My shrimp tanks

[bulrush]

My shrimp tanks.
All tanks: pH 7.2, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrates unknown.

#1: 10g with CFL light in cheap metal funnel base. Light blue gravel, java moss. 1 small sponge filter, 1 dual sponge filter. About 70+ red cherry shrimp, 1 ghost shrimp, 2 macrobrachium shrimp.

#2: 10g with halogen light in cheap metal funnel base. Sand base. Flat and warped piece of rock, some plastic plants, cabomba. HOB filter with intake covered by mesh screen used on washing machine output hoses. I use MTS to stir up the sand and eat anaerobic bacteria. 50+ red cherry shrimp, 2 ghost shrimp.

#3: 2.5g with 3 RCS. No substrate, homemade bubble filter from 3" PVC. CFL light provides many watts per gallon so algae is growing well.

#4: 10g with light blue substrate, 1 corner bubble filter. 4 RCS so far.

#5. 6.6g with natural stone substrate. No light. HOB filter.


What I have learned.

- RCS multiply rapidly.
- Java moss grows fast with lots of light, but the minimum amount of light it requires is low.
- RCS can jump out of nets sometimes but they can survive 2-3 minutes out of water.
- Indian dwarf puffers don't bother the shrimp unless the IDP is starving.
- Macrobrachium shrimp don't really bother the RCS unless one dies. Then the macro gladly cleans up.
- MTS stirs up the sand very well, and also they seem to eat the black anaerobic bacteria that grows under the sand. They multiply readily, though not too rapidly.
- RCS eat flake food, shrimp pellets, and sinking pellets. They do not like algae wafers, which are 90% wheat and corn fillers. I VERIFIED TURTLE FOOD CONTAINS COPPER. Do not feed to inverts. Check all food labels to make sure it does not contain copper.
- RCS have both grown well in tanks 1 & 2 for 5 months. The other tanks are newer.

[The Fisherman]

Thanks for posting Bulrush, interesting info as well.

Although, it really depends on the personallity of the dwarf puffer. Some will attack shrimp, others won't. Depends on the induvidual.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

[Neonshrimp]

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I might try a couple of your ideas.

Thanks

[JohnPaul]

I'm curious, in both tanks 1 and 2 you have one (or two) ghost shrimp. Is that an accident, or is there some reason to have one or two ghosts in a RCS tank?