Healthy shrimp aquarium

[Sprae]

I've always wondered what's deemed as a healthy shrimp tank. What are the signs and elements that tells a shrimp keeper all is going well?

 

Personally, the only things I gauge a healthy tank are as follows;

• Regular breeding cycles (min. monthly berried shrimps)
• Good and consistent colouring of shrimps
• Regular moulting
• Regular activity and feeding behaviours

 

What I have done less is care about water parameters, unless one of the things above changes. I'm interested to see what other breeds do and monitor their tanks. 

Edited October 8, 2014 by Sprae

[jayc]

Signs of a healthy tank:

apart from those you have mentioned...

• An acceptable layer of green algae growth (on the back or sides of the tank). It's really biofilm we want, but I can't see biofilm. 
• No funky smells
• No scum film on the surface
• I've come to rely on TDS readings a lot more. It will give me a quick indication of what KH/GH is (Indication only. Still need to test for the real value).  
• Sometimes I gauge plant health/growth. Specifically for Potassium (K) levels. Plants are not the only ones that need potassium. Apart from Calcium, potassium is the 3rd most abundant mineral in the body. I'll dose my own premix of Ca:Mg:K. Similar to Salty Shrimp, but I don't know if SS uses potassium.
• shrimplets and juvies !!

Signs of an unhealthy tank (for me):

• Blue Green Algae, Staghorn, or Black Beard Algae 
• Hair and String algae is not as bad but it's more of an annoyance and can get out of control quickly
• Low water movement (low oxygen)
• surface scum (low surface agitation and too much iron or protein waste)

Edited October 8, 2014 by jayc

[fishmosy]

Agree completely with what has been said so far.

Also add:

Low numbers/absence of planaria.

Low numbers of seed shrimp.

Low numbers of nematode worms

[fishmosy]

Also low numbers or absence of snails, unless of course you want them there. That said, snails basically compete with your shrimp for food. So if the snails are doing well, maybe you are overfeeding.

Edited October 8, 2014 by fishmosy

[Sprae]

Agreed with Jayc!

 

I've got thick biofilm on sides and back of my tank, especially shrimplets loves it. My flame moss is overgrown but don't mind it.

 

TDS is tough to manage. I've got high TDS and continuously battle it with fortnightly 20-30% WC on 50% lower TDS remineralised RO water.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Sprae