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For those of you that are unsure of the differences, I thought the below might help shed some light on these products. Most Asian manufacturers do not disclose the composition of their products unlike the German manufacturers, so there is a lot of uncertainty out there as to exactly what one puts in ones tank once the packet is opened. Firstly a bit about aquatic bacteria: most aquatic bacteria are slow- growing. This means that biofilm is produced slowly. Biofilm is a gel-like mucoid substance secreted by bacteria that they live in. Biofilm in aquaria are almost always gel-like. Because aquatic bacteria is often slow growing, the shrimp outstrips the biofilm faster than it can regrow. There are biofilm promoter products and direct biofilm products and combinations thereof. Genchem Biozyme is a biofilm promoter: if you look at the ingredients, it does not contain bacteria at all. It is partially digested starch and cellulose and enzymes which are utilised by bacteria to form biofilm. Shrimp eat the Biozyme directly as well. It is basically a food source for your aquarium bacteria and is also fine enough for baby shrimp to eat directly. Mosura BT-9 appears to be a mixture of bacteria found in aquariums to supplement your contained ecosystem to prevent sludge, increase ammonia-Nitrite-Nitrogen conversion cycle and to outcompete pathogenic bacteria for food by established colonies that are present rather than growth speed. Because none of the ingredients are disclosed it is impossible to say what is in BT-9, but based on my experiments, it is the slower growing aquatic bacteria, but it does form a nice biofilm over time if you do not have large shrimp populations that strip it bare. I cannot comment on other ingredients in the product as it is not disclosed. Overdosing fouls the water. Queue the new generation products: someone asked the question wether it is possible to add an ‘artificial’ bacteria that grows fast enough not to be outstripped of biofilm faster than the shrimp can eat it? Pediococcus Acidilactici is a lactic acid bacteria that is temperature stable, grows well in pH 1 -6.2 ( grows a bit slower in high pH but still grows faster than natural aquarium bacteria) and is an ideal food source for shrimplets and the cell division rate of this bacteria is fast. It does not naturally occur in aquaria. Bacillus Subtilis is a bacteria found in nature from your intestines to plant leaves and outcompetes pathogenic fungus and bacteria for resources. It is very heavily used in agriculture like mango farming. It is not a direct food source for shrimp, but undoubtedly keeps your aquarium healthier based on controlled trials. Glasgarten Bacter AE contains both the Pediococcus Acidilactici and Bacillus Subtilis as well as amino acids, enzymes and vitamins to activate the bacteria. When used as directed, it grows lactic acid bacteria biofilm fast and greatly increases shrimplet survival as result as there is constantly biofilm available as a food source. Overdosing fouls the water. A similar product available is ShrimpyDaddy Revive Vita that definitely contains a lactobacillus. Genchem Polytase does not contain Lactobacillus, but does contain Bacillus Subtilis, so does Dr Tim's probiotic. Why is there a possible shrimp death warning on the Bacter AE container?: if you do not use an Oxydator in your aquarium and you add a large amount of Bacter AE to your tank, the bacteria will grow extremely fast and use up most of the oxygen in a poorly oxygenated tank, possibly leading to shrimp death. This will not happen if you follow instructions and aerate your aquarium well. This is only a risk if you add a very large amount of Bacter AE.

So we started keeping shrimp at the beginning of the summer and are doing well with our Caridinas and I just got stuff to take some pictures of them. Really good information on this board (sorry that we are more the lurker peeps then super active) as well as some great help from some locals who are now our friends really helped with our success! We are still sorting out issues with our neo's but now that we found our phosphate issue (over 20ppm in the tanks!) we should have those colonies kicking pretty darn soon. Let me know what you think and any tips on photographing the shrimp would be appreciated!

Thanks for all your help and support, great community.

Hello, So I made this little tank and stand a few weeks back to go in my shed. It gets way to hot in here to have a normal co2 cylinder and I don't have a spare one floating around anyway, but I have lots of bits and pieces, So I made this: The reactor, Filter, night time shut off and proper needle valve to ensure the co2 level is constant and never rises. A diy wooden diffuser I made producing very fine pollen style bubbles. The only thing I would add if I could is a pressure relief valve, you can buy cheap kits off eBay that have one of these and a gauge, but this system doesn't seem to need it. Im also using a recipe I adapted from mycology research utilising sugars with more complex carbohydrates to give a more stable long term reaction, I started this recipe on the 28th of dec and it's still going strong. I had to remove the built in check valve from the other side of my needle valve (cause it's made for high pressure) it prevented co2 running to the diffuser at start up, and caused pressure to build up. I just used a standard air line check valve that requires less pressure to open and it's all working fine again. Atleast now I know standard airline push fittings hold up under the pressure, literally. I have used proper co2 tubing throughout, it's probably not needed considering this is a "constant" system but I had it laying around. The the solenoid valve which runs my "night time shut off" operates a bit different to a standard pressurised co2 system. I designed my solenoid on a T to the main line, It opens at night just venting co2 into the air instead of running into the tank, this is so pressure doesn't build up and wreck the whole system. My fav part is the diffuser TBH, I'm so fascinated by wooden diffusers. enjoy.

Hi everyone, After several days of work I have completed my shrimp display setup. As promised I will do my write up on how I built this, steps taken to during construction as well as recommendations for suppliers of those 'hard to get bits'. But as I am excited and proud of my handiwork I will drop a few pics here and do my write up later on in this thread :)

Haha not sure yet mate, I'll see how it tastes when it stops producing co2 lol Maybe add some lemon next time.

Nice @Zebra, so whatcha brewin' as a fortuitous byproduct? ?

Very good summary of the 3 products. ?

To be honest, I really don't know what your feeling like putting in that tank. Any of the ones you mentioned should work and I would think the ottos would be fine, just maybe not breed if you get too far our of their "fun zone". I think the chameleon shrimp would be very pretty but I would keep one thing in mind that I'm sure you are aware of... If you ever feel like changing what shrimp your going to have in there it will be forever to catch all the old ones! That tank is very beautiful and that sump setup looks awesome, you would hate to have to rip it apart digging for shrimp that you stopped loving in there! Great work!

It deserves its own thread ?

Hello Guys! As I promised, here are some photos of my shrimps (kk blue ghost, Hulk, CRS, CBS, Babaulti caridina, Atya gabonensis etc..) My Channel ------>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkELtQBjdBsOBqlINmd25iQ KK blue ghost and Hulk -----------> You can Like and suscribe if you like and ask questions ^^ Thx

Well the sump is maturing well, Getting some nice growth and the plants are taking off, Now all I need to do is put some mesh in so I can put some shrimp in there

?That's right, and don't forget it. ? Shall we elaborate on the reason or shall we keep everyone else guessing?

Makes sense now seeing the back. Yeah, that's a good idea that. Are you running opposite day/night cycles between the tank and sump?

Regulating taps on the inlets I'm all for. Taps on the drains however is asking for trouble. If you one day have a brain fart and close the valve you'll flood the tank. I'd put a wrap of duct tape over the taps on the drains so you can't close them unless you really want to. Otherwise it looks great and I like the idea of having extra grow space in the sump.