Soil Recommendation for Shrimp Tank

**riccia** · 25th Jan 2007, 15:56

I want to set up a 2ft shrimp tank. I do not intend to use ADA (current tank using ADA) or Lapis sand with Fertiliser (use this before I switch over to ADA). IMO, ADA is not so "friendly" to shrimps. All the yamato/s I bought always "went to heaven" in my current tank with ADA which is already more than 6 months now. I have given up trying to put them in my tank again.

Any recommendation/s on what type of soil or soil with fertiliser to use?

**AquaObsession** · 25th Jan 2007, 16:22

use lapis sand. It is inert.

**Wackytpt** · 25th Jan 2007, 20:38

Did you aclimatise the shirmps properly? I have kept yamatos and cherries in ADA soil wthout any problem?

My cherries used to breed like mad in my ada soil tank

**riccia** · 26th Jan 2007, 10:17

Hi Nicholas

Care to elaborate what do you mean here by "aclimatise"? I have been using ADA since July last year. All the yamatoes I put in the tank are all dead after a month or so. I tried again in early Dec and after about 2 weeks, they are dead as well. Do you know what is wrong? Care to enlighten me on this?

**Wackytpt** · 26th Jan 2007, 10:22

How do you add in your shirmps when you bought them from the LFS?

Which method you use :

1. Do you immediately dump them into the tank?

2. You float them in the water of the tank, then after half an hour to 1 hour, slowly add water from the tank into the bag of the shirmps?

**riccia** · 29th Jan 2007, 11:36

Hi Nicholas

I never did that. I never did that when I was using Lapis sand with fertiliser as well. At that time, the yamatoes were very lively and healthy as well. Until when I transfer them to ADA, they left me one week after that. Subsequent attempt produces the same result and that is why my tank does not have any yamato at the moment.

I might want to go back to Lapis with fertiliser for all my tanks in future.

**peter2883** · 30th Jan 2007, 13:45

In general alot of people are actually using ADA soil with good results...

You need to let your newly shrimp to get accustomed to the Temp of your Tank before you let them in...

Leave the bag with the shrimps & let it float on surface so that the Temp of your tank would be the same as the water in your bag (Leave it for 15-30 mins & leave the bag open so there would be air, last step slowly add water from the tank into the bag of the shirmps?)

So when you actually release the shrimps into the tank there would not be any temp difference & hence not shock the shrimp.

Alot of the people I know who are keeping crs (Which by the way is one of the more sensitive types of shrimp) are mostly using ADA soil... So personally I do not think the subtrate is the problem just maybe the way you handled the shrimps... Try this method if you want to see the results but if it still does not work then use a different type of subtrate then...

**riccia** · 30th Jan 2007, 18:07

I will try the recommended method again with some yamatoes on my current tank this weekend. I really hope that it's not going to end the same way again.

BTW, how do you "leave the bag with the shrimps & let it float on surface so that the temperature of your tank would be the same as the water in your bag (Leave it for 15-30 mins & leave the bag open so there would be air, last step slowly add water from the tank into the bag of the shirmps?)"?

Once the bag is open, water will flow out from the bag. So how can you add water from the tank into the bag of shrimps.

Care to share? I might have misunderstood you.

**leeruisheng** · 30th Jan 2007, 23:58

You could use a cloth peg to hold the open bag to the side of the tank. And then you could add tank water into your bag.
But I dont think not acclaimatizing is the cause of death.

Did you check your NO2 and NO3? Is there good filtering system and enough plants to remove harmful ammonia (NO2)?
It could be the reason behind all your yamatos death.

Another responsible party could be your ph. What's the value? ADA soil will bring down ph significantly.

**cbong** · 31st Jan 2007, 00:02

NA boss recommended me an ADA looking soil thats inert. Dark brown, close to black coloured. Added some base fert for plants. It doing well and pH is stable.

He said it was developed in Japan for CRS.

**riccia** · 31st Jan 2007, 09:06

Thanks for ALL your advice. I will try the method of ACCLIMATIZATION this weekend. Let's see how it goes and I will inform you guys the outcome shortly.

Originally Posted by cbong

NA boss recommended me an ADA looking soil thats inert. Dark brown, close to black coloured. Added some base fert for plants. It doing well and pH is stable.

He said it was developed in Japan for CRS.

Haha... "new soil" available at NA. Have to visit Mr Chan liao...... Actually I was there 2 days ago but he was not in.

I believe it's not something that will melt away like ADA over time. Care to share the base fertilizer you are using? JBJ, JBL or ...........

**cbong** · 31st Jan 2007, 19:09

Originally Posted by riccia

Care to share the base fertilizer you are using? JBJ, JBL or ...........

Using DENNERLE as base fert. The gravel is soil based and I suspect it will breakdown like ADA, only thing is that it is inert

**Wackytpt** · 31st Jan 2007, 19:34

what new soil does NA has?

**cbong** · 31st Jan 2007, 21:29

see my earlier mail below

Originally Posted by cbong

NA boss recommended me an ADA looking soil thats inert. Dark brown, close to black coloured. Added some base fert for plants. It doing well and pH is stable.

He said it was developed in Japan for CRS.

**Wackytpt** · 31st Jan 2007, 22:46

hmm... anyone got any picture of it?

**cbong** · 31st Jan 2007, 23:16

will go back office on Friday to take one.

**lorba** · 1st Feb 2007, 00:44

For acclimatising sensitive fishes or shrimps, you can try dripping method. Drip the water from your tank drop by drop until the volume is double the original from the bag.

The dripping speed should be very slow.

**riccia** · 1st Feb 2007, 10:06

I was at NA again yesterday afternoon and was chatting with Mr Chan about this new soil. It's called RED SEA SAND if I remember correctly. The plastic packing is white in color so you cannot actually see how it looks. I was "lucky" to have a peep as the first pack have a small cut on it. Mr Chan then quickly tape it up after I told him about the leak.

IMO, the color, shape and size looks very similar to ADA. Mr Chan was telling me he is getting very good comments from satisfied buyer/s.

Originally Posted by Wackytpt

what new soil does NA has?