A simple shrimp tank setup

[Chris Yew]

After my 1st failure of the shrimps in a heavily planted tank, I'm thinking of why not just have simple shrimp tank.

As I've been keeping bettas and guppies in simple bare tanks, I'm thinking why not shrimps - are they able to do so? A very simple tank - no gravel, but juz tied riccia to wire mesh and driftwood in a smaller less than 2ft tank. No filter necessary as there are no fishes.

Some said gravel are good for shrimps, but if I've riccia and some moss, are they good enough? Let's discuss - what's the simplest? Those shrimps that I purchased from the lfs - their tanks are just as simple.

[jojoecute]

Morning bro...

Well simple as what u mentioned is nice...
Gravel is for shrimps to crawl easily & release thier stress & keep them busy finding for food that trap in gravel..
IMO minimum must have a internal sponge filter for cleaning & also water current produce oxygen ...

As i m still new to shrimps, this is what i know only...


After my 1st failure of the shrimps in a heavily planted tank, I'm thinking of why not just have simple shrimp tank.

As I've been keeping bettas and guppies in simple bare tanks, I'm thinking why not shrimps - are they able to do so? A very simple tank - no gravel, but juz tied riccia to wire mesh and driftwood in a smaller less than 2ft tank. No filter necessary as there are no fishes.

Some said gravel are good for shrimps, but if I've riccia and some moss, are they good enough? Let's discuss - what's the simplest? Those shrimps that I purchased from the lfs - their tanks are just as simple.

[Robert]

Hi Chris,
shrimps do not need much stuff but some are a must. You need a filtration, a biological one, or amonia etc. will be a problem. A simple and small sponge filter is enough. I used for example this one (selfmade) for several years now:

http://www.shrimpnow.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10003/normal_shrimp_tank_12l_filter.jpg
Any other brand or DIY filter will also do. Small internal filters are not that good because they filter medium is pretty small often, so they are not that effective.

If you want to keep life plants, which I strongly recommend, you need a artificial surce of light because sun light from a window will cook your shrimps and plants. So use a small clip on light, 7-11W are enough for a 1 foot tank.

Some plants to cover the water surface are also useful, so the shrimps feel much more secure. I used riccia or frogbite or both but frogbite is easier to use because it does no mess up the water surface with all these thiny thalli floating around. Some moss, java fern or Anubias baerteri var. nana on a piece of driftwood and voila, you tank is almost ready. The only thing which is still missing is a small fan because temperature of 30°C and more are too much for most shrimp species. With fans you should be to achieve water temperatur of less than 28°C and this is important because many shrimp species feel stressed in too warm water, this can even lead to their death. Too warm water is also not got for their immune system and they can die because of bacteria infections or fungi, worms etc. .

A layer of gravel is not necessary for shrimps. They don't care if there are some stones below there feed or not. But I recommend some mulm. You can read more information about mulm here: http://www.shrimpnow.com/modules.php?name=Content&file=viewarticle&id=12 . There you can also see one of my most simple shrimp tanks.

BTW, do not forget some water conditioners to reduce chlorine and chloramine but keep in mind that the chloramine will be reduced to ammonia and other chemicals and the ammonia is still very poisonous, especially if the ph is slghtly above 7. So that's another reason why you need a biological filtration.

All in all shrimp keeping is pretty easy if you keep in mind that they need certain water parameters. They need no special food and do not pollute the water that much, so you can keep a lot of them in relatively small tanks. They also do not have to be fed several times a day, so many advantages in comaprision to e.g. guppies. But they need a little more technical stuff, that's all.

best regards

Robert

[Confusekid]

The simplest setup is as follow.

1. Thin layer of gravel for shrimp to walk on.
2. Java moss - hide and feed
3. Black sponge filter, the bigger the better

Optional
4. Fan to keep temp below 30C

The problem for this setup is that it look ugly.

If you are going to keep tiger or bumble bee may be a small power head.

Jack

[Chris Yew]

Well what can I said - that's pretty simple enough : thanks! Now the next thing I'm still pondering is the temp. Is not more than 30 deg. good eough? The reason is that I hate to put in a fan which cost my bill to increase (my monthly bill is high enough). I've also read in another forum that some have tried without fans or chillers but not more than 30 deg. and it's fine and breed too. Maybe that I'll onli be able to find out by trying it though the norm. is reduce to less than 28 deg. C.

Robert - you don't seem to need to sleep? Guess in Germany is already quite late in the night.

[Robert]

Robert - you don't seem to need to sleep? Guess in Germany is already quite late in the night.

He he, Chris, I need also some sleep but I like to work at night and in my holidays it's possible to be awake at 4am because I can sleep as long as I want. But I'll go to bed pretty soon, I need my 6 hours of sleep, too.

BTW, please be careful with such high water temperatures. Keep in mind that shrimps like bee, diamond, tiger, bumbleebee, cherry etc. come from subtropical countries like southern provinces of China, Taiwan etc. and nromally they live in small brooks and rivers. So there natural habitat is often much colder than a fish tank in sunny Singapore. Such high water temperature are stress for them (I have to make this experience almost every summer again and again, no offspring, a smaller survival rate than normall etc.). Only the malayan shrimps are a bit hardier.

best regards

Robert

[silane]

One may want to spent a little more on the subtrate, instead of using lapis, those substrate with rough surface designed for beneficial bacterial to grow on it can be used. One example is Black Pearl.

Shrimps are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, having additional beneficial bacterial beside what is in the filter is alway good.

A thin layer of substrate, one grain thickness is enough for easy of maintainance and to provide comfort to their little crawls.

[jojoecute]

I am using a small Ac fan, only on it when i leave my office...
Think the electrical bill would not be high...

Since your tank temp is below 30oc, just get a Ac Fan for SOS use.
As now day S'pore weather going up & down...

[Confusekid]

I also use a small AC fan. I on it 24/7. The cost is not that high maybe just $1-2 extra. Temp need to be below 30C, best if can achieve below 28C. Should be able to achieve 28C and below by just using a small AC fan. Only disadvantage is that you have to top up water quite frequenty.

Jack
P.S. the small ac fan can get from Sim Lim Tower basement. Cost around $20 with power cable.

[Cosmic]

P.S. the small ac fan can get from Sim Lim Tower basement. Cost around $20 with power cable.

Is this small ac fan with ready 2 or 3 point plug type or need to put transformer ? (Sorry, non Techie background :p )

[jojoecute]

HI.....
Ac fan need to have a transformer 12V or more depend the Ac fan...
It can be 2 or 3 pins plug on the transformer...Both can be use...


Is this small ac fan with ready 2 or 3 point plug type or need to put transformer ? (Sorry, non Techie background :p )

[damnit]

Hi Chris, how big is your tank? Temperature is quite crucial in a shrimp tank IMO :)

[Confusekid]

HI.....
Ac fan need to have a transformer 12V or more depend the Ac fan...
It can be 2 or 3 pins plug on the transformer...Both can be use...

Jojo,
AC fan do not need a transform. Just plug directly into socket. DC fan is the one that need a transformer.

Jack

[jojoecute]

Bro....
Thanks for correct me...
I always mixed this AC & DC...


Jojo,
AC fan do not need a transform. Just plug directly into socket. DC fan is the one that need a transformer.

Jack

[Redza]

After my 1st failure of the shrimps in a heavily planted tank, I'm thinking of why not just have simple shrimp tank.

As I've been keeping bettas and guppies in simple bare tanks, I'm thinking why not shrimps - are they able to do so? A very simple tank - no gravel, but juz tied riccia to wire mesh and driftwood in a smaller less than 2ft tank. No filter necessary as there are no fishes.

Some said gravel are good for shrimps, but if I've riccia and some moss, are they good enough? Let's discuss - what's the simplest? Those shrimps that I purchased from the lfs - their tanks are just as simple.
heyyyyyyyyyyy :joking: your from singapore =) my neighbour:D Im from malaysia lol