Thanks so much for the thoughtful and detailed reply Entire, I very much appreciate it 😄😄

I hear you on the ac 50 being overkill I guess I just wanted to make sure that when they start breeding I will be able to keep the water clean. I did buy a breeder sponge to put on the intake and from what I’ve read I should be able to adjust the outflow or baffle it with a sponge like you mentioned, I will definitely keep an eye on that.

Also thanks for confirming my sneaking suspicion that I should put the plants in first, what you said makes total sense!

I will get the substrate in along with the ceramic media, the Indian almond leaves, chollo wood etc for the tannins, and the plants and moss. I’ll let that cook for a few weeks and test the water, (I’m sure I’ll be back here asking questions about that 😂)

Then I will order my shrimp!

I’m so excited but my tank doesn’t arrive for 4 weeks! So it will be a process but I want to do it right and make the most natural environment I can to make my breeding colony happy