Shrimpland - new project

**stevo** · 20th Jan 2012, 06:59 PM

Hi everyone!
I'm newbie on this forum, and keeping shrimps also. At first I would like to introduce myself. I'm 25 years old university student living in Budapest, capital city of Hungary. My name is István, english variant is Steven, that's why you can call me stevo.

I became an addict for underwater life lately, so here I am.

I would like to ask for your help in my upcoming project. So comments, opinions are more than welcome. As I said before I haven't had shrimps before, so please be patient with me.

My goal is to have two aquariums on a bookshelf near to my workplace. So I can watch them almost all day long.

At the moment I'm in the planning phase of the project, so I can change almost everything.

To be honest I have fallen in love with Blau Nano Cubic tanks 17,28 liters 45 cm x 24 cm x 16 cm tall (!). I know they are not very tall, but the shelf is at my "eyelevel". This is the starting point for the whole thing.

#1
Tank: Blau Cubic Nano 17,28 liters (45x24x16)
Filtration: Blau FM-120
(Filter media: Eheim Substrat Pro)
Lighting: Blau Mini PL 9W
Livestock: Neocaridina heteropoda var. yellow
+ Tetratec APS 150 (common) with ISTA Biosponge filter

#2
Tank: Blau Cubic Nano 17,28 liters (45x24x16)
Filtration: Blau FM-120
(Filter media: Eheim Substrat Pro)
Lighting: Blau Mini PL 9W
Livestock: Neocaridina heteropoda var. sakura
+ Tetratec APS 150 (common) with ISTA Biosponge filter

The hardscape look as follows: the substrate will be only 1-2 cm Aquatic Nature Pro Soil / Shrimp soil , or Shirakura Red Bee Sand and some mosses only. Both tanks for only shrimps.

What do you guys think? Can I manage to keep them in about 13-14 liters of water, and will they enjoy it?

**madness** · 20th Jan 2012, 07:20 PM

I had trouble finding English language information on the filter that comes with that tank but even if you only had the ISTA sponge filter you should be OK if you are keeping neocaridina variants.

The tank size/water volume also shouldn't be an issue as people keep neocaridina in much smaller tanks than that and have good success.

Having a powered filter (canister filter, hang on back filter, etc.) plus an air driven sponge filter as a second filter seems to really be a nice combination for shrimp. They like the extra oxygen that the sponge filter puts into the water and they love to pick at the sponge and eat biofilm from it.

As long as you are keeping neocaridina you can get away with a really wide range of tank set-ups. I have some doing fine in a 2 gallon (7-8 liters) heavily planted bowl with zero hardware (no filter, no heater, etc. - just a desklamp over the top giving it light).

**stevo** · 20th Jan 2012, 07:37 PM

Thanks for your answer. Was a big relief hearing (reading) that, to be honest.

The hang-on filter has about 120 liters/hour water flow, what is about 10x water volume (+biological filter media in it). + bio sponge filter, it should be enough. I don't want to face filter problems in the future.

At first I'm only interested in neocaridina species, so this "problem" is also solved. I have to read a lot, to get better knowledge for the shrimps and their requirements.

You've made my day, thanks again!

**FishFan85** · 3rd Feb 2012, 02:14 PM

Welcome to the forum,

Nice introduction!

Sounds like a great place to start, I'm curious to see pictures...

Goodluck and keep those updates coming.

**stevo** · 3rd Feb 2012, 04:11 PM

Thanks, I appreciate your comment and interest!

Since I have written this thread a lot has changed. I have rescaped my big tank, and this project was in the background. I have to make the big brother running smoothly, without any major problems, and after that I can focus on this project, finally.

I will update this journal, as soon as possible. I promise.

(Btw, I have found some nice second-hand tanks at an auction website here in Hungary, seriously thinking about buying them.)

**stevo** · 20th Feb 2012, 09:22 PM

Well, things have been changed a lot, since I updated this thread...
At first, I've "only" planned with 2 tanks, but I will set up 3 tanks instead in the close future.

I have got a very good offer from an aquarium maker lives close to me, and got some nice advices at a hungarian shrimp forum.
The tanks will be placed side by side, in a row, and will use a common lighting, solves the lighting issue easily.

At the moment I'm still hesitating about the filtration. Should I use only sponge filter or undergravel filter? The only negative thing against undergravel filter is the prize and the amount of the substrate... My requirements for the filtration: price, sound, proper work. Any suggestions?

The "rack" will look like this:

#1
Tank: 30x30x30 cm - 27 liters cube
Lighting: Hailea T8 System 25W
Livestock: Neocaridina heteropoda var. yellow
Filtration: Tetratec APS-300 + Sponge filter / Tetratec APS-300 + undergravel filter
Substrate: Aquatic Nature Pro Soil

#2
Tank: 30x30x30 cm - 27 liters cube
Lighting: Hailea T8 System 25W
Livestock: Neocaridina heteropoda var. sakura
Filtration: Tetratec APS-300 + Sponge filter / Tetratec APS-300 + undergravel filter
Substrate: Aquatic Nature Pro Soil

#3
Tank: 30x30x30 cm - 27 liters cube
Lighting: Hailea T8 System 25W
Livestock: Neocaridina heteropoda (Red Cherry)
Filtration: Tetratec APS-300 + Sponge filter / Tetratec APS-300 + undergravel filter
Substrate: Aquatic Nature Pro Soil

**madness** · 20th Feb 2012, 09:56 PM

People in Asia and in the US seem to be having success with undergravel filters (though they usually ALSO use sponge filters as well).

For neocaridina shrimp it will not be as important to have 'perfect' filtration.

Neocaridina can definitely do well in small tanks with air driven sponge filters only. I do not know how much better the results are with an undergravel filter like you are considering (though it will probably help). I don't have personal experience with traditional plate style UGF in shrimp tanks.

**stevo** · 21st Feb 2012, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by madness

People in Asia and in the US seem to be having success with undergravel filters (though they usually ALSO use sponge filters as well).

For neocaridina shrimp it will not be as important to have 'perfect' filtration.

Neocaridina can definitely do well in small tanks with air driven sponge filters only. I do not know how much better the results are with an undergravel filter like you are considering (though it will probably help). I don't have personal experience with traditional plate style UGF in shrimp tanks.

Thanks mate, for your answer.

I think the same, that Neocaridina species don't require much filtration, but I would like to give them enough surface to play/eat etc. on the sponge

As I said before I need an air pump, no doubt, but UGF is a bit experience here, and I haven't talked a word about 4,5-5 liters substrate in each tank. So for now, I think I will use the sponge filter, with the biggest surface on.