My Crystal Red Breeding Tank from Germany

**imke_j** · 26th May 2011, 05:27 PM

Some of you know that I have been dedicated to Tigers for years, thus I started a CR breeding project in April 2011. I used a tank with plants that had been running already for some time. I have two things I want to find out with this project:

1. Is a planted tank or a bare breeding tank better for shrimp breeding?
2. Can Crystal Red adapt and breed in higher pH ranges around pH7?

Tank Data:

Dimensions: 80 cm width, 30 cm depth, 35 cm height, Glass is 6 mm
Gravel: first layer lava, second layer Volcamia Green soil (brown color, now exhausted)
Undergravel Filter with two pipe, one not adapted and open for additionally air adding in summer
Eheim Canister 2213, adapted to the UGF
bio CO2 injection 24/7
driftwood, roots, lava rocks with moss an fern
stock: 18 CR shrimp, one 8 cm ancistrus (catfish), three otos
water changes: 10L / week with aged tap water
bag with peat pellets and zeolite within the tank
lighting: 2 x 30W cold white Arcadia T8
Water parameter (30-04-2011): pH 7.-7.2 / GH 13-14 / KH 8-9 / Nitrate 5-10 mg

In summer (=now), my tap water comes with: pH 7.5 / GH 15 / KH 12 / NO3 20-30 mg

I received a batch of 20 Crystal Red from a German breeder on April 5th 2011. One shrimp arrived dead, one jumped out at night - the other were okay and of very good quality.

Meanwhile, I had 4-5 berried mamas and the first juveniles, sitting in the moss.

To motivate myself a bit, I am calling this breeding project 'Naoki Line'. Naoki is an Japanese unisex name meaning 'honest tree'. I will update this thread from time to time. Thanks for your attention.

**Anubia** · 26th May 2011, 06:23 PM

Hi Imke...nice to hear from you again and have enjoyed reading your start-up project ' 'Naoki Line'.......

I wish you success in your breeding program and hope things do work out for you. Regarding breeding of CRS in higher PH environments I have had some success in breeding CRS SS+ double no entry Hinomura strain ( German breeder supplied) in my small nano setup which is currently 7.6 PH reading. No way ideal but I have problems with the Florabase substrate which is obviously buffering my PH. All other tank params - Nitrite, nitrate and ammonia are 0.0ppm...

Would be interested to hear your report findings re the breeding program and planted > against bare tank.

Best regards, Chris

**cllui** · 26th May 2011, 06:35 PM

Nice shrimps...
Good Luck...!

**mhlwang** · 27th May 2011, 05:55 PM

Hi, I was wondering what the zeolite does for the water/shrimp? thanks!

**imke_j** · 27th May 2011, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by mhlwang

Hi, I was wondering what the zeolite does for the water/shrimp? thanks!

It bonds nitrate and ammonium in the tank; I use it as my water already has high nitrate readings.

**imke_j** · 27th May 2011, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Anubia

Would be interested to hear your report findings re the breeding program and planted > against bare tank.

Hi Chris, nice to talk to you again and thanks for your kind words. For sure, I will keep you updated on my findings. Right now, I have a slight preference for one tank, but I will go on some longer and test everything before I speak my mind

Let's wait half a year, and see what happens with the handling, plant, shrimp and so...

**gourmettea** · 27th May 2011, 09:58 PM

How are you going to compare a bare tank to the planted?

**imke_j** · 28th May 2011, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by gourmettea

How are you going to compare a bare tank to the planted?

Well, as this is a hobby only for me - I will do no scientific comparison but more rely on my everyday observations. Say: water parameter, handling, care time, filter clogging or not, baby survival rate and so.