Fluval Shrimp Stratum Substrate

anyone have use this? any good? my tap water ph about 7.2 i'm not sure about how to control GH? is theres any specific item to control GH? and where to buy? please give me a link...

wonder if the substrate need to be wash first before use? and can put directly fish/shrimp?

- Fluval soil is a good soil to use if you are mainly keeping Neocaridinas (Cherrys). FSS doesn't buffer pH very much.

- It does very well with plants and Neocaridinas. It also cycles fairly quickly without leeching out huge amounts of ammonia or no2 or no3s.

- For Cystal Shrimp it does very well in the beginning but around the 6-7 month mark you can notice the shrimp are starting to not do so well.

- The buffer capacity is drained very fast from the soil if you use tap water with high pH and kH. Also, you will not be able to maintain a lower end pH for your crystals. However, if you use RO water or rain water, the buffer capacity can be extended for a longer period of time, 7-8 months.

- pH buffering doesn't get as low as other better shrimp soil like Benibachi or even ADA.

- The soil is quite light, and fine, so if you have stronger filtration it will end up being blown everywhere and moved around.

- After being water logged, the FSS tends to turn muddy as it dissolves easily.

hi jayc thanks for the info....its abit to late i already purchase FSS 4kg, but i will buy benibachi soon :)

- Fluval soil is a good soil to use if you are mainly keeping Neocaridinas (Cherrys). FSS doesn't buffer pH very much.- It does very well with plants and Neocaridinas. It also cycles fairly quickly without leeching out huge amounts of ammonia or no2 or no3s.- For Cystal Shrimp it does very well in the beginning but around the 6-7 month mark you can notice the shrimp are starting to not do so well.- The buffer capacity is drained very fast from the soil if you use tap water with high pH and kH. Also, you will not be able to maintain a lower end pH for your crystals. However, if you use RO water or rain water, the buffer capacity can be extended for a longer period of time, 7-8 months.- pH buffering doesn't get as low as other better shrimp soil like Benibachi or even ADA. - The soil is quite light, and fine, so if you have stronger filtration it will end up being blown everywhere and moved around.- After being water logged, the FSS tends to turn muddy as it dissolves easily.

No problem.

To answer the last question of yours, no you don't need to wash it. In fact, do NOT wash it, despite what the instructions on the bag says.

It'll turn to mud if you try to wash it. Just place in the tank dry and fill with water slowly. It will get cloudy. But your filter should clear it within 24 hours or so. but not as cloudy as when you wash it first.

Try not to disturb the FSS too much as you'll stir up a dust cloud.

Some people love this substrate. It works for them. But as you try other brands of substrate, you'll find may other terms to describe FSS ;)

thanks for advice!

No problem.To answer the last question of yours, no you don't need to wash it. In fact, do NOT wash it, despite what the instructions on the bag says.It'll turn to mud if you try to wash it. Just place in the tank dry and fill with water slowly. It will get cloudy. But your filter should clear it within 24 hours or so. but not as cloudy as when you wash it first.Try not to disturb the FSS too much as you'll stir up a dust cloud.Some people love this substrate. It works for them. But as you try other brands of substrate, you'll find may other terms to describe FSS ;)

to lengthen the lifespan of ur tank maybe cap off ur FSS with a 3kg bag of benibachi powder soil? looks great and will give u that extra push south for ph and kh :encouragement:

i have 25L nano tank, is that need 3 kg? dimension 25x25 cube

to lengthen the lifespan of ur tank maybe cap off ur FSS with a 3kg bag of benibachi powder soil? looks great and will give u that extra push south for ph and kh :encouragement:

I have this substrate in one of my fish tanks, it is quite light and i am forever replanting my hair grass that the catfish dig out, the other plants have been growing very well though.

Try not to stir it up as it does make quite a mess, as far as washing, my local pet shop told me to put it in a fish net and rinse under the tap (dont 'mix' it as it will turn to mud).

My tank was established in January and the particles are still holding shape, its not able to keep the pH down as i have been using tap water with a high pH that has stripped it.

thank you wraithie...what shrimp you breed?

I have this substrate in one of my fish tanks, it is quite light and i am forever replanting my hair grass that the catfish dig out, the other plants have been growing very well though.Try not to stir it up as it does make quite a mess, as far as washing, my local pet shop told me to put it in a fish net and rinse under the tap (dont 'mix' it as it will turn to mud).My tank was established in January and the particles are still holding shape, its not able to keep the pH down as i have been using tap water with a high pH that has stripped it.

None in that tank, mostly cherries, im still setting tanks up though to get organised

good luck :)

None in that tank, mostly cherries, im still setting tanks up though to get organised

i have 25L nano tank' date=' is that need 3 kg? dimension 25x25 cube[/quote']

yeah ur call mate, maybe use half of the bag.. the thicker the soil base the lower the ph and the longer the tank life as the soil wont need to be replaced within the year. the first tank i set up i now wish that i had used another bag or so just to add longer life to the tank. i've not had to re soil a tank yet but i'm guessing its not much fun.

all in all i guess it depends on what shrimp u wish to keep... bearing in mind all the pro's advise on having a larger water capacity if u plan on having the more exotic shrimps.

when keeping fish i never thought much about the substrate thickness.. but now, after shrimping, i have to say a nice chunky substrate 6-10cm looks pretty awesome! :)

thats my 2cents worth anyways :p

goodluck

yeah ur call mate' date=' maybe use half of the bag.. the thicker the soil base the lower the ph and the longer the tank life as the soil wont need to be replaced within the year. the first tank i set up i now wish that i had used another bag or so just to add longer life to the tank. i've not had to re soil a tank yet but i'm guessing its not much fun.

all in all i guess it depends on what shrimp u wish to keep... bearing in mind all the pro's advise on having a larger water capacity if u plan on having the more exotic shrimps.

when keeping fish i never thought much about the substrate thickness.. but now, after shrimping, i have to say a nice chunky substrate 6-10cm looks pretty awesome! :)

thats my 2cents worth anyways :p

goodluck[/quote']

why not just buy the fulvic grain ??

It will re buff your tank for another 6 months or more

and it's quite cheap

thanks mate :) will consider it

yeah ur call mate, maybe use half of the bag.. the thicker the soil base the lower the ph and the longer the tank life as the soil wont need to be replaced within the year. the first tank i set up i now wish that i had used another bag or so just to add longer life to the tank. i've not had to re soil a tank yet but i'm guessing its not much fun.all in all i guess it depends on what shrimp u wish to keep... bearing in mind all the pro's advise on having a larger water capacity if u plan on having the more exotic shrimps. when keeping fish i never thought much about the substrate thickness.. but now, after shrimping, i have to say a nice chunky substrate 6-10cm looks pretty awesome! :)thats my 2cents worth anyways :pgoodluck

why not just buy the fulvic grain ??

It will re buff your tank for another 6 months or more

and it's quite cheap

And good to have a few for emergencies .....

you mean BENIBACHI Fulvic Grains?

why not just buy the fulvic grain ?? It will re buff your tank for another 6 months or more and it's quite cheap

Yes, they're great !

which one BENIBACHI Fulvic Grains? or fluval substrate?

Yes, they're great !

Fulvic grains are a substrate booster, it boosts the buffing capacity of any substrate. Fulvic substrate is the Benibachi substrate which has the grains & other minerals etc in it already. Just add the grains to your substrate to help buff the PH down when it stops working. :encouragement:

:barbershop_quartet_ thanks mate... help me learn things!

Fulvic grains are a substrate booster, it boosts the buffing capacity of any substrate. Fulvic substrate is the Benibachi substrate which has the grains & other minerals etc in it already. Just add the grains to your substrate to help buff the PH down when it stops working. :encouragement:

All good dude, that's what we are here for! :victorious:

I have used fss with crystals and have the population grow from 20 to around 150 shrimp. Tap water (adl) and prime. Going now for 8 months.

Fss is a bit dearer than the others though. So probably would go another substrate next time

wow that quite good result... btw i will try another substrate also later on as i already purchase the FSS

I have used fss with crystals and have the population grow from 20 to around 150 shrimp. Tap water (adl) and prime. Going now for 8 months.

fss

hi mate ive just put this in my fluval edge and its only been running for 2 weeks now but I have used the Plant Stratum before and that stuff grows plants like crazy I had a tank setup for cherrys and plants it was going good and then I moved onto marine so I put in it a different tank outside with the cherrys and plants and everthing jus took off plants were growing nuts and cherrys were breeding like crazy and I was only toping it up with tap water straight out the hose