Beginner's Shrimp Vase - Surface Film & Water Change or Not
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 3:13 pm
Here's a Google Photo Album of my setup: https://goo.gl/photos/45C4ZB4nDbunWsi46
I used a heavy leaded glass flower vase with Aquasolum substrate, about 1-1/2 gallons. It's been up and running since Mid October this year. No filtration or heater, lighting is a desk lamp running a 13watt CFL for 12 hours. Plants are Anubias, Wisteria, and Java Moss. I’ve been wrapping a blanket around the sides of the tank at night for warmth. I added the plants and waited a couple of weeks before adding my 1st shrimp, supposed to be a Sunkist?, and a Horned Nerite Snail. Then I added a pregnant shrimp, also supposed to be a Sunkist, 3 weeks later. She had her babies 2 days after adding her to the vase. So far I've counted 6 babies.
I'd really appreciate feedback about the following:
Should I leave surface film totally alone and only top off evaporated water as needed. Or, should I be doing a small, say 5-10% water change and if so how often? I've been experimenting with no water changes and only doing topoffs, the shrimp seem happier when I do this.
I used a heavy leaded glass flower vase with Aquasolum substrate, about 1-1/2 gallons. It's been up and running since Mid October this year. No filtration or heater, lighting is a desk lamp running a 13watt CFL for 12 hours. Plants are Anubias, Wisteria, and Java Moss. I’ve been wrapping a blanket around the sides of the tank at night for warmth. I added the plants and waited a couple of weeks before adding my 1st shrimp, supposed to be a Sunkist?, and a Horned Nerite Snail. Then I added a pregnant shrimp, also supposed to be a Sunkist, 3 weeks later. She had her babies 2 days after adding her to the vase. So far I've counted 6 babies.
I'd really appreciate feedback about the following:
Should I leave surface film totally alone and only top off evaporated water as needed. Or, should I be doing a small, say 5-10% water change and if so how often? I've been experimenting with no water changes and only doing topoffs, the shrimp seem happier when I do this.