substrate?

[barberking12]

is play sand or pool filter sand better?

[troy tucker]

pool filter sand would be the way I would go.

[mnemenoi]

Pool Filter Sandis far better IMO, play sand is not clean at all and requires a ton of cleaning before getting clear. Save about 15 washes and get PFS

[myjohnson]

Play sand is lighter and flies every where.

It sucks. I wouldn't even use it.

[barberking12]

ok cool would i be able to grow some type of moss carpet or something on it

[eklikewhoa]

Moss soaks it's nutrients from the water column so I wouldn't see why not.

The best bet is to get small grids of either SS or plastic cross-stitching grids(thebaoster found larger holed grids at the hobby store) and tie the moss to that and then lay on the substrate. This will hold the moss together and can be moved to clean.

Moss does a lot better in cooler water temps and with adequate flow.

[mnemenoi]

Its possible, but very difficult. Most folks here utilize planted tank substrate (Aquasoil, Eco-Complete, Flourite, ect.) with very high wattage lighting systems (T5VHO, CF, MH) to supply the plants and create compact growth and for a good carpet I have yet to see it be truly acheivable without the addition of a pressurized CO2 injection system.

With that said, you can grow some low light plants and mosses that attach to driftwood. These usually only need the addition of fertilizers added to the water column and even some of those require no care whatsoever. It depends on many variables and I'd really need more specifications on your tank size, lighting system, and livestock/projected before I can help in choosing a better plantscape idea.

[barberking12]

20g and i plan on putting crystal black shrimp after i get the tank cycled all the way

[eklikewhoa]

If you plan on going with CBS you are better off investing in some sort of plant substrate that will buffer the water down to their liking, ADA Aquasoil or the new Brightwell substrate would be my choices.

[mnemenoi]

I'd certainly recommend doing some research. I have found them to be easy enough to keep alive, but in our hard tap water I never saw any breeding activity. If I were going to keep them, I would use a Ph reducing soil (aquasoil, stratum, ect.) and mix RO and tap water with a TDS meter or use a mineral supplement to achieve your desired partameters. You can achieve the same effect with CO2, but an entire setup for a 20 can be expensive. There are do it yourself options, but I have an irrational fear it will act up and I will awake to a tank of battery acid. There are more Crystal keepers on here that can offer advice on their setups and what worked and did not.

[barberking12]

ya i have been reading alot. But i heard ada and stuff clouds the water up thats the only reason i was not going to get it but im open to advice im going to be getting the substrate and driftwood this week

[mnemenoi]

ADA Aquasoil can cloud initially and takes quite some time to cycle (a month or so) some others are a bit different. All utilize the same basic principles. Stratum is a bit less potent, but loses its effectiveness far quicker or so I have been told. There is a thread on here about the new Brightwell line and there are a few more options available from online sources. It generally takes quite some time to age a shrimp tank, they need very stable parameters and a well established aquarium. Is this your first foray into shrimp keeping?

[barberking12]

ya i have nothing but time i didnt plan on rushing into things thats why im open to yalls advice. But ya its my first go round with shrimp

[eklikewhoa]

If done right, plant substrates don't get as bad as some of the other normal substrates I've seen.

Most of my experience with plant subtrates lasted a day or so in comparison to what others have experienced of days to weeks with you normal aragonite or even inert.

[eklikewhoa]

You will have a much easier time keeping shrimp with the plant substrate vs inert.