Welcome Spongy

[sdlTBfanUK]

7 hours ago, jayc said:

LOL, no don't stop.

You will never learn new things if you don't ask, question or test. Sometimes just a conversation can lead to other topics that no one else anticipated.

I agree with JayC, don't stop! If Blue ridge hadn't mentioned about the books I wouldn't have looked and ordered the one I had wanted for sometime..................

I also thought this tank was for brackish water? Depending on what you are hoping to keep in this tank the dragon stone would be the one to be cautious of? The glass, pebbles and slate should be fine?

Simon

Edited August 24, 2019 by sdlTBfanUK

[jayc]

1 hour ago, sdlTBfanUK said:

I also thought this tank was for brackish water?

So did I.

You suddenly have more tanks than I can keep up with ?

[Spongy]

Yeah, we have the original 28l tank, which we removed Mum from, we have the 11l tank she is currently in. We have a 2 litre tank which be brackish and used by the babies until Mum has finished dumping her load (then we'll make that brackish and put the babies in there), then I have an empty 250l "Shrimptopia" with nothing in it. x

[Spongy]

Why is dragon stone an issue? I thought that would be the okay one! x

 

[Blue Ridge]

In a brackish tank dragon stone should be fine. I think what was being discussed is what my experience with it has been as well -it raises KH and pH of your water. I've yet to get my hands on any that could pass the acid test. Shame too, because it's a beautiful stone and I'd love to use it in my Caridina tanks.

[Spongy]

Yeah, it's stunning. Our kh is really high anyway but we haven't noticed any spikes in "Shrimptopia" yet, but there is nothing in there at the mo. x

 

[Spongy]

Well. Nearly the other half's payday. Here's what I'm getting, hopefully over a couple of weeks this will reduce the KH somewhat: Almond leaves, Java moss and a few Anubus plant (which I'm not planting, just attaching). x

 

Oh, has anyone tried red bricks in their tanks? What thinking about getting a couple and making "Shrimp Tower" lol. x

 

[Spongy]

I know I'm going cheesy, but if you knew me. Lol. x

 

[jayc]

2 hours ago, Spongy said:

red bricks

Nah. Apart from its visual appearance, it should work, if the brick is made of clay.

But test it to be sure.

You know the mandatory pictures is required, right?

i am curious now.

[sdlTBfanUK]

11 hours ago, Spongy said:

Well. Nearly the other half's payday. Here's what I'm getting, hopefully over a couple of weeks this will reduce the KH somewhat: Almond leaves, Java moss and a few Anubus plant (which I'm not planting, just attaching). x

 

Oh, has anyone tried red bricks in their tanks? What thinking about getting a couple and making "Shrimp Tower" lol. x

 

I think Amano shrimp are fine with a high KH, GH and PH, they are used by lots of fish aquarium keepers with vastly different conditions because of this? Is your KH really that high that you need to do anything?

For the red bricks, put some water in a bucket and measure all the parameters, then add the brick and retest the parameters a week later, that should tell you if it will affect the parameters - allow for any evaporation in this heat of course.........

Simon

[Spongy]

1 hour ago, sdlTBfanUK said:

I think Amano shrimp are fine with a high KH, GH and PH, they are used by lots of fish aquarium keepers with vastly different conditions because of this? Is your KH really that high that you need to do anything?

For the red bricks, put some water in a bucket and measure all the parameters, then add the brick and retest the parameters a week later, that should tell you if it will affect the parameters - allow for any evaporation in this heat of course.........

Simon

Cool, will do. Thanks Simon. x

[Spongy]

Well, I think our plans are going to change. Once Mum pops, we'll pop her back with her buddy and turn the water in the 11l tank brackish, very slowly. I'm trying to emulate the life cycle. Can't be long now, she can't get much bigger!  The survivors will be the first inhabitants of "Shrimptopia". Lol, x

 

[Spongy]

Mum has popped. I must say, there must be well over 100 babies. Thankfully a small yield, but then I guess my odds are worse for survivors. 

We have moved Mum back into the main tank. Her partner must have missed her, he was riding around on her back. Lol.

The babies are now in brackish water. Fingers (and everything really) crossed. 

Picture attached, although all you can see are white dots. Lol. They are all moving about. x

Edited September 4, 2019 by Spongy
Added a picture

[jayc]

2 hours ago, Spongy said:

he was riding around on her back.

LOL!

Keep us updated Spongy. 

What are you planning on feeding them?

[sdlTBfanUK]

Great news I hope it continues to work out. I read yesterday that an amano can carry up to 2000 eggs? The book says they need salinity of 25g per litre. Larvae eat Liquizell or similar it says, whether that is any help I don't know.

If you can get this working you might be able to make some money as these shrimps are probably the most used in the majority of fish aquariums?

Simon

edit - I found this which seems very informative. I get yeast powder and spirulina powder readily from sainsburys if that helps.

http://aquariumbreeder.com/amano-shrimp-detailed-guide-care-diet-and-breeding/

Edited September 5, 2019 by sdlTBfanUK

[jayc]

Also check out Brineshrimpdirect.com for food that can be used.

https://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/algae-pastes/

Ideally, you'd want to start feeding from day 2 onwards. that's when the egg sac is depleted.

 

Edited September 7, 2019 by jayc

[Spongy]

We are cheating a little, we swiped a load of algae from our main tank and squeezed it in the baby one. We've crushed up a flake or two though the day too. They are still darting about and seem to be content. x 

 

[Crabby]

i think with flakes it would be a better size if you actually just used the dust that's left on your fingers after feeding flakes to ur other shrimp... idk tho just a suggestion

[jayc]

I don't really think flake food, crushed or not, would work. If it was that simple more people would have bred amano shrimps.

Get some spirulina powder. Or some TETRASELMIS ALGAE PASTE.

[Spongy]

We bought spirulina powder in the end, and sadly it is the end. I feel rotten. We've cleaned out the baby tank.

Dad isn't giving Mum a moments rest! 

I was so sad, but.... we've never done this before and our hand was kind of forced (I couldn't not try!). 

Shrimptopia is gonna have to have noobs. x

[jayc]

The Amano babies didn't survive?☹️

[Grubs]

I've had some success raising Aus native shrimp larvae in saline water by adding greenwater but never been able to get any prepared foods they would take.  I think the problem with spirulina powder is the particles are still too big.  Tetraselmis might work (have not tried although I have tried some reef cultures that should include it).  Even using green water the species of algae that is making the water green is important as some green water will be algae cells that are simply too big and the larvae starve to death.  As an estimate I've attempted to hatch DAS and C. typus larvae maybe 50-60 times and have been successful less than 10 times.    Its hard work so don't feel too bad if the Amano's didn't make it.  Great that you had a crack at it.... maybe next time!  If you have access to an estuary or naturally green pond try that next time.

[Spongy]

4 hours ago, jayc said:

The Amano babies didn't survive?☹️

No, I'm a bad Mum. I gave it my best, I was very hopeful. 

As my male Amano isn't hanging about I'm going to get things prepped for round 2. x

[jayc]

Good to see you Grubs. That's some valuable info.

[sdlTBfanUK]

Sorry to hear it didn't work but it was a real 'shot in the dark'!

Glad to hear you are going to give it another go though as you have everything ready now.

Would a bucket of 'water change' water left outside produce the right sort of 'green water' to feed the larvae maybe?

Simon