Setting up a red cherry shrimp tank

**Bracehero** · 5th Oct 2016, 12:04

I have a empty small 3 gallon tank, thinking of having red cherry shrimps and making the tank low tech. Now all I have is an air stone and driftwood. What else must I have (etc. Thermometer if needed)? And what plants do you recommend? Thanks!

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**genki89** · 5th Oct 2016, 13:57

Decent filter with good biomedia (ur tank is around 11 litre). Judging by the volume, space is a constraint so a hob filter would be good.

Thermometer is good to have but not necessary, and plants u can have depend on the lights u are going to provide. Moss and anubas can have airstone, but since u are going to change to a hob, u can remove the airstone once u start to introduce funas (airstone helps to cycle water faster due to constant supply of oxygen)

U will also need some soil to buffer the ph level of the water. Good to have water test kits too else u will have to test water with commando shrimp or fishes like guppy

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**Bracehero** · 5th Oct 2016, 15:49

Hi @genki89 , thanks for your reply!

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**Bracehero** · 5th Oct 2016, 15:51

Hi Genki89, thanks for your reply!
Regarding the biomedia, I will go to C328 to buy it.
I will buy plants such as moss and anubias.
For the airstone, how long should I leave it on? 2 weeks?
For the substrate, I have ANS PLANTA SOIL. Is it an ok substrate?
And I will also get a water test kit. For the water to be good to put shrimp inside, nitrate has to be 0, thats it right?

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**genki89** · 5th Oct 2016, 16:11

Airstone can be removed once ammonia and nitrite is 0. Nitrate should have some value unless the water is not cycled or ammonia produce = nitrite conversion = nitrate intake by the plants.

Although ur water parameters are ideal (ammonia 0. Nitrite 0. Nitrate x value), that does not mean it is safe for live stocks. There maybe other chemicals that may cause death.

Its good to get the complete water test kits to help u eliminate all doubts (kh/gh, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph). Good to have tds meter too.

Do take note, all soil have their life span, which will fail to buffer the ph after awhile. Ans planta soil is good though im using gex and ada

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**Bracehero** · 5th Oct 2016, 16:15

Ohh, alright, thanks again genki!

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**Bracehero** · 5th Oct 2016, 16:17

I see, but I can start putting shrimp in once the ammonia and nitrate are 0 right?

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**genki89** · 5th Oct 2016, 16:25

What i normally practice: drip acclimatise the shrimp purchased shrimp with the new tank water for 3~10 hours depending on the shrimp (neocardinal only).

Observe the shrimp behaviour. If the shrimp seem to be weak due to any reason, i will scoop it up and place it back to the water it came with (so far none happened).

After the process is done, i will transfer the shrimp into the main tank and continue to observe and do head count for the next 2 - 3 weeks.

So far this method works for me. There are afew more methods and u probably have to wait for the pros to feed u. Im still learning though

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**Bracehero** · 5th Oct 2016, 16:31

Ohh, I understand. Thanks once again Genki! I really appreciate it

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**Zep** · 5th Oct 2016, 17:48

Hi, you can also use neutral substrate like sand or gravel for red cherry shrimps. From what I read they prefer neutral ph or slightly on the alkaline side. About 7-7.4.

I am using sand substrate with ph about 7.2 to 7.4 and the my shrimps are breeding well.

An alternative to consider.

Enjoy your shrimping.

**Bracehero** · 7th Oct 2016, 17:07

I see, I am using Ans planta soil, I dont want to spend so much money on substrate ;( I have set up my tank, shrimps are doing great!

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