transitioning tank from tap to keep Chili's and Neo's

[Nick9one1]

I'm transitioning my tank to 'hopefully' keep neo's and chili rasboras but finding it quite difficult to find definitive parameters.
Some websites give wild ranges like 14C to 30C. I've done my best to create a table below with the parameters I 'think' are correct. the midpoint column is where I will aim to keep both species happy.
Please comment if you think anything is incorrect.

	Chili	Neo's	Mid point
Temperature	20 – 28 °C	22	22
pH	4.0 – 7.0	6.8-7.5	7
DKH	4-6	6-10	6
KH	2	2-5	2

I cant get hold of Salty shrimp, so I'm using Shrimp king to remineralise RODI. I'm making small water changes to slowly 'correct' my tap water tank.
The tap water here is very hard so this will take a few weeks of 10% water changes every other day.

Shrimp king has a KH lower than salty shrimp and may target, so I will need to raise it slightly. Any suggestions on how to do this?

	Shrimp King Shrimp Salt GH+/KH+	Salty Shrimp Shrimp Mineral GH/KH+
GH	6-7	6
KH	1	3
PH	7-7.5	no info

 

[bazz]

I think you would be better off contemplating Caridina rather than Neos to live with Chilis as they both prefer more similar parameters. You could use slightly less SK remineraliser targeting 4-5 dGH and a small amount of Potassium Carbonate/Bicarbonate will up the KH, 1 or 2 will be fine.

 

[Nick9one1]

Thanks.
It was my understanding that Caridina's need even softer water than Neo's, with a Kh as close to zero as possible? This is an existing tank with inert substrate, so I think it would be difficult to maintain a stable Ph?

 

[bazz]

It was my understanding that Caridina's need even softer water than Neo's,

They do, but it is more inline with the requirements of the Chili Rasboras.

with a Kh as close to zero as possible?

As mentioned above, a small amount of a cheap salt and you can target whatever KH you want (using RO), 1 dKH is fine, I run at 0.3 dKH with no problems.

This is an existing tank with inert substrate, so I think it would be difficult to maintain a stable Ph?

If the tank has inert substrate (as opposed to active) that is one less reason for the pH to be unstable. Active substrates have the ability soak up the KH (and some of the GH) from the water column for a period of time, I have not heard of or witnessed anyone having problems with pH swings during this time.
Neos prefer relatively harder water.

Obviously though, it is your tank to do with whatever you so wish.
Cheers!