High PH setup

[jcclark500]

I'm settup up a small high PH tank to house some Sulawesi shrimp. I intend to run on tap water so I've been searching for some way to maintain a high PH without additives. I found this Eco-Complete Cichlid Sand that claims to boost PH. Tank has been running for a week with this substrate and PH has slowly risen from Tap @ 7.80 to 8.35. This is about what I wanted and it seems to have stabilized at this PH. I'm kind of worried that a water change is going to swing the PH until the substrate can drag the PH back up. Has anyone already crossed this bridge, or maybe I'm on my own?

[Sea-agg09]

sulawesi's are fine in 7.8. I suggest to leave it at 7.8 and let things stay stable rather than swinging it back and forth.

If you want to keep it at exactly 8.3, then add some soda ash to the tank, and smaller amounts in subsequent water changes. You'll have to dial in the exact amount depending on where in houston your water is from. The buffering capacity of tap water varies between location.

[jcclark500]

Thanks, Agg, I think I'm with you, I don't have much interest in chasing water parameters around. I'm working toward a stable tank, then a minimalist approach, but what is that minimum? I'm definitely working towards a successful tank, and enjoy the efforts, but I don't want to make it any harder than it needs to be.

[armthehomeless]

Take what you have . . . and drip acclimate your shrimp. You'll be fine.

Stability is key, as Sea-agg09 said.

[jcclark500]

How long would you let the tank run before putting in the Shrimp? Everything is new, but I put in some live filter media from another filter (if it doesn't starve). I've had two small fish in for a week, plus a few CRS for a few days showing no stress at all. I have a few plants in there and might put in a few more, so I doub't I will ever see an ammonia spike from that small load. I am concerned that there is nothing to eat yet and I don't know how long it takes for biofilm to get going. I have some green rocks outdoors in the pond though. I might add those.

[Sea-agg09]

I would let the tank set up for a good month. A biofilm will form naturally without an ammonia spike, but it just takes time.