Starting a new Shrimp Tank

[AndyPeh]

Día Uno

Hello peeps! Wait you're actually still here?

Lol just messing, thank you for sticking with the post and growing with me on this.

Just took some measurements.

Ammonia



NH3 / NH4+ 0.1 ppm.

Looking good! Ok because I have the variable of the floating plants and the previously mentioned BN7 bacteria with active microbial with active microbial enzyme yeast for quick ammonia nitirifying effect.

I cannot affirm which is giving me this great result, but because I was just told by a nice forum friend that unless I have like frogbits that cover 60-70% of the tank surface it would not have much of an effect on nitrate levels. I am guessing that BN7 is working hard for its money.

Anyhows to work it harder I decided to run an experiment to see if BN7 really does what it says. I will be taking out the 6 frog-bits for now and conduct the same measurement tomorrow.

Soil Qualities

Now alot of people in the forums seem to know about the quality of the RAC soil already.
Which sets me thinking what are the benchmarks on good Shrimp Soil.

Following the ShrimpNow!!! - Shrimp Soil Guide Comparison Table that I am sure many are already familiar with, I attempt to weigh how RAC fairs up.

Cant get this to show properly please see it here.

PH Buffering



On the set up day when I poured in my aged water the PH readings were at 7.1 (My tap hovers around 7.2)
And when I took measurements earlier it got to 6.2 (26 Hour Period)

Toxic Air!

Trapped air in the soil can be toxic so I stirred up to release them.

Remember my mistake I spoke about layering my powder soil on set up? Well here you see why and hope you won't be as big as a goon as me. During this process many of the finer soil would have sifted itself into the nooks and crannies of the bigger base layer soil therefore disrupting my very nicely laid finer granules layer.





Turbidity of the tank went up to looking like Day 0 initial set up. Am going to let it be filtered.

Unsurprisingly when I took another reading the NH3 / NH4+ went up.



That is all folks. While I patiently await the tank to clear up once again I will catch some sleep!

Goodnight all! Rest well and I will catch you tomorrow.

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Shrimple Guy
Andy.

[Urban Aquaria]

I guess shrimp soil usually don't release as much ammonia (unlike ADA aqua soil), so ammonia in an empty tank such as yours shouldn't climb too high at start up.

How about nitrite and nitrate levels?

If BN7 is a bacteria-in-a-bottle type solution, then it should help the cycle by establishing some good bacteria in advance to break down ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate. So observing how fast the conversion/cycling process works will test the actual effectiveness of BN7.

Nitrates still have to be removed by either plants or water changes though.

[Navanod]

Duckweed? Its a good nitrate absorber. It is said to double itself in 24 hours.

Do not, I repeat. DO NOT, use duck weed. It is called a weed for good reasons.
You'll be spending more time cleaning the weed than enjoying your shrimps if you use it.

[qngwn]

Do not, I repeat. DO NOT, use duck weed. It is called a weed for good reasons.
You'll be spending more time cleaning the weed than enjoying your shrimps if you use it.

i almost wanted to buy duckweeds until a handsome from AQ gave me some frogbits and salviana FOC.. if not for him, i'll be clearing duckweed everyday.

but then, mutiply faster = absorb nitrate faster?

[cheetf]

i almost wanted to buy duckweeds until a handsome from AQ gave me some frogbits and salviana FOC.. if not for him, i'll be clearing duckweed everyday.

but then, mutiply faster = absorb nitrate faster?

Maybe you can try and then tell us.

[AndyPeh]

Hi Bro UA you are right I think the BN7 which is a Bacteria in bottle type Power works wonders breaking down the ammonia to nitrite and eventually nitrate.

I am going to get hold of the test kit to get my nitrite and nitrate levels tonight will give an update then. Hoepfully it does not exceed the 25 ppm threshold.

Am consolidating some plants to get soon.

To all seniors here, any advices on plants? Are rooted plants such as Echinodorous and Bucephalandra effective in removing Nitrates?

Need to figure out how much plants I should get, I am thinking it should be directly correlated to amount of shrimps I intend to keep.

[AndyPeh]

Do not, I repeat. DO NOT, use duck weed. It is called a weed for good reasons.
You'll be spending more time cleaning the weed than enjoying your shrimps if you use it.

Thank you for the warning!
I would not want to have to go through the painstaking process of clearing weeds.

[Berny]

Amazonia frogbits Looks good, those floating plants with long roots, But It's quite hard to find though

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[AndyPeh]

Everyday is a shrimple day shrimple day shrimple day!
Lol all the long hours of work is making me a tad cranky.

Ok back to why you even bother reading this blog. If you have not been following 2 days has past since I started up my 2ft Shrimp Tank project.
(Please please read the rest of my blog? I beckon you to if you have not! )

Today we look at me doing 2 things. The taking of necessary measurements and the important task of water change.

1st up my favorite part - Results.



Nitrate - 10ppm
Not a bad result considering there are no floating plants whatsoever. Could be like what Bro UA suggested that shrimp soil usually don't release as much ammonia (unlike ADA aqua soil)



PH Dropped Further from 6.2 - 5.9 (24 hour interval) looks like it will probably come to an eventual pH of 5.6~5.7 if I am not wrong.

I finally turned on my chiller so the temp is a nice 26.0. I held out on turning it on earlier as I think bacteria will thrive better in slightly warmer waters.

Ok with measurements out of the way the itchy hands got to work and I did my water change, before doing it I repeated the important step of releasing the potentially harmful trapped air bubbles from the soil layer as I showed yesterday.

Purpose of today's water change was to bring down the nitrate level, while 10 ppm is nothing deadly (Threshold for Shrimp keeping is 25ppm as I understand.) I decided to go through with it as previously advised when I brought my products.



Oh remember to turn off your filters and chillers. (As witnessed in the picture I realised it only mid way through)
Would be good if you have double taps for your canister filter.



Kept only around 10% - 15% of my water. I used my soil height on the amount of water I wanted to keep. level of water to match soil height level or slightly more.



Due to my little blunder I made on my set up day I topped up a little more powder soil on the top to make the top layer look better.
If you are left out on why I had to do this you did not do as advised! Haha please read Dia Uno / Day 1.
Basically this was done to cover up the bigger granules of normal soil.



According to the descriptions given I added -

• 1.5 g of SMB a water improvement bacteria
• Introduced aeration to the tank via air pump and air stone (Thing caused bursting bubbles and water everywhere annoying as hell)
• 60 ml of B-Source which is a compound of natural enzyme that improves beneficial bacteria activity.
• 12 presses (12ml) of FM100 - Natural Fulvic mineral supplement.
• 1g of BN7 & MN5

That is all! Adieu.

I have a surprise in the morning that I have been itching to do, will post then.
To those who are in the know.

Commandos are awaiting deployment.

Till tomorrow!

[AndyPeh]

Amazonia frogbits Looks good, those floating plants with long roots, But It's quite hard to find though

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Hi Bro Fozenduck if you want let me know can pass you mine have about 16-20 of them.

[Berny]

Hi Bro Fozenduck if you want let me know can pass you mine have about 16-20 of them.

Thanks for the offer, But my tank isn't ready for them yet. 1 is on dsm stage while the other doesn't have light

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[AndyPeh]

Ok no worries a Bro Brianz pm'ed me for them so will pass them to him instead! Maybe when you need it mine would have populated to have enough to give again.

[AndyPeh]

Operation Test Water (Day 2.5)
Hi Guys I thought I was damn smart with the tongue in cheek quote lol, that did not lasted very long unfortunately.
Showed it to my colleague and I explained how it was funny - She just rolled her eyes. Oh well not everyone has a funny bone.

Ok so am pretty sure many of you already could have guessed what I am up to.
But remember (quoting WWE here) - 'This is entertainment but the hazrards are real. Please do not try this at home.
Unless you do not mind sleeping shrimps with big X's on their eyes.

That being said... It is a fresh drop of 2 well trained Commando Shrimps into unknown waters early this morning!

I know its a little early to be introducing life stock so and as much as I value lives, in the name of science and being a jackass I decided to see how they would do.





The water actually cleared up when I released them in the tank but I added these.



Mineral rock that says it also absorb heavy metal in water, caused the water to turn a little cloudy but I think that would clear by the time I get home.

Alright thank god for dropbox that has made this post possible.

Andy out! Laters.

[Navanod]

Welcome to the cult. Your offerings to the gods of the cycling tank is well received

[felix_fx2]

almost walk till fall down when i read you told female colleague.
most don't even think highly of shrimp keeping.

another evil shrimp cult member....
btw, what dropbox god? picture not showing? photobucket la....

Sent from my GT-N7105

[Berny]

Oot abit: I managed to psycho my colleagues to keep shrimps and fishes few months back, they've sold their souls to the devil like us

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[AndyPeh]

Haha you know honestly till this day I haven't been good with photobucket. Will try that though. I use dropbox cause can just drag and drop all pictures from the home desktop and have it instantly on the cloud.

On the FrozenDucks comment I think I really need to say this. Good man! But not girls right? hahaha Like what bro felix said I felt stupid telling my colleague about the blog thing now the rest of the girls are asking how are my hei bi's (dried shrimps). Although they like the colours. Showed them some pics of Taiwan Bees that I dream to be able to keep and they all say very pretty. Then one said shrimps are cockroaches of the water lol.

[AndyPeh]

Day 3

Hi All,

Quick post today! Got to go spend time with the GF or run the risk of incurring wrath of a woman.
Much worst than... 2 flipping Shrimps.

Not!

Haha imagine my delight getting home and looking at these 2 happy couple (I assume, though could be gay and still be a couple.)

Anywhos this shrimps seems to be good with the water parameters grazing about nibbling soil and not doing a mad dash flying around the tank like they want to get out.

Going to stay over at the GFs house tonight so will have to keep you guys updated on more either tomorrow night or Sun.

Till then have a great weekend ahead!

[felix_fx2]

Thai table says cats love them

i normally click on "direct" , then click "Insert Image" & paste the direct link

It should look like the below. ( [IMG]picture source[/IMG] )
[ IMG ]http://static3.thaitable.com/images/ingredient/5dried-shrimp.jpg[ /IMG ]

there is a evil suggestion, make a tank at your gf's place.

[AndyPeh]

Hahaha what the love the picture! Damn random.

Bro I passed a tiny tank I made for my GF with Blue Pearls and Red Rilis and she wouldn't event bother topping it up with distilled water (or so she claims she forgot).
Ended up there were more parasitic worms in it then there were shrimps. TDS was at 1000 for that tank when I measured.
I was like gg nvm I ended up taking it back.