{"product_id":"brightwell-buffering-substrate-florin-volcanit-rio-cafe-f-copy","title":"Brightwell Buffering Substrate Florin Volcanit Rio Escuro-XF (black)","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"overviewTech\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"edit-overview\" class=\"overviewCopy cms-editable\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFlorinVolcanīt Rio Escuro-XF: Black Fine-Grain Shrimp Substrate\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA natural volcanic ash substrate with fine black grains, made for Caridina shrimp tanks, nano tanks and detailed planted layouts.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhy it works for Caridina\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCrystal Reds, Taiwan Bees, Tigers and other Caridina need soft, slightly acidic water. Rio Escuro-XF keeps those conditions stable:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLowers pH.\u003c\/strong\u003e Brings water below pH 7.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLowers hardness.\u003c\/strong\u003e Binds the minerals that raise GH, so your water stays soft.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeeps parameters stable.\u003c\/strong\u003e It buffers continuously, so you get fewer swings between water changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMakes colors pop.\u003c\/strong\u003e Red, white and blue shrimp stand out against the black substrate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuits shrimplets.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fine grain gives baby shrimp a surface they can graze easily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBenefits for plants\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eUsed as the main substrate, Rio Escuro-XF supports rooted plants:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrong roots.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fine grain anchors delicate plants and carpeting species well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBetter nutrient uptake.\u003c\/strong\u003e The acidic environment helps roots absorb nutrients.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOxygenated roots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Roots stay healthy without suffocating.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNatural volcanic ash\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eColor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrain size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~1 mm (extra fine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEffect on water\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLowers pH (to below 7) and GH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSizes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 lb, 15 lb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in the USA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSetup\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDon’t rinse it.\u003c\/strong\u003e It’s a natural material, so you may find a few small pieces of wood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart with a clean, empty tank.\u003c\/strong\u003e Adding substrate to a filled tank will cloud the water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdd substrate to the depth you want.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sloping it from back to front is optional.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrepare your water.\u003c\/strong\u003e For Caridina, we recommend RO water remineralized with a GH-only product (KH 0).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdd water slowly\u003c\/strong\u003e until it just covers the substrate, then plant. Fine grain stirs up easily, so pour onto a plate or bag.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFill the tank slowly\u003c\/strong\u003e so you don’t disturb the bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed beneficial bacteria.\u003c\/strong\u003e FlorinBacter is the fastest option. Let the tank fully cycle before adding shrimp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use liquid fertilizers and liquid bacteria products rather than granular ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCare and lifespan\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt lasts about a year or more.\u003c\/strong\u003e It breaks down faster in alkaline water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIts buffering wears down over time.\u003c\/strong\u003e When pH starts creeping up, it’s time to replace the substrate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvoid alkaline buffers and pH-raising products.\u003c\/strong\u003e They wear out the substrate faster.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot compatible with undergravel filters.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVacuum gently.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine grain is easy to suck up, so hover the siphon just above the surface.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhy soft, acidic water matters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCaridina shrimp and most common aquarium plants come from forest streams. In those streams the water is soft and slightly acidic, and most nutrients sit in the riverbed sediment, not the water. Rio Escuro-XF recreates both conditions. Your plants feed through their roots, and your shrimp live in water close to what they evolved in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"brightwell","offers":[{"title":"15 lbs","offer_id":67724343574842,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24 lbs","offer_id":67724343607610,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0869\/1259\/8330\/files\/escuroxf.webp?v=1792340802","url":"https:\/\/teacherspetnw.com\/products\/brightwell-buffering-substrate-florin-volcanit-rio-cafe-f-copy","provider":"Teacher's Pet","version":"1.0","type":"link"}