppm TDS, that's still not bad considering tap is wayyy more. That's if you want to stretch the value of the RO filter. As for remineralisers, #2 is lower value for money since it is already in liquid form. You pay for someone else to premix it. #3 & #4 in powder form gives you more value per dollar. But come with the added inconvenience of having to mix and dilute it yourself. So get #3 or #4 if you want better value for your money. Or #2 if you want ease of use.

I just go to Wally World and get RO water for 33 cents a gallon. Always smart to bring along a TDS meter! I would recommend #3 or #4 since both are geared towards shrimp. #1 can be measy or doesn't completely dissolve and #2 is made by the same company. Never heard of it being a 'dealer only' product, but there are shrimp remineralizers out there that are liquid. SL-Aqua distributed by Discobee or Vin Shrimp sold by BuyPetShrimp. I don't think Vin has a KH product, but SL-Aqua does. (two separate products for GH and KH) If you are using inert substrate, of course you'll want GH and KH. If using buffering, then only GH.

I believe that Walmart sell them if that suits you better. If your tap water is about 50tds then you should get 150L approx per filter. Also it won't matter if the tds/GH/Kh of the tap water fluctuates as the filter will remove what is there, it will affect the life of the filter though proportionately, so probably not a great deal. You will probably get a tds meter with it! The one thing I have noticed with it is it goes almost to the end of its life at 000 and then 001 for a short while and then quickly up to the 006 limit whereby they say you should change it. It isn't a problem as checking the tds is quick and easy, it is obviously just the way the filter works, ie once it has reached its saturation point it loses the ability to work efficiently. Based on a jug for $26 and 150L that makes 17c per litre (it will come with a filter) unless my math is out, and 7c per litre after the first filter?? Probably a no brainer.......... Simon Simon

You may find this helpful as I never had any success with tapwater with Taiwan bee shrimps but tap water in the uk seems ok with neo. If you want to go the RO water route you may want to read this especially as it is about a US product probably WIDELY available out there (could probably get one off the shelf immediately), and cheaper/easier than an RO until as you then just filter tap water: https://skfaquatics.com/forum/topic/14025-tap-water-taiwan-bee-uk-zerowater/ If you are getting neos you will want a GH+ and KH+, soe only do GH+ and these are meant for Bee shrimp! With RO water though I would expect the PH to be fairly low (6ish) so not sure how/if that will work? I think, as you say, they all do the same and are reputable so get whatever suits the best. Simon