Newbie Thoughts on Starting a Shrimps Tank

**triggerfish** · 4th Apr 2010, 11:12

entirely new to FW but have been much fascinated with planted and schrimps tanks.

anyway, need all advises as thought of getting a jbj 12gallon tank and mainly for planted and shrimps only tanks

(1) will this 12 gallon be suitable?
(2) will the nano 1/10 or 1/15 chiller be sufficient to keep the temp under 26 degrees
(3) do i need to change the lights that came with it?
(4) what kinda substrate to be used for planted? saw quite number online and also LFS
(5) will it be sufficient to just use one of the compartments for Biohome for bacteria growth?
(6) how long to cycle prior putting in plants and shrimps?

thanks in advance.

**wenjun** · 4th Apr 2010, 17:48

To answer your questions

1) At least 20 gallon tank.

2)1/10hp (suitable for 20 gallon tank)

3) At least a T5 light. Single/double tube

4) GEX or ADA Gravels

5) Yes.

6) Cycle for at least 1month before putting in plants and shrimps.

**bettafantastic** · 4th Apr 2010, 21:17

For a start you can try out cherry shrimp.
Cheap and easy to keep, no need chiller or whatever
Cycle tank at least a month, safer, 3 months.

**kaka23** · 5th Apr 2010, 10:47

Hi,

Would like to know can the cherry shrimp, being mix in a comunity tank? I have molly, tetra, platies in my nano tank.

Thanks!

**eviltrain** · 5th Apr 2010, 10:55

Yesh they can, unless you don't intend to breed them. If not your tank must be (very ) heavily planted for the shrimplets to hide. normally hobbyist will just make a just a tank for shrimps.

**kaka23** · 5th Apr 2010, 18:08

Originally Posted by eviltrain

Yesh they can, unless you don't intend to breed them. If not your tank must be (very ) heavily planted for the shrimplets to hide. normally hobbyist will just make a just a tank for shrimps.

If I bread them, I can transfer then to a dedicated tank for them right? After breeding will then transfer back to main tank together with the fishes..

**triggerfish** · 5th Apr 2010, 20:48

thanks for all the responses, just thinking aloud, which is a better setup, i mean should i get a jbj 28G or a 2x1x1 tank with cabinet? costs wise i believe is similar, just that the latter i would need a canister filter (which i have an eheim 2213 and 2226). also, it is a better alternative if i need to connect it to a chiller ....

whereas for the jbj 28g, think the working space is rather limited. pls advise.

**zonkkie** · 6th Apr 2010, 15:14

I will go for the 2x1x1, I believe it is cheaper and you can choose the filter/lights that you want. JBJ 28G (with stand) will set you back around $900. 2x1x1 can cost $100 (with wrought iron rack) and a nice one maybe $500. Lights you can choose depending on plant (~$50) and filter on flowrate and bioload (~$150 with media).

**triggerfish** · 6th Apr 2010, 16:00

okie i have paid for the tank, chiller and stand. Now the part whereby i am kinda lost, presume i have placed the gravel and scaped the tank, do i just top it up with DI water? I read from somewhere, putting in small amount of salt actually helps, true? if so, how much to put?

I am keeping another marine reef tank, its salinity is determined by using a hydrometer, and puzzled then by how much salt is needed, pls advise. thanks

**eviltrain** · 6th Apr 2010, 16:13

you don't need any salt, you need mineral rock or old sea mud.

top up with di water slowly, not to disturb the gravel.
cycle it well ( at least 3 weeks )

main while, you only need to switch on your chiller half a day before you add your shrimps.

poison more peoples here with photos please. hahaha

**triggerfish** · 10th Apr 2010, 08:36

hi, put the ADA amazon soil and added water last night, water has been cloudy since. how long will it take to clear up? left the filter running, essential to leave lights on? pls advise.

**Tamama** · 11th Apr 2010, 19:08

For mine, it took 2 months to get the cloudy water away for ADA soil. You need to do more water change at the start. Maybe change 10% every day for the first two week if you have the time.

I was lazy, simply 10% per week. so it took 2 months to get the cloudy water away.

However the most important thing to test is the nitrite level. If it is not zero, it means your filter is not yet circulated. In this case, do not put any shrimps or snail in. They will die in days.

Try not to keep fish, especially tetra. they will eat the shrimp food and disturb the shrimps. Try to plant more mosses which will provide more natural source of food for the shrimps.

Remember not to over feed and test the ammonia/nitrite level before putting the shrimps. =)