different substrates need ideas

[wicca]

i have tried several thing so far and was wondering what every one uses and how they like them. i live in the usa so if you are from here where do you get your substrate?

i am using miracle grow organic potting mix topped by pool filter sand and some have black sand, and just started a tank with FSS. the fss tank will prob hold rili shrimp im still workin on the crystal reds

[madness]

If you are only keeping neos then you can use pretty much whatever substrate that you want.

If you are keeping softwater shrimp (Bee shrimp like CRS/CBS or Taiwan Bee shrimp) then you probably want a substrate that helps lower/control the pH.

I have ADA AS New Amazonia multi-type and it seems to be as advertised. It lowers the pH quite a bit and lasts for quite a while.

Akadama is a popular option that is becoming more available and more widely used here in the states. It doesn't have nutrients for plants like most of the ADA AS does and it doesn't lower the pH as severely as AS according what I have read but there are a lot of people here who are using it with RO water to keep pretty much any softwater shrimp that you can think of (Taiwan Bees, red tigers, Black tigers, high grade CRS/CBS, OEBT, etc.). It is a soil used for bonsai growing so if you can find a bonsai store near you that carries it then you can get Akadama for far less than it costs to ship most of the commercially available shrimp soils. There is also a member here and on TPT that sells and ships Double Red Line Akadama but I don't want to run afoul of the forum policy on selling or advertising here.

Green Leaf Aquariums just started carrying some of the UpAqua soils including shrimp soils that lower pH and include plant nutrients as well (making it a product in the same category as ADA aqua soil).

[wicca]

i dont have a prob keepin my shrimp i have oebt doing great but the gh is just a tad high for the crs to berry but i think i have that worked out. im just looking for something where i dont have to have a layerd substrate like i do with the mgo and sand.

[Summit MicroFarm]

I use ADA Amazonia and Akadama for soft water shrimp. Both work very well. As stated above, for neo's, anything will do.
If you cannot find Akadama locally, PM and I will send you the link to a shop right in my town that will ship it at a reasonable price.

[rod]

Sorry for getting off track but I have to ask, what are neo shrimp?

[Summit MicroFarm]

neo's or neocaridina are cherry shrimp and the like. Well know for being very hardy and tolerant.