Fluval 13.5 gal Sea Evo for a planted shrimp tank?

[She11kat]

I have a Fluval 13.5 gal Sea Evo and I want to set it up as a planted shrimp tank. I have had a lot of aquariums but never a planted shrimp tank

 

-Tank size 22 x 11.5 x 15 in

-Fluval 3 stage filtration. Its an overflow type filter

-Pump Output: 500 L/h (132 US Gal/h)

-Lumens: 1383 LM

-Color Temperature: 14000K

 

Right now the tank has:
-50w EHEIM Jager heater
-Flourite Black Sand and rock for aquascape
-Dwarf baby tears
-A Coco Petite Nana
-A Nana Golden
-4 Echinodorus Aflame
-3 Blyxa Japonica

Is the water flow strong for Shrimp and the plants, can I actually have shrimp in this tank, additional plants if needed, is the stock lighting is good enough for the plants and basically any good advice you guys are willing to give

I basically need help from people with expertise and experience. I have asked this question on other forums and got no answers or just a "yep your good to go". Please help

[jayc]

Hi @She11kat,

is the tank completely cycled? It must not have any detectable ammonia or nitrite.

What type of shrimp will you be planning on keeping in the tank?

The type of shrimp will determine what pH, TDS, KH and temperature the tank should be.

While we are at it... you need to get a reading of pH, TDS, KH and temp of your tank/water parameters.

 

Do you know what type of rock you have in the tank? Many rocks leech minerals and will alter water parameters, especially in a small tank. If you don't know, remove the rock. Stable water parameters is better than a constantly changing environment.

Apart from that "yep, you're good to go".

[She11kat]

I haven't decided on the type of shrimp yet. My tank has fully cycled, well if just having plants in the tank counts. All my plants are babies right now so I am waiting until they fill in a bit so the shrimp have a good home. I purchased the Nutrafin Master test kit but I am not sure it test for everything I need for shrimp.

The rocks I have in the tank are local river rock that has been cleaned an sterilize via scrubbing and baking in a 450 degree oven for 90 mins. I have used this process for 16 years for the rocks I put in my tank but if you think I need to get rid of them I will. 

The filter out put is pretty strong it makes quite a current in the tank. I am worried it maybe to strong. I was also wondering about the overflow. Is it going to suck the shrimp in?

Oh and I don't have moss in my tank, I have dwarf baby tears. Is moss a must?

 

 

[jayc]

3 hours ago, She11kat said:

Nutrafin Master test kit

That kit will not have tests for TDS and temp.

Temperature is easy. You just need a thermometer. 

TDS is measured with a TDS meter, which can be purchased easily and cheaply off ebay.

 

As for the rock, it's best to test pH, KH and TDS to see if it is leeching carbonates. If the rock is limestone based, the pH and KH will increase slowly over time.

3 hours ago, She11kat said:

wondering about the overflow.

All those holes need to be blocked off with mesh or foam. Otherwise adult and baby shrimps will get sucked into the filter area. I think filter foam would be easiest to apply.

Doesn't your Sea Evo tank come with a little plastic plate that fits over the overflow holes? That plate allows you to control the water flow, which should help with the output strength.

3 hours ago, She11kat said:

Is moss a must?

Moss is not crucial. But it is good for a shrimp only tank, since moss is low light, low maintenance and offer lots of hiding and grazing area for adult and baby shrimps alike.

 

Edited December 29, 2017 by jayc

[She11kat]

Ok I will get a TDS meter and watch for any changes in PH/KH/TDS. The test kit tests for Phosphate, Calcium, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, pH High Range, pH Low Range, Carbonate Hardness, General Hardness, and Iron. Beside the TDS is there other additional parameters I need to be testing for?

The tank does have a little plastic plate that fits over the overflow holes but it doesn't affect the power of the pump. If you raise is eventually the filter chamber water level just gets lower and lower.

I really appreciate your help, out of 3 different forums you have been the only person to really help and provide some guidance. I don't know what I am doing wrong but I must be forum handicapped

 

 

[jayc]

3 hours ago, She11kat said:

Beside the TDS is there other additional parameters I need to be testing for?

The most common tests for a shrimp tank are pH, KH, GH and TDS.  

Temperature is also important and needs to be constant cool 22-24degC (not sure what that is in F, but you can convert it).

Ammonia and Nitrite is another important test, but is done less frequently after the tank is cycled.

3 hours ago, She11kat said:

If you raise is eventually the filter chamber water level just gets lower and lower.

Hmm. Then the only other way is to replace the pump with a lower flow one if you are concerned it is too strong. The SeaEvo tank is built for a marine setup, hence the high flow, as corals like the high flow.

 

3 hours ago, She11kat said:

I don't know what I am doing wrong but I must be forum handicapped

Nah, not you. The forum is only as good as the people on it. SKFA has the most friendly of people on any aquatic forum that I have been on.