Community Tank Setup

[Chiquarius]

Hello,

I’ve got two tank systems setup for neos, dwarf Mexican crayfish, different snails, and Cory cats. I am preparing to transition one of the systems to accommodate crystal shrimp or alternatively sulawesi if the parameters are unacceptable. 

I would love to hear thoughts on whether these companions/parameters seem feasible to sustaining populations:

14 gallón setup -

KH - 2, GH - 6, PH - 6.8

Crystal red/PRL or panda shrimp, blue dream neos, Mexican CPO crayfish, 2 nerite snails for algae, maybe Cory cats?

8 gallon setup -

KH - 5, GH - 8, PH - 7.6

Red rili neos, mystery snails, rabbit snails, Cory cats (I think, if not I’ll keep the crayfish here), I will keep Cuttlebone for the snails here.

Does this sound like it will be successful to you experienced keepers?

[Chiquarius]

I should mention that the crystal/Sulawesi tank setup will be well Filtered and have an active substrate. I know this will be important.

 

[jayc]

If you plan on having mixed species in each tank, then it's very hard for us to agree with those water parameters.

It's either going to be at the upper limits for one shrimp and the lowest limits of the other.

That's probably why I end up with so many tanks ?

[sdlTBfanUK]

Neither tank is probably suited to sulawesi shrimps but the 14 gallon may be worth trying crystal reds/blacks? Tiger shrimp are easier and probably better suited to the 14 gallon tank but the parameters aren't that extreme that I wouldn't try crystals (neocaridina fine also) if those are what you want. The 8 gallon is only suitable for neocaridina and that would be because they are easier to keep and more adaptable as the parameters are still a bit high for them, though I am guessing the neocaridina are in that tank already anyway? 

Not sure if this answers your question?

Simon

[Chiquarius]

Yes! That is very helpful.

The 14 gallon tank definitely would meet the neos at their lower limit and crystals at their upper limit. I have just read mixed recommendations on whether they tolerate any KH.

The other tank I wanted to make suitable KH for snails to breed and keep the neos happy.

I didn’t do much research on the Sulawesi. With those parameters (14g), I just wasn’t sure if they might be more tolerant than crystals.

Thanks for the input.

[sdlTBfanUK]

There are different commercial minerals you can use for sulawesi shrimp with RO water, but I haven't had/tried those shrimps!

I would give it a go with the crystals in the 14g if you want too, do long acclimating though. The KH isn't too bad at 2 whereby it isn't worth a try anyway. There may be small changes you can do to reduce the KH slightly? Do you know where the KH comes from, is it just the tap water part that is left in the tank, if so water changes will reduce it slowly? Are you using RO (zerowater) water now as caridina will need that (mineralised)?

If you are using drop KH test, try this:

Usually you put 5ml water in the test tube and then each droplet = 1. If you put 10ml of water in the test tube each drop will be .5. If you put 20ml in the test tube each drop will be .25. This way you can get a more accurate idea of the KH and you don't need to do this each time, just to give you a better idea. With the 5ml water 2 drops must be 2 or above, but below 3 (in theory) which is quite a range.  This obviously uses more test fluid so you won't probably want to do it every time but this would be a good opportunity.

Simon

Edited March 10, 2020 by sdlTBfanUK

[jayc]

The water parameters for Sulawesi shrimps is a lot easier to match compared to bee shrimp.

They like high pH 8.0+, so just add lots or rocks and use dechlorinated tap water. They also like the temps hot 28deg C. 

That's why you can't mix Sulawesi shrimps with other shrimps. The temps alone will kill other species.