Tips for a sulawesi newbie?

[Jovel]

Hi all, recently I just gotten myself an dymax IQ3 tank which is just nice on my desk. While I'm really amazed and excited on sulawesi shrimps, i know that nano tanks are hard to maintain parameters.
I'm thinking of adding a small undergravel filter in it as well for better filtration. Looking at keeping about 6 cardinals. Any tips regarding set up for a sulawesi nano? Will be greatly appreciated :D:D:D

[madlan]

I think the best start would be to try and find some captive bred shrimp, they seem far more adapted and will be on display much more often!

[Jovel]

I think the best start would be to try and find some captive bred shrimp, they seem far more adapted and will be on display much more often!

depends if there are locals willing to off load some to me haha! will coral sand and chips push my ph and gh off the charts? do i need to add in some soil to have a balanced effect?

[madlan]

There must be someone breeding them in Singapore! hehe.
I leave RO water in a bucket with some coral gravel\chips overnight - This gives a pH of about 8 - 8.2 with low KH\GH (TDS about 100). Almost perfect for them.

[Jovel]

hmmm, what about the substrate in the tank? coral gravel as well?

[madlan]

Yep - I use coral gravel and nothing else. I find this keeps the pH buffered at just over 8. the GH\KH can rise slightly but not by a great deal in my experience.
Some use coral chips under another inert substrate to buffer but I quite like the white contrast of the coral gravel against the rocks!

[Jovel]

i brought coral chips and gravel already haha! can't wait to start, but got to control myself and learn more :p hmm, does it matter what rocks you use? the rocks in my iwagumi tank is shooting my gh sky high, so apparently if i use the same type of rocks with coral, it'll probably turn rock hard lol. Will lava rocks be a better choice?
oh and what filter are you using may i ask?

[madlan]

I would use the lava rocks, you want to keep the pH high but the GH low so if you've seem the rocks raising the GH I would avoid!
I'm using a very basic internal filter that came with the tank, it's lightly stocked so I may upgrade if they breed. (I'm using some Dennerle Nano Clean Corner Filters which are shrimp safe in other setups)

[Jovel]

Does your ph/ gh keep raising or does it stays buffered at ph 8?