Ph fluctuations

[code]

So Iv been keeping fish since 2014. Iv never done a fully planted tank. With root feeders. So my PH is always stable. In my community tank I can do an 80% WC... if I have to because the only difference is phosphates and nitrates. So , when using a buffering substrate like stratum, how do you manage Water changes and PH Swings?

 

[duanes]

I find the more water changes I do, the more stable my pH and other water parameters remain, always close to my 8.2 pH tap water.
I try to do a simple 30% water change every other day, as opposed to a large one less frequently.
My 6ft planted tank below.


The substrate is sand and not deep, except for sand that fills the 12' bamboo tubes the mangrove trees are planted in.

 

[code]

Cool looking tank. I like it. Thanks for sharing. I want to set up a heavily planted tank that stays relatively stable with very infrequent water changes. It's for a small colony of cherry shrimp. I think I'm going to go with a light layer of soil capped with flourite from seachem. Flourite as I understand is an inert substrate that soaks up nutrients over time. I watched some videos and apparently the flourite should absorb nutrients from the bottom soil layer.

Any one done this?

I don't want large parameter or ph fluctuations ever time I do a water change. So I'm scared to try stratum. Or aqua soil

 

[phreeflow]

Just do small water changes…especially for a heavily planted shrimp tank. Shrimp don’t like large water changes anyways. Feed them sparingly…they get plenty grazing on algae, Indian almond leaves, oak leaves, blanched spinach leaf, etc. When I had a thriving neocaridina tank, they were fed a tiny bit of pellets only 3 times a week