Shrimp only tank

louieknucks · Post by **louieknucks** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:42 am

I am going to get a ten gallon tank and use it for shrimp only. I was curious on what everyone uses for their shrimp only tank. I was thinking of gravel, some rocks for hiding and java moss all over the bottom of the tank. Would the shrimp be happy in this kind of environment?

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:07 am

I am glad you have decided to go with a shrimp only tank.

All my tanks are shrimp only and I LOVE observing them.

Your setup would be fine for the shrimp (the shrimp will be happy), but you probably won't be seeing much of your shrimp since they will be hiding in the java moss (until they reproduce and take over the tank that is). I suggest that you drop the java moss (maybe a little on some rock is ok). Instead...you should get some floating plants, which still allow you to see your shrimp when your shrimp are hanging on the plants. The rocks are fine too, since some algae will grow on them which the shrimp will graze on.

I personally use a pretty thin (not too thin) layer of sand as a bottom substrate (playsand from home depot) but you can use gravel.

Also, make sure that you have some type of sponge filter or sponge on the intake of your filter so the baby shrimp don't get sucked in.

Did you read my article about keeping shrimp in the Articles section? It's all detailed there.

Mustafa

beckypyyeung · Post by **beckypyyeung** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:10 am

Snap ! My tank is a 10-gallon one, with some gravels, rocks, a filter, Java Moss, one plant (I don't know the name in English), some duckweed and a little hiding place. As far as I feel, they're living happily.

louieknucks · Post by **louieknucks** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:17 am

Yeah I have read your article Mustafa good stuff. I think I will get some sand and try that out. I only wanted to use gravel because my other tank is heavily planted and I don't like using sand for it. I will probably get some of that frogbit from you for a floating plant. I'll get everything today and start cycling the tank.

louieknucks · Post by **louieknucks** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:41 am

Also, what is a recommended sponge filter to buy and use?

thezone · Post by **thezone** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:26 am

my first shrimp only tank is a heavily planted 5 gallon with java ferns, java moss, rotala indica and crypty parva which was all originally a biotope for dwarf puffers i didn't get any and got hooked onto shrimp. When your tank is heavily planted you'll have lots of fun trying to just count them (lots of worrying too because you can't find them all). My newly bought set up will be a 10g with eco-complete i'm thinking of either riccha and some rocks or a heavily planted tank depending on what kind of shrimp i'm going to get and a sponge filter

cro117 · Post by **cro117** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:02 am

is no filter ok? or do shrimp enjoy a slight curent?

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:31 pm

cro117 wrote:is no filter ok? or do shrimp enjoy a slight curent?

They don't care much for a current. Although they can take some curren, most algae eating shrimp don't like getting swept away. No filter is only ok if you have tons of plants and do more than regular water changes.

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:32 pm

louieknucks wrote:Also, what is a recommended sponge filter to buy and use?

Any sponge filter or sponge intake is ok. The aim here is to keep young shrimp from getting sucked into the filter. Any filter, pre-filter or sponge intake that accomplishes that goal will do.

Mustafa

amber2461 · Post by **amber2461** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:10 pm

[quote="Mustafa"]I personally use a pretty thin (not too thin) layer of sand as a bottom substrate (playsand from home depot) but you can use gravel.

Hey Mustafa

Would you by chance remember what brand was the playsand that you purchased from Home Depot?? I was thinking of setting another tank; but this time something smaller rather than a 10 gallon, maybe a just a five and let the tank cycle and then think about putting the shrimps in .. much later, maybe will start during Spring cos this way I won't need the heater as the house is nice and warm and with the tank placed near the window, there would be some algae which would also be nice for the tank.

Thanks for the prompt reply but if you can't remember then would you recommend just any playsand from Home Depot then?

Cheers
Marge

beckypyyeung · Post by **beckypyyeung** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:14 pm

I'm curious to know how to clear their poop if there is no filter in the tank. I'm thinking about a small shrimp-only tank, but I don't have the space to connect any electrical equipment. It'll be good news to me if a filter is not a MUST so that I can find a place for a small tank.

Here in Hong Kong a shop is selling a kind of ball-shaped eternal soil (each about 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter). It's claimed that it's bio-soil and no water change is required. It's claimed that it's eternal and no water is necessary at all. It's claimed that the soil can absorb all the unwanted substance. However, it sounds unbelievable and it's too expensive (US$50 each medium bag)

amber2461 · Post by **amber2461** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:25 pm

Hey Becky

Ouch ... not only are you unsure about the soil but at that price I am sure that you can buy tons of seamless tanks with filters and lights as well.

I know that in Malaysia a lot of those kinds of soil are being sold and it makes no sense to me either irregardless of what they (the LFS) claim that the soil would do for the tank.

louieknucks · Post by **louieknucks** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 7:53 am

amber2461 wrote:
Hey Mustafa

Would you by chance remember what brand was the playsand that you purchased from Home Depot?? I was thinking of setting another tank; but this time something smaller rather than a 10 gallon, maybe a just a five and let the tank cycle and then think about putting the shrimps in .. much later, maybe will start during Spring cos this way I won't need the heater as the house is nice and warm and with the tank placed near the window, there would be some algae which would also be nice for the tank.

Thanks for the prompt reply but if you can't remember then would you recommend just any playsand from Home Depot then?

Cheers
Marge

I got a bag yesterday from Home Depot. It is the only kind they had and the bag was just labeled as Play Sand.

Post by **Mustafa** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:00 am

amber2461 wrote:
Hey Mustafa

Would you by chance remember what brand was the playsand that you purchased from Home Depot??

Thanks for the prompt reply but if you can't remember then would you recommend just any playsand from Home Depot then?

Cheers
Marge

Hi Marge!

I still have a bag of that sand here. It really does not have any brand name on it. It just says "Play Sand -- Sanitized for use in Sand Boxes"

However, any type of play sand for use in sand boxes will do since it's supposed to be safe for children (who like to take sand in their mouths). Just make sure that you wash the sand until no dirty water flows from the bucket. Rinsing 2-3 times should be enough.

It's cheap to use Play Sand as a substrate, too. I payed about $2.80 for a 50 pound bag.

Take care,
Mustafa

TKD · Post by **TKD** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 10:36 am

Hi amber2461,

You mention that you want to put the new aquarium near the window with out a heater?

That is a bad idea as there will be temperature extremes, especially if the sun hits it directly.

Putting the aquarium some were it gets indirect sunlight would be best.

TKD