My First Shrimp Tank

[aussieant32]

Hi All

Basically I was at my LFS about a month ago and I saw this shrimp tank for sale for a very good price, it was 2nd hand but the owner was the one that owned it and he gave me a warranty as a brand new product.

I didn't really trust the filter/heater so I picked up a Eheim pickup filter and a Jager heater. I then started to think about the tank. I had not ever kept shrimp so the research began. Eventually after a lot of reading and talking to people I knew some foundations to start on.

So, I wanted to keep some nice plants, a good carpet was ideal and some taller growers to conceal the equipment at the back. I went to a really reputable LFS (well I say local, about an hour and a half drive) and we discussed plants in length. I ended up with 3L bags of Amazonia II, Amazonia II powder, Powersand S, spoons of Bacter 100 and Clear Super. Also grabbed some Brighty K to get the potassium levels up in the water.

Then the hunt started for the CO2 kit. I decided on a red sea kit with a GHL solenoid. I also picked up some Sechem Stability to kick start my cycle, some Flourish root tabs, Flourish liquid fert, Flourish Excel and Flourish Iron Supp.

I went back too get my plants once I had all my kit set up. I got about 5 clumps of UG and some taller stemmed plants for the back. The UG was already growing in ADA so they would settle quickly but the others were just in gravel using ferts so they would melt a bit while they got re established.

Anyway the tank has been running for 2 weeks now. I have the lights and CO2 on an 8 hour timer and I have added the stability to kick the cycle off. I am going away on holiday for a few weeks in about 3 weeks time so by the time I get back the plants should be starting to fill in and my cycle should be very close, if not complete and ready for my shrimp!

One thing I have neglected, which I may do today, is really clean the outside of the tank, he had some clips etc on top to hold the lid but I am going lid off so I need to get rid of the residue that you can see in the photo!

4691

[lukasz0207]

I would change a few things.
Firstly
I would add to water.
I change this heater on smaller or put on the back glass.
Secondly
I change this root because in my opinion He is too big on this tank.
And substrate is too a lot of.

But this aquarium is nice. This were my suggestions.

[aussieant32]

thanks. I might look to downsize heater at some point, I was given it for free so didn't really want to waste it.

I wanted a bit piece of wood as its a look i quite like, I like it when the wood rises out of the water. Maybe I will look for a taller but narrower one?

In regards to the substrate, Its quite important that is this deep, I have some very heavy rooting plants at the back. Aquascaping wise the back should be 3 times higher than the front so its pretty much at the lowest level I can have it.

[vandominic]

Here are my humble suggestions sir:

1. If you put the root first and bury the lowest parts under the substrate your tank would look smaller and the root would not occupy the surface so you could plant more plants
2. You could then create a slope to your substrate (1 inch at the front and 3-4inches at the back to create depth. This way you can plant stem plants that require thick substrate for rooting and foreground plants like HCs or HGs in front.
3. You could also use a different light bulb that has covering so it would not look glairy when you want to look at your tank or take photos. That way also, the light would focus on your tank and not your entire room.
4. As much as possible, hide your gadgets. Like lukas said, you could use smaller ones and put them at the back or behind your root or plants.

Hope these suggestions would help ;)

[aussieant32]

Here are my humble suggestions sir:

1. If you put the root first and bury the lowest parts under the substrate your tank would look smaller and the root would not occupy the surface so you could plant more plants
2. You could then create a slope to your substrate (1 inch at the front and 3-4inches at the back to create depth. This way you can plant stem plants that require thick substrate for rooting and foreground plants like HCs or HGs in front.
3. You could also use a different light bulb that has covering so it would not look glairy when you want to look at your tank or take photos. That way also, the light would focus on your tank and not your entire room.
4. As much as possible, hide your gadgets. Like lukas said, you could use smaller ones and put them at the back or behind your root or plants.

Hope these suggestions would help ;)

sorry for the delayed reply, I have been away. I have since removed the internal filter and seeded a canister filter in that looks great. In regards to the slope, you cant see it in this but it is sloped, 1 inch at the front and 4 at the back.

Have added quite a few plants in, about 75% of my substrate is covered with plants and the shimp are always running in and out scavenging on them.

I also was given an LED light that I am going to start trialling soon.

[FishFan85]

Hello,

I think it looks nice,

I also agree with others to bury the root more in the sand, and put a smaller heater (I believe they are called nano heaters) on the back of the tank.

A small suggestion would be to fix some java moss to that root with for example some fishline, it would look great on it!
And the shrimp will love it I reckon.

Good luck.

Joey

[aussieant32]

thanks. Sine my post I downgraded to a 75w Jager and moved it to the back and moved the 150w to my discus tank. I have also added moss to cover 90% of the root. Have had 4 lots of shrimplets in the last month :)

[FishFan85]

Sounds great!!!

[blahdeblah]

Nice nano matey, looks really nice!

One word of warning though, in my experience co2 and shrimp = dead shrimp. Not always intentional and sometimes accident but i hear SO many stories even from experienced shrimpers that have wiped out their shrimp with a co2 issue.

Keep us updated on the tank and I hope I've not dampened your spirits!!

[aussieant32]

Nice nano matey, looks really nice!

One word of warning though, in my experience co2 and shrimp = dead shrimp. Not always intentional and sometimes accident but i hear SO many stories even from experienced shrimpers that have wiped out their shrimp with a co2 issue.

Keep us updated on the tank and I hope I've not dampened your spirits!!

not dampened them at all, its been running for over 3 months and i have only found 3 dead shrimp. On average I have around 60 shrimp in there and usually 6-7 berried at a time, counted 11 this morning. I have never heard of Co2 killing shrimp, how would it cause it? The 3 breeders (not lfs but actual importers and breeders) I get my shrimp from all use Co2? The only thing I can think of is that their set up has failed and given way too much or too little Co2 and cause a big change in PH?