Crystal Black Tank (Akira)

[imke_j]

In the beginning of September 2011, I bought some Crystal Black shrimp (Black Bee) from a German shrimp shop. I kept them on lava substrate, and decided yesterday to add Akadama (Double Line Brand) to soften water parameter and adjust pH.

The tank is filtered by a big air driven sponge, and a Eheim 2224 canister hooked to UGF.

First, I removed the Lava and only kept a layer in the UGF area. Added the Akadama later (a whole 14 L bag), and carefully added fresh water. Shrimp are sitting in a filtered bucked until everything is stable.

I call the breeding project 'Akira Crystal Black', as it is motivation...

47484750474747514749474447464743474547524753 to have a name for it.

[MananaP]

Thanks for sharing this to us Imke, i love seeing peoples set-ups. I hope you can breed them, i'm certain you will. Hope to see pictures soon of the inhabitants when they are settled inside their new home...

[imke_j]

A short update on the shrimp:

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[Kazuya]

Nice looking S (v and tiger).

Tank looks good too.

[imke_j]

After my shrimp behaved kind of shy, I now have three berried females. :) There is nothing better than a tank filled of shrimp, swimming and walking around. Hopefully, my Akira will multiply a bit, as the tank still looks empty, somehow.

[Summit MicroFarm]

I love reading and following this thread. Can't wait to see "mass of cbs" pics we will be seeing soon! Good luck. I admit I have reading more and more about your substrate lately, especially with KK's.
Thanks Imke

:alien:

[imke_j]

The first batch of shrimplet hatched 2 days ago; another 2-3 females are berried. I had some algae problem from an old piece of driftwood spreading that stuff on the ground. Besides, the lighting maybe a little to strong. However, the Cb are fine.

[powerreef]

good to know your successful to breed AKIRA CBS. Congrt Imke.

[Summit MicroFarm]

The first batch of shrimplet hatched 2 days ago; another 2-3 females are berried. I had some algae problem from an old piece of driftwood spreading that stuff on the ground. Besides, the lighting maybe a little to strong. However, the Cb are fine.

Congrats on the babies! :thumbsup:

:alien:

[imke_j]

Some pictures of this tank:

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[BiNgO]

i wish i can find this kind of substrate here in UAE.

[magpie]

Hi, what do you mean by Akira BDS?

[imke_j]

Hi, what do you mean by Akira BDS?

I call the breeding project 'Akira Crystal Black', as it is motivation... --> this means I invited a name for my shrimp :)

[imke_j]

Another update: I added more plants from my broken 54L tank:

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[magpie]

Very nice black diamond shrimps. Congrats on the shrimplets. :)

[gourmettea]

AWWw....I love CBS...too bad not many people sell really nice CBS....much easier to buy CRS...

[Fento]

I totally agree with gourmettea. Nice tank! I don't know how could I miss this thread untill now

[imke_j]

Just a little update, plants and shrimp are doing well - have babies again!

[FishFan85]

Looks good Imke!

[Shick Settima]

What a great looking tank. I'm curious as to why the sponge filter is in front instead of hidden in the back?

[imke_j]

What a great looking tank. I'm curious as to why the sponge filter is in front instead of hidden in the back?

Oh, no special reason. I consider this as a breeding tank, and simply can clean the filter better being in front. Besides, you can have an eye on the shrimplets feeding on the filter. The tank sure would look better with hidden filter :D

[imke_j]

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[powerreef]

looking good INKE..look like you also add some crush lava rock..

[imke_j]

look like you also add some crush lava rock..
Yes, the lava originally was the first layer on my UGF ;)

[Kay101]

Great thread, I'm sorry to step in on this, but i wondered if you could advise me on my next set up. I currently use ADA Amazonia new in my tanks, but after approx 6m breeding slows right down and I wondered if this was related to substrate. I see you use a lot of akadama... is this better for CRS/CBS?

[imke_j]

As all active soils absorb and de-ionize, I would add shrimp minerals or rocks whenever you feel your shrimp grow slowly. Every shrimp brand offers suitable products, it is up to you which one you give a try.

[Kay101]

thanks imke, will look into this.

[imke_j]

It was about time to replace the Akadama soil in my Akira shrimp tank. I decided to remove the under gravel filter, and use neutral sand as gravel. From my walks through the forests nearby my home, I brought back a branch with lichen. The shrimp enjoy sitting and nibbling on it.

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[Kev0312]

Nice tank and shrimp.

[Bratyboy2]

What is lichen?

[gty]

nice shrimps
what's that in the last picture ???

[imke_j]

What is lichen?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

It is the thing on the branch, grows in good and unpolluted airs best. I was not aware myself that it is a symbiosis between fungi and algae; however I knew that reindeer feed on them and that they are 'healthy' mostly. The shrimp like it :)

[MananaP]

Hi Imke, nice shrimps and tank. Are you using Silica sand now?

[foxpuppet]

Great shrimp line you are developing imke, can you explain reason behind switch from akadama to sand. I currently have a breeder tank with sand that I was going to switch to beni bachi fulvic soil.

Why did it edit my soil name?

[koko77]

+1 to mananap and when u add lichen to aquarium ?

[imke_j]

Are you using Silica sand now?
Yes, I guess that is how it's called - a neutral, inert substrate. Honestly, I am tired of replacing active gravels every now and then - my last set ups work fine for around 6 months, no longer. I have had the impression that my Akira offspring grew very slowly, that's why I decided to re-do the tank. They now sit on tap water, no losses, and they are very active.

For the lichen (http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed&sectHdr=on&spellToler=&search=flechte), I have problems understanding your questions, I am sorry. I simply have chosen a part of a tree with lichen on it, and put it into my tank - that is all. Can you please clarify what you want to now?

Thanks all for liking this thread :D

[koko77]

Yes, I guess that is how it's called - a neutral, inert substrate. Honestly, I am tired of replacing active gravels every now and then - my last set ups work fine for around 6 months, no longer. I have had the impression that my Akira offspring grew very slowly, that's why I decided to re-do the tank. They now sit on tap water, no losses, and they are very active.

For the lichen (http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed§Hdr=on&spellToler=&search=flechte), I have problems understanding your questions, I am sorry. I simply have chosen a part of a tree with lichen on it, and put it into my tank - that is all. Can you please clarify what you want to now?

Thanks all for liking this thread :D

When you added the part of a tree with lichen on it to your aquarium ?

[imke_j]

When you added the part of a tree with lichen on it to your aquarium ?

The branch is just swimming on the surface, and I will remove it after some time. Added it two days after the original set up, but it is no part of the decoration. It is only used as some kind of food and shrimp toy ;)