What do I need to start a new shrimps tank?

[doppelbanddwarf]

Hi i'm completely new to shrimp-keeping. I intend to setup a 1ft shrimps tank with low grade diamond shrimps.
Tank will be a simple, with fine sand and windelov ferns tied to driftwoods. No CO2 and only a 15W table lamp.

I've quite a few questions to ask:

1 Should i use Sera Super Peat to make the water acidic? Will it be too acidic?
2 Do i need to add coral chips?
3 Would a small handon filter with sponge attach to the inlet be enough?
4 Can i keep boraras sp with diamond shrimps?
5 What food should i feed the shrimps with?

Any comments would be welcome. Thanks.

[EvolutionZ]

1. You can use ada soil as subtract, it help lower down the pH too
2. not very sure.. but i never add
3. yes, a hang on filter will be enough, but a canister filter will be better
4. if you wan shrimplets, best is to keep only oto with shrimps
5. shirmps eat almost anything.. i feed mine Frozen blood worm and algae waffer..
=)

[doppelbanddwarf]

Hmm i was thinking of not using ADA soil. Wanted to have those very fine white sand.

[gummynut]

you should need at least a fan to keep the water cool. shrimps like cool water.

[zeloc87]

Hi there, Crs like water ph around 6.5/6.6, so i suppose if you're not gonna use ada, sera super peat is fine? You may want to invest in a fan to keep your water cool, as well as good biological filtration = p For my own table top 1.5ft tank, i use eheim liberty hang on? But inside i use Biohome plus and eheim subtrate pro = p

[leeruisheng]

Hmm i was thinking of not using ADA soil. Wanted to have those very fine white sand.

mmm.. white sand? It will not give a good contrast I feel.

As for peat, use small quantity at a time and monitor the pH. It takes time to realize it's pH lowering effect. FYI it will brown the water.

[doppelbanddwarf]

Hmm seems like white sand with Sera super peat is not a good idea. Which of the ADA soil will bring out the contrast better? Malayan or Amazonia.

[illumnae]

amazonia seems to be the recommended form of ADA soil =) i had to specially get africana ordered in for me cuz cause no one had 4.5li packs of it haha

all the best for your shrimp tank! btw what's your ph at? my friend started a shrimp tank with 7.6 tap ph, used blackwater extract and got it to 7.2 then added activated carbon to the filter and it dropped to 6.8, which is suitable for shrimp

[doppelbanddwarf]

I've never really checked my pH.

[illumnae]

try measuring your ph...if you can achieve 6.4-6.8 without using ADA soil, you don't need to get the soil, and not just save $$ but also get the look you desire and no worries about soil breaking up etc.

i have an apisto tank that for reasons unknown maintains itself at 4.5-5 ph, no ADA soil at all. i wish i knew how i achieved such a low ph...i'm forced to use ADA for my next apisto tank (i'm starting to catch the fever slightly) as i can't confidently replicate this =) if given a choice i'd much rather use another type of substrate that to me looks nicer (i've fallen in love with the cheap black sand sold in C32...but alas i can't =\

[leeruisheng]

Doesn't need to be ADA soil. Could be any brand of dark colour or black gravel. Growing moss on the substrate also looks good with crs. Of course these are just my views. Can take a look at this nice setup http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=288676