Bro, if you really into crs, before getting additives and soil, start with the water first,
prepare to use full RO water, why? cos water is the basic of all, and with RO water pureness , you forgo tap water impurities and
you are precise in getting the exact parameter with the additives you gonna use.

For example in this setup, very basic with full RO water.
Soil - Benibachi or borneowild shrimp soil.
Additive - Mosura Mineral plus.
After setup tank with soil and full RO water , dose mosura mineral plus to get your desired GH and Tds,
cos of the PH 7(neutral), zero GH and <10 TDS reading of RO water ,the GH and TDS you getting from dosing mosura mineral plus
can be very accurate, This will minimize error and pinpoint problem to other field if problem rise in parameters.

unless necessary , don't change filter media , if change , do it gradually.
Sis, if your tap water is bad, you can change with bottled RO or distilled water, but don't change so much, 5-10% as starter as full RO water will
reduce your GH, TDS.

sis, the super nacteria bee max also a breeding/molting additives, don't put too much , put little first.

No, unless really necessary, as for sensitive shrimps like crs, there is always risk when disturbing the substrate.
The shrimp poo may look alot but it is nothing if you compare with fishes. The bacteria in the substrate will take care of these poo.

For Benibachi full setup :

UGF -> Benibachi Bacter Base -> 1cm of Benibachi soil -> Benibachi Bee Max -> 0.5-1cm of Benibachi soil -> Benibachi Mineral Powder -> The rest of Benibachi soil -> (optional)->put some powder form of benibachi soil on top the normal grain.

For 3ft tank, this may cost quite a dent as
Soil require 12L(3cm thick) - 20L(5cm thick) . each 8L bag cost RM114.00
Bacter Base - 3L to cover 90x45cm base - each 1.5L bag cost rm67.00
Benibachi Bee Max 30g - need 2 pack for 3ft , each pack cost rm67.00
Benibachi Mineral Powder 120g . need 2 pack . each pack cost rm57.00
Benibachi Mineral rock 300g for 60L water, so 3ft around 150L water , need around 750g , 1 pack 1kg cost rm82.00
(Optional)Benibachi powder soil loose pack 3L , cost around rm50-60.

If follow full system, you have to use :
Benibachi Active water 250ml RM114.00 (kick start bacteria) (dose during setup & maintenance)
Benibachi Emergency water 100ml rm77.00 (mineral and trace elements) (dose during setup & maintenance)

Optional :
Benibachi crimson ball 1 box 10 ball - rm100.00++
Benibachi Alpha zero slab - rm55.00

These are Benibachi system for CRS setup.

Above are excluding tank, UGF, additional filter , chiller and light system.

Rough cost for just the benibachi stuff for 3ft cost around rm900 - 1k++ alone excluding Tank, UGF, Air pump , additional Filter & light.

This post has been edited by arrow: Apr 15 2014, 07:50 PM

ADA soil Not suitable for UGF , Borneowild soil not cheap either, and Borneowild copy benibachi soil formula and not 100% as effective.
Ppl use benibachi full setup cos of the proven result and they intend to keep high grade crs, these crs cost > rm50 - rm200 per tails, so the cost of benibachi setup is tiny compare with shrimp price.
You can reduce the setup cost by 40-50% if you start with a 2ft tank.
if you want cheaper setup , you can just use
ugf - benibachi soil - mineral rock with full RO water, then
dose mosura mineral plus to get the desired gh and tds.

This post has been edited by arrow: Apr 17 2014, 11:46 AM

Oh, sorry , missed the 'Not'
should be - ADA soil not suitable for to use UGF.
Yes, you can use ADA amazonia soil for crs, just more care to be taken before this soil is safe for shrimps as ADA soil contain high level of ammonia which intended for plants,
these ammonia will continue to leech from the bottom substrate even the tank seem cycled as if you disturb the soil like vacuuming, moving embedded stone/wood, shrimps digging soil
etc. That why it take much longer period for ADA soil to be ready safe for shrimps.


This post has been edited by arrow: Apr 17 2014, 11:49 AM

Using reliable RO water , no need anti chlorine,
NO3 nitrate for Crs , max is 40ppm. Neocaridina is 80ppm.

TDS measure using TDS tester pen, like this -> http://www.tdsmeter.com/products/tds3.html

bro, Benibachi is the only one in japan that have his own shrimps farm.
see here

Bro, how are you!

We need some info about this neocaridina killer tank, PH , GH , TDS ?
Neocaridina can adjust to different parameters readily , just that TDS if too low(below 160) can pose some problem
for them.
Its they died after molt?

Like jirochl , im using sera gh tester as well.

you can also use borneowild GH up powder or Up Aqua GH Builder (liquid form),
to raise just PH , use benibachi PH up powder.
If you want cheapest and don't care about future parameters run, can put few old rm0.50 pcs of coral stone in your filter compartment,
your PH, GH , KH and TDS will rise gradually.

Dose mating additives like borneowild dance, benibachi breeding aid liquid, mosura ero.
but make sure your colony is stable and no problem in molting before you use these as all additives will induce molting.

Benibachi is more of a complete proven workable system for keeping crs, this especially useful for people with no knowledge of keeping shrimps and like to start with these sensitive crs shrimp.
This doesn't mean other setup won't work, lot of people able to keep crs with their own unique setup, just that lot of trial and error in doing so.
For own setup, basic stuff must care for is water quality (that why encourage to use full RO water),
Gh , ph , tds and temperature of the tank.
How you achieve these correct parameters is up to individuals twinking.
H

GH range is 4-6 , cos it depend on what type of crs, better ask the seller what gh they be breed and keep in.

pmed you , sorry , quite busy lately.

o ..missing word on my reply ..ahahhahah
just want to said , reduce water lvl to allow more air in the tank.

from what i see , your tank should around 40-45cm length, these fish you keep put alot of stress on small dwarf shrimps,
yamato are well known jumper, you may want to check behind your tank on floor for any dry prawn.
Adding coral stone , will increas ph, gh , kh and tds , if your water is more acid , it will help buffer it up, don't put too much, one to two small
old rm0.50cents coin size is enough.
Create more hiding space for shrimps since after molt they very vulnerable to attack.

This post has been edited by arrow: May 27 2014, 11:23 PM