low tech 18L mountain/cliff setup for shrimps

[furyprix]

Hi bros, I have finally found sometime to embark on my 2nd aquascape! Below are the proposed specifications and I have attached the photos of the hardscape. Comments are welcomed!

Tank: 40x25x18 (18L)
low-tech (no CO2 or ferts)
Substrate: ADA amazonia mixed with Gex (plant and shrimp)
Light: Undecided - probably beamswork or up-aqua LED, aiming for a total of 6-12W
Filtration: Gex fat HOF (S) - 260L/H
Fan: Gex aquacool (S)
Fauna: red cherry shrimps will be introduced at early stage as commandos, planning to switch to low-normal grade golden bees thereafter
Flora: monte carlo

I would like to seek some consensus on whether to put sand at the front or aquasoil (grow monte carlo carpet). My main concern is whether the plant will carpet decently since it is a low tech setup. Thanks!

[limz_777]

sand in front will look better

[ZacNg]

You would have to consider the GH and KH increase by your stones. Try to do the vinegar test first on your stones to make sure. My ADA Koke stones increase my GH by quite a bit so have to remove it in order to keep my shrimps.

[Phillipians]

Without CO2, this scape doesnt work with Monte Carlo. If no CO2, its best with moss and ferns and probably crypts. However, I dont see it actually complementing your scape.
Your will look nice with monte carlo and probably some short stem plants placed at the back or if you want a wild look, moss in between rocks looks pretty decent too.

[furyprix]

You would have to consider the GH and KH increase by your stones. Try to do the vinegar test first on your stones to make sure. My ADA Koke stones increase my GH by quite a bit so have to remove it in order to keep my shrimps.

well, the stones aren't exactly inert afterall. does it affect shrimpkeeping that much? and ideas to solve this issue without removing the stones? I have another 2ft scape with a significant amount of stones, but I have never bothered to check kh and gh and it has been doing well with shrimps, fishes and plants. But that's probably because there alot more water to buffer the effect..

[furyprix]

Without CO2, this scape doesnt work with Monte Carlo. If no CO2, its best with moss and ferns and probably crypts. However, I dont see it actually complementing your scape.
Your will look nice with monte carlo and probably some short stem plants placed at the back or if you want a wild look, moss in between rocks looks pretty decent too.

I'll try to plant more densely at the start, without CO2 they should survive? But just now creep that much? I can dose excel if I want to, or maybe even a small DIY CO2 if I really require CO2 to keep them alive.. The reason for not wanting to put CO2 is to not alter the parameters that much for the shrimps to thrive

[ZacNg]

If the stones increase GH by too much it will affect the molting of the shrimps. My stones have caused my GH to rise from 5 to 16 within 3 days resulting in shrimps death. In the end I took out the main stone and added a bonsai tree. You can also try Borneowild Humic as it says it is able to buffer GH to 5-6 but if you do that you might have to change the Humic more often.

With CO2, you can crank it up during the initial cycling stage together with your plants so that they can carpet faster. After you introduce your shrimps, you can lower it down, it will affect the growth of the plants but at least there would not be much death with the shrimps. I did this method for my tank and so far so good. Initially was 3bps now is 1 bubble per 5 seconds. Also note that Monte Carlo would not absorb CO2 that quickly so you might need other plants to quickly absorb the CO2 before it reaches a dangerous amount for the shrimps.

[Urban Aquaria]

The monte carlo can carpet in non-Co2 injected tanks... just that its growth rate would be much slower so you'll need to wait alot longer for it to fill in.

Agree with the rest on the effect of the rocks on water parameters, especially with a high ratio of rocks vs the water volume. Though if you are keeping the more hardy shrimp types (ie. cherry shrimps), they can adapt to it if the changes are gradual over a period of time.

[Watcher]

Very informative for beginners like me exploring 'carpetting'. Thanks for sharing.

[furyprix]

The monte carlo can carpet in non-Co2 injected tanks... just that its growth rate would be much slower so you'll need to wait alot longer for it to fill in.

Agree with the rest on the effect of the rocks on water parameters, especially with a high ratio of rocks vs the water volume. Though if you are keeping the more hardy shrimp types (ie. cherry shrimps), they can adapt to it if the changes are gradual over a period of time.

what about small fishes such a raboras? pardon me because I haven't really explored the effects of GH and KH on livestock

[ZacNg]

On fishes it should not be a problem so long it is a gradual increase. Did not see any fishes in my tanks die of increase in GH or KH so far.

[furyprix]

Thanks for all the helpful inputs! For lights, I have gotten a beamswork 24*0.5W clamp-on. (pretty overkill for a low-tech but it doesnt seem very bright when i switch it on...)

I've decided to do a 1-2 weeks DSM for the monte carlo. I have also removed the biggest rock (could only remove one piece to not significantly alter the scape). Will get a test kit 1week after flooding and test the parameters before i start to introduce CRS into the tank.

[Urban Aquaria]

Try to plant more MC so that the initial density is higher from the start, so you don't have to wait so long for it to create a full carpet.

As you don't have a barrier of rocks at the front to hold back the soil, just cut out a long narrow strip from a flexible clear plastic sheet and place it between the soil and sand, can curve it to fit the shape of the soil bank, that will help to prevent both substrates from mixing together.

[furyprix]

Try to plant more MC so that the initial density is higher from the start, so you don't have to wait so long for it to create a full carpet.

As you don't have a barrier of rocks at the front to hold back the soil, just cut out a long narrow strip from a flexible clear plastic sheet and place it between the soil and sand, can curve it to fit the shape of the soil bank, that will help to prevent both substrates from mixing together.

will look into the barrier when i buy my sand.. as for the initial planting, there was only 1 pack left when i went down today thats where the DSM comes in, to let it grow significant mass before flooding the tank