journal Nano shrimp tank - Mischlings and TBs

[Sprae]

As some of you may know, I have limited space, budget and time so I decided to get a nano Fluval Edge tank last year. Initially I had no idea what to get, maybe tetras or guppies. But as I started cycling my tank, a friend gave me some anubias, java moss and a cherry shrimp. It was fun watching it in the tank and decide to try out shrimps. Cutting the story short I've since become a shrimp addict.

I've had gone through lot's of problems and shrimp keeping has a steep learning curve (as most of you know). But recently I've finally began to grasp keeping sensitive shrimps like CRS/CBS and maintaining a nano tank with the thanks to many of you in various shrimps forums.

Today there are around 40 shrimps in the tank. Mostly CRS, a few CBS, some cherries and small mix of native Darwin Red Nose and Darwin Algae shrimps. There's around 5 moss types in there too.

Here are some of the photos of my tank.

Currently I have 4 berried shrimps (3 CRS, 1 CBS). Shrimplet survival is still no great, around 20-30% but I'm happy they're breeding!

I'm planning to get a chiller before summer hits and will always appreciate any advice for a shrimp noob like me.

[Sprae]

A bit sad today as I found one of my berried CRS dead. She was quite stressed last night and hoped she would be ok, but obviously not. This is the first loss in over 3 months, I suppose that's been a good run. I'm thinking that as this is her first time being berried she just couldn't deal with it. I did a full water test last night with the following results;

GH = 5

KH = 2

Ammonia = 0

Nitrate = 0

Nitrite = 0

pH = 5.9-6.0

TDS = 166

Temp = 21-22c

The other shrimps all looking fine and active so I hope she will be the only one for the rest of the week. If another one dies, then I'll investigate further.

[Loach]

Do you have a copper test kit?

[fzha8447]

nice setup mate. is it hard to trim the moss?

[Sprae]

Do you have a copper test kit?

Nope. But I don't think there's anything I've added that may have cooper.

[Sprae]

nice setup mate. is it hard to trim the moss?

Once a month trimming down the java moss. Other moss aren't as fast growing so I rarely trim others.

[durro68]

That is a sweet looking little tank you got there Sprae!

[Sprae]

That is a sweet looking little tank you got there Sprae!

Thanks mate. It's been going well until recently.

[Loach]

Nope. But I don't think there's anything I've added that may have cooper.

Just in case :). I got an API one from petstock for $10.

[Gbang]

you beauty! great tank. sorry about the loss bro but it happens hey. great run before that! any chance the tds might be a little bit too high? i can't remember the optimum parameters. was it 100-150?

[Sprae]

you beauty! great tank. sorry about the loss bro but it happens hey. great run before that! any chance the tds might be a little bit too high? i can't remember the optimum parameters. was it 100-150?

Happy with the high TDS :)

I want to keep a stable range between 120-180 if possible. I think there's no much issue with TDS unless it's over 250+? Read that Dean had his shrimps breeding in 200-400 TDS ~!

[HexaD]

Hey Sprae, I had some issues with my shrimplets and adults surviving too, it was only up until recently that I stopped feeding them for two weeks to clear any planaria and let them "detox" on the micro organisms on the moss.

Only reason is looking at your last pic, I can't help but think that's a lot food for such a small tank and population.

Nowadays I only feed once or twice every week with a very very small amount of food (mostly breaking the retail food into approx 1/4 size). And clearing up any that they cannot finish in 3 hours. Since then, I have been getting very good results. Hope this helps if you cannot find any other solutions!

[Sprae]

Hey Sprae' date=' I had some issues with my shrimplets and adults surviving too, it was only up until recently that I stopped feeding them for two weeks to clear any planaria and let them "detox" on the micro organisms on the moss.

Only reason is looking at your last pic, I can't help but think that's a lot food for such a small tank and population.

Nowadays I only feed once or twice every week with a very very small amount of food (mostly breaking the retail food into approx 1/4 size). And clearing up any that they cannot finish in 3 hours. Since then, I have been getting very good results. Hope this helps if you cannot find any other solutions![/quote']

Thanks for that HexaD as I might do that soon. I'm feeding every other day but no food remains over 3 hours as I'll remove them. But agree there's a lot of moss in there and with the green spot algae everywhere, I'll move to feeding every 3 days and then skip feeding for a week and see if that's ok.

[Sprae]

Here's my peacock moss wall starting to grow out. I think this will get lush in a few months time.

The other update is I've switched to top ups with mineralised RO water only. Still tweak how I like the water but for now it's got the following;

TDS 120

GH 5-6

KH 0

pH 5.6

Going to stop water changes for a while and see how that goes. Still have a few berried shrimps and surviving shrimplets around.

[Dean]

that moss wall will look great once it grows in. i would just trim all the longest ones always to keep it nice and think/bushy. the shrimp will love it

[Sprae]

Had a death last night - CRS Grade A male. He's one of my biggest male in the tank too.

Did all test and everything was stable;

TDS 156

GH 5

KH 2

pH 5.9

No ammonia or nitrate readings either. There's no other deaths today though, so I'm guessing aged?

[Sprae]

Just a quick update - no more deaths, another batch of shrimplets has been drop today. Awaiting 4-5 more batches of shrimplets

[Sprae]

One of my only 2 CBS died this morning and she was heavily berried :crushed:

I'm a bit shattered right now. It's another first-timer berried shrimp dying. Just not sure what to do about it. The other CBS which is also berried looks fine and it's her second time.

I probably jinxed myself in last night's post!

[HexaD]

Sorry for your loss, did you try Gbang's method to salvage the eggs?

[Sprae]

Sorry for your loss' date=' did you try Gbang's method to salvage the eggs?[/quote']

Wish I was awake when she died. By the time I saw it, all the eggs were gone. Shrimps seems to like to eat the eggs first!

[Sprae]

Another recently berried shrimp - sorry for the bad mobile photo :P

I seriously need to get a macro lens! This is getting embrassing

[lachie1998]

very nice! you will get some awsome shrimplets from her:cool-new:

[Sprae]

It's been a bad week as 1 SS and my last adult CBS has both died. The SS male was my largest one and may have died of age. My big CBS female died after providing 3-4 batches of shrimps (god bless her). She died a day after moulting so I'm not sure of the real cause.

There are lots of shrimplets and still a couple berried at the moment. My last checked on water parameters is all good though.

No ammonia, nitrate, nitrite

TDS 160

pH 5.8-6.0

GH 5

KH 2

[Sprae]

Just got my macro lens, so here are some of the test shots without any flash and just hand-held. :redface-new:

[Loach]

Nice pics! Are you planning on getting the flash too?