taking the plunge

[ometh]

So i decided to finally set up a shrimp tank. I have a 2.5 left over, pieces of wood, sponge filter, and a pico heat pad. now i'm kinda lost on which shrimp do best with our water here (just a lil reading here and there about how some do ok with hardwater and how some don't) Any advise guys?

[R_sustaita]

hehehe, Cherry is the easiest i was told.

[ometh]

hmmm me likey le cherry shrimp. I just gotta get some other things before I can buy shrimp (chemicals, maybe some more small pieces of drift wood and a light) I've never kept a planted tank before :P so what would i need?

[R_sustaita]

ok man here is got what i collected from everyone. and please if i am wrong let me know.

1 set your tank with water and cycle it for at least 2-3 weeks. or rush the cycle by adding an already used media and fish into the tank.

2 plant moss, java fern or that round ball looking plant. so they can cycle too and create algae and grow.

3 as a substrate try to use gravel or sand. your choice and in some cases aquasoil. but i couldnt find it and i have a 3.5 so i went with regular black sand.

4 the ph should be about 7.0 - 8.5 Houston's tap water is about 7.5-8.0 water temp between 72 - 83f

5 setting the wood should give them enough hiding places.

6. get good lights as the plants need good light source to grow. if you want to go crazy add co2.

i think that will be all but i may be wrong.

[eklikewhoa]

2. What do you mean "create algae" you don't want algae to grow in a planted tank. But it would be beneficial to the shrimp.

3. Choice of substrate could help with what you can keep. Some plant substrates will effectively lower pH which would bring down our city's high pH water.

4. Stable is key!

6. Stick with low light plants and you're light requirement will be more manageable.

[R_sustaita]

I cant remember who told me that algea shold b grow so the shrimp feed by it.

[Ca Nguyen]

if you don't have a cycled tank, you can keep them in a water jug temporarily. last august, i was able to keep 15 shrimps om a 1 gallon jug for over a month. i just changed half of the water every 3 days none of them die. just treat for chloramines.

imo, shrimps take to long to start the cycling process. i always have a tank that run 1 extra filter so it can be move to a new tank. but you can seed bacteria by rubbing the media together.

[R_sustaita]

yeah, tell me about it.

[ometh]

if you don't have a cycled tank, you can keep them in a water jug temporarily. last august, i was able to keep 15 shrimps om a 1 gallon jug for over a month. i just changed half of the water every 3 days none of them die. just treat for chloramines.

imo, shrimps take to long to start the cycling process. i always have a tank that run 1 extra filter so it can be move to a new tank. but you can seed bacteria by rubbing the media together.

thanks for the advise about the media. Didnt know you could that.

[R_sustaita]

yeah used media has all the good bacteria you want to transfer. but when your tight up with $ you may not have extra filters working.