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https://youtu.be/IzMSYm14CCU done!

I have finally got around to setting up my old Taiwan Bee shrimp tank (30L) which was shut down when I moved just over a year ago. I am using Tetra Active Substrate (clay based granules) this time, which doesn't buffer the PH but I will be using remineralised RO water once fully set/sorted. Eventually I hope to keep the Taiwan bee shrimps again but won't be rushing anything at this stage, I will see if I can get the water parameters right and try a batch of 10 (cheap) crystal red shrimp in a couple of months and see how they do for 3-6 months? I will keep the tank simpler this time with a lot less plants. The substrate is obviously releasing nutrients into the tank at this point. I added 50% RO water and 50% tap water (only using part tap water for the start up, will always use RO from this point) and next day parameters were, TDS 232 (200 the day before), GH 9, KH 6, PH 7.5 so is way off at this point but I will do a 50% RO water change in a week and hopefully it will be going in the right direction, not rushing? Tap water here is dreadfull, PH 8 TDS 300...........etc I do still have a new bag of the JBL substrate in the cupboard but decided it needs a bit too much prep for me for the moment. If it doesn't work out for the shrimps then I will get a killifish and dwarf Rasboras as I did before (or other fish that suit the parameters if they are off), but I will be taking it very slow with this tank this time. In reality it is unlikely I will have Taiwan bee shrimps before autumn even if everything goes well but hopefully there will be crystal red shrimp for the summer? I will keep testing for the 'cycle' but as the PH is likely to drop a fair bit and as discussed with beanbag on here before, that may not be as straight forward as with a 'constant parameter' tank, but anyway, no rush.

Hi Guys, Does anyone know where to buy PRL shrimps in WA, not the CRS please. Thanks Regards

I believe these to be very rare in Australia so you may even consider making it a longer term plan and produce your own by starting with the best CRS you can get as that is where the pure lines started! Depends how patient and interested in the project you are, but would save money as well? If I recall correctly it takes from 8 generations of selective breeding? They sell them at micro aquatic shop but do not ship to Western Australia, but that means they are available in Australia. https://microaquaticshop.com.au/products/pure-red-line-grade-ss-shrimp Good luck and just maybe smeone on here may point you in the right direction or be able to supply you with some.

Can I cut a bit of this and use it to create a neat in and out pipes? With neat small join to glass lily pipe ends? I guess it’s an aluminium alloy - it’s not magnetic thanks all;) have a great day

Yes it’s super accurate to position where I want now and stay there- I am satisfied. All the fish and shrimpers are doing excellent! Coming up on 4 years running!

Yeh that is the plan!

I would do it to get the Lily pipe sitting straight, instead of flopping over to one side.

It would be interesting to see what you come up with using that pipe + Lily pipe ends.

Cheers!

Interesting- thanks for the input- I also found a small bit of stainless steel tube- would you trust either more/less over pvc/plastic clear piping or glass? thanks heaps and have a great day sub

Good luck in your new tank. My only suggestion is to NEVER use tap water and always use RO + remineralizer. Many long-running tanks can suddenly get nuked due to something in the pipes. (In particular, I'm thinking of that youtube guy Foo the Flowerhorn)

One was a hospital tank that I could not be bothered maintaining any longer. The other was a fry grow out tank, which had Longfin White Cloud Mountain Minnow - Tanichthys Albonubes, that have now grown up enough to be moved into my main fish tank. I have not settled on any specific ideas yet. Maybe an Australian native tank with one variety of Blue Eye Rainbow fish. Maybe a Killifish tank.

How exciting!!! I have just decommissioned 2x 2ft tanks. Been debating with myself whether to set them up again or just leave them empty. But looking at your new tank is giving me ideas.

Update to say that after a few gravel vacs, front wall scrub, moss / floating plant trim, that the condition seems to have improved. My current theory is that it is due to waste / debris management, where "stuff" like that brown mulm accumulates in the substrate and behind the HMF filters. Maybe some tanks can somehow deal with it, but mine can't. Also another experienced shrimper suggested that maybe those "shell bugs" don't just live on the shrimps but also in this debris. Maybe this is the reason some tanks fail due to "old tank syndrome" where all they need is a good gravel vac? Also, I am guessing that plant trim helps too because now more of the nutrients and light go into growing algae instead of more plants? Well anyway for this tank I will try weekly water change and monthly gravel vac / plant trim. For my next tank, I'm thinking of something like an under-gravel system where this mulm can fall down and I vac it out.