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Some shots of a male Macrobrachium cf. tolmerum from a coastal creek near Cairns

That's almost certainly a moulting issue. You can still see it's shell that it's trying to get out of. How are your water parameters, especially TDS, and GH.

My (countable) shrimp population has doubled over the last week. Previously I could count a max of about 30 at any given time, however it's now at about 60 including shrimplettes. How much is too much? I don't want them to starve, or steal all the algae so that the oto's have nothing to eat.

Not really appropriate for a small filter system. They need to be moving all the time as in a sump system to work to their full potential as they are designed to rub against each other and bump off old bacteria. For the greatest surface area you are better off with a noodle type ceramic media. Lots of conflicting info on them as to which ones are best and a lot of price difference to go with that. In my opinion, and free advice is worth just that, just look for one that is pourous to the eye not really tight, if that makes sense.

Perhaps mine are a little wonky... but dropping food near them = they skitter away. Not far usually - just a cm or so... but they move AWAY from it. They'll eat stuff that's perfectly still and on the substrate already. Lol. I stuck them in my Red Cherry tank for now - they skitter away from tiny Cherries too. It's kinda hilarious. Of course, the males are barely bigger than an adult Cherry. I was hoping to be able to breed them in a normal tank (community or shared with shrimp), but it looks like I may need to try something else.

Not a critical item. Totally your choice. But if you are short on funds, this can be on the lower priority list. yes, get some now. I place it under the substrate when starting a new tank. And I use a bit (half recommended dose) at every 2nd water change. Sure, why not. The shrimp will need to eat something, right. What shrimp are you keeping again? I wouldn't bother unless you are trying to get pH really low and/or you like that tannin look. Since you want to keep Cherries and CRS (in the same tank?), then you don't want the pH too low on account of the Cherries. Messy yes, but great for holiday food. If you are going away, just drop a few in and the shrimp can graze on it while you are away. If you are expecting shrimplets, then get it now with the other items to save on shipping costs. Are you cycling a new tank? Get a good substrate (ADA, Cal Aqua Labs - and cycle it properly). If you are cycling a tank and need to buy bacteria, get a good one - which actually has beneficial bacteria in it. I won't go into which one to get, everyone has their own opinion of what works. Get a pH and TDS pen - must have tools. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and GH test kits as a minimum. Chiller - unless you are in Tassie and keep the tank in the basement where temps are no higher than 24degC, you will need one ... Summer is just around the corner. If you have a small tank, then an expensive chiller is probably overkill, so at least think of some for of cooling, like an aquarium fan. On their own, they make no noise. ? But pair them up with an air pump, and the sound of bubbles, can make a tank noisy compared to a canister filter. Sponge filters are great for a small tank with low populations. But it won't beat a canister for filtration capabilities. Especially if you use good filtration media in the canister. If you have a small tank, then a small Eden canister filter will be perfect. Pack it with some Cermedia Marine Pure spheres for bio filtration and you'll be set for whatever you put in the tank.

Yes, I'm using SS GH+ to re-mineralising RO water to GH 5, TDS 120.... I intend to use mironecton block and TDS Up to fix the moulting issue :)

I was recently plagued by mysterious deaths. I had a suspicion it was moulting issues also so I put some new mineral balls in and dosed more Benibachi Mironekuton Powder (available from our sponsors) and have had the issue subside for now. I assume you're using RO water and re-mineralising with SS? Are you dosing any additional mineral?

Ewwww, just saw some issues with the theme with white sections all over the place. Anyway, it's been fixed.