My shrimp tank launching off....

[Flyx]

This is my first shrimp tank, it i like to share with you all the progress though its a long one ... hehe... Had an extra 35cm tank, so I decided to give it a try.

I plan to get CRS... Grade C or B. WIll let my tank mature and the plants to grow in the meantime. Will get them in a month or 2 time..

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image01.jpg
Bare layout

After many hours of tying up the plants....

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image02.jpg
Front View

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image03.jpg
Mini Pelia on Rocks

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image04.jpg
Taiwan Moss on wire gauze
Fissiden tied to driftwood

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image07.jpg
Top view

Am using 11W PL light..tank cooled down by a SUNON mini fan, the temperatue of tank ranges between 25.2 - 26.5 degrees celsius depends on the atmospheric temperature.
Gravel used those black ADA soil. Filteration using a mini hangover filter connected to undergravel filter (to prevent baby shrimps from being sucked in the future) with chips of biohome red in it.

Added nutrafin cycle and a photo sythetic bacteria solution (Made in Taiwan) when first set up.
Also added Seachem Excel and Sera florena after plants added today.

KH & pH not measured yet.

No CO2 injection.

Presently the tank is housing this fish below. Have 7 of them 6 male 1 female (less colourful).
http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image05.jpg
http://www.arofanatics.com/members/flyx/shrimptank/image06.jpg
Anyone can help me identify this fish?

Thought of getting a zebra otto to help to keep the tank look "neat & tidy" but I am afraid it might eat up or disturb the tied plants.
Comments and feedbacks are welcome..

Thats all for now... will update again.. any changes or add ons...

[Robert]

Hi,
your tank need time to cycle. The necessary bacteria species need several weeks to grow to large colonies. Without these beneficial bacteria every kind of filter is only a mechanical filtration and stable conditions, which are necessary especially for invertebrates, aren't possible.

Your fishes are Dario dario. I would remove them immediately. The increase of nitrite in the next week can kill them. They are living creatures and there is no reason to let them suffer under such conditions. BTW, they are carnivorous and small crustaceans are part of their natural diet. They will eat your shrimps or will at least try to eat them!

Ototinculus species are peaceful, small, algae-eating catfishes and perfect tank mates for shrimps. They live in groups and you should keep at least 5 individuals of them. They won't eat your plants. But you need to provide them the right food. They are no tool to clean the tank! These catfishes are sensitive and would probably die in your current tank.

Let the tank mature for at least 5-6weeks and then slowly add the first fishes and/or invertebrates. If you want to keep these catfishes, please wait even a bit longer.

regards
Robert

[Flyx]

Hi,
your tank need time to cycle. The necessary bacteria species need several weeks to grow to large colonies. Without these beneficial bacteria every kind of filter is only a mechanical filtration and stable conditions, which are necessary especially for invertebrates, aren't possible.

Your fishes are Dario dario. I would remove them immediately. The increase of nitrite in the next week can kill them. They are living creatures and there is no reason to let them suffer under such conditions. BTW, they are carnivorous and small crustaceans are part of their natural diet. They will eat your shrimps or will at least try to eat them!

Ototinculus species are peaceful, small, algae-eating catfishes and perfect tank mates for shrimps. They live in groups and you should keep at least 5 individuals of them. They won't eat your plants. But you need to provide them the right food. They are no tool to clean the tank! These catfishes are sensitive and would probably die in your current tank.

Let the tank mature for at least 5-6weeks and then slowly add the first fishes and/or invertebrates. If you want to keep these catfishes, please wait even a bit longer.

regards
Robert


Thanks for ur advice. FYI. The Biohome chips used are taken frm my matured 3 ft tank. 50% of the water also taken frm that matured tank..so i guess..the water is quite condition. As for the fish...its juz there temporarily...till i get my shrimps. wull transfer them to my 3 ft with my tetras once shrimps introduce.
When i say clean my tankk.. i meant by wating up the algaes...;)

thanks again for ur advic gladly appreciated.
Am seeking comments on the scape/layout of tank...

[DADude]

Nice tank flyx :) the layout and composition is very good.

But isnt it gonna take a looong time before that fissidens grow good? 1year or so before it covers good?

[retardo]

This is a good start on your shrimp tank. Having plants in there is a great idea. Not only does it provide a food source for the shrimp, but it also helps to cycle your tank faster. Plants will use up any nitrogen byproducts (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite).

I do have a few comments for you, though.

1. The plants you have in there are notoriously slow growers. You may want to pick up some stem plants to fill in the tank with vegetation sooner (leave the mini pellia, taiwan moss and fissidens species where they are). The more plants you have in there, the faster the cycle. I disagree that 5-6weeks is needed for the cycle to complete. You also seeded your tank with 50% cycled water, so that is a good place to start. The rock surfaces should provide additional surfaces for nitrifying bacteria to grow, but you should consider getting a filter bigger than the hob one you are using and has more of a surface for nitrifying bacteria.

2. The large piece of driftwood in there may change your water chemistry by leeching tannins into the water (your water will turn brown), unless you have already boiled it and allowed most of the tannins to leech out.

[shrimp]

very nice tank... I like the layout :) like to find out from you what is the size of this tank? looks like 2 ft to me... I dont think that the zebra oto will disturb the tied plants as they are not as active... but when you put in your shrimps maybe you can have them removed as they might cause stress to the shrimps.

[Flyx]

This is a good start on your shrimp tank. Having plants in there is a great idea. Not only does it provide a food source for the shrimp, but it also helps to cycle your tank faster. Plants will use up any nitrogen byproducts (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite).

I do have a few comments for you, though.

1. The plants you have in there are notoriously slow growers. You may want to pick up some stem plants to fill in the tank with vegetation sooner (leave the mini pellia, taiwan moss and fissidens species where they are). The more plants you have in there, the faster the cycle. I disagree that 5-6weeks is needed for the cycle to complete. You also seeded your tank with 50% cycled water, so that is a good place to start. The rock surfaces should provide additional surfaces for nitrifying bacteria to grow, but you should consider getting a filter bigger than the hob one you are using and has more of a surface for nitrifying bacteria.

2. The large piece of driftwood in there may change your water chemistry by leeching tannins into the water (your water will turn brown), unless you have already boiled it and allowed most of the tannins to leech out.


Yup, i actually boiled the DW and soaked it in one of my cycled tank for a month.
What other plants do u suggest i place in the tank?.. Keeping in mind that lighting is 11W and there is no C02 injection. only EOD dose of Seachem Excel.


very nice tank... I like the layout like to find out from you what is the size of this tank? looks like 2 ft to me... I dont think that the zebra oto will disturb the tied plants as they are not as active... but when you put in your shrimps maybe you can have them removed as they might cause stress to the shrimps.
The tank is only 35cm in length..now will hunt for that zebra oto..hehe..
Keep those comments and suggestions coming..on the layout anything i should add,remove, change???

[azn_fishy55]

Tank look great,I'd loveto see it when it matures.I suggest using some background plants in the back and the mosses look good where they are.Also some plants to contrast the rocks something light colored like Eriocaloun setceum,it should do good in Aqua Soil.Happy Planting!

[Flyx]

I already added japonoca in btw the rocks...but having doubt..dunno if it will survice w/o CO2 injection and with 11W lighting...not adding any background plants..keeping it simple...juz waiting for my moss to grow..
Anyone knows roughly how long will it take to cover the floor?..1 month? 2 month?
or more?

[azn_fishy55]

I think taiwan moss grows pretty fast so maybe 2-3 weeks for it to fill up but then you don't have any CO2 so it might take longer.The addition of Excel will help the development of the plants.

[Flyx]

I think taiwan moss grows pretty fast so maybe 2-3 weeks for it to fill up but then you don't have any CO2 so it might take longer.The addition of Excel will help the development of the plants.

Alrite then, will update u guyz in 3 wks time..