Hello Im new and I have a lot of questions :D

[PartyDJ]

So how do I begin... So Im a 13 yo guy named Dan and I have a 120l Tank (that I totally hate, cuz I got guppies in it and I cant get rid of them. I know u asking why I got guppies if I dont like em. I got the tank from a friend and yea... oh and I have 1 cory and yes I know they should be at least 6, but my tank is already overstocked so there's not much that I could do) and I have a Fluval fx4 on it that's a bit overkill, but ya know u can't have too much filtration :D Im want to do a 30l planted tank (aquael set) with shrimp and I have soooo many questions. What substrate should I use? Should I use additives like Bacter100? Should I use power sand? What shrimp should I get? I love Sulawesi ones, but why do they have to be red?! What plants can/should I use? Could I maybe put some nano fish in the tank? I really want to buy the Twinstar Shrimp 30, but is it worth it for 100 bucks? And so on and so on... Maybe some of you could help me :D Thanks ;D

[jayc]

7 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

Fluval fx4 on it that's a bit overkill, but ya know u can't have too much filtration

I'm with you there. Never too much filtration. You should be able to fit in more cory with that filter.

 

7 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

What substrate should I use?

It depends on what shrimp you get. 

For Caridina bee shrimps like CRS CBS or Taiwan Bees - go with a plant substrate. Like ADA Amazonia, or similar. But these substrates need to be cycled properly, as they will contain more ammonia than non planted substrate. Planted substrates will help maintain proper parameters for bee shrimps.

For Neocaridina shrimps like cherry reds - you can use any inert substrate of your choice. 

 

You don't say where you are from. If you fill in your location in your profile, we might be able to point you in the right direction. Members in the same country might know what is good to get based on what is available in your country.

 

7 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

Should I use additives like Bacter100? Should I use power sand?

No need. You already have a mature tank and filter media in the fluval. Just transfer some media into the new tank's filter, and squeeze/wash the old filter media in the new tank's water. Yes, it will look dirty (for a little while) but that is a lot more effective and cheaper than ADA's Bacter 100 and powersand. 

 

7 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

I love Sulawesi ones, but why do they have to be red?!

Depends on where you live. Sulawesi come in the most amazing variation of colours.

Decide what you are going to keep first, as this impacts the tank setup as mentioned above for the substrate choice. Sulawesi shrimps will need a high pH so a tank with inert substrate and lots of limestone rocks or crushed coral.

 

7 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

Could I maybe put some nano fish in the tank?

You could. That's your choice, but as long as you know there are risks with any fish with shrimp. Even nano fish might eat newly hatched shrimp. 

 

7 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

I really want to buy the Twinstar Shrimp 30, but is it worth it for 100 bucks?

I don't see the need for one personally. But someone who has one can comment.

I would leave that off the wishlist for now and spend the money on a full test kit first including a TDS and pH meter.

Edited December 30, 2018 by jayc

[PartyDJ]

44 minutes ago, jayc said:

I'm with you there. Never too much filtration. You should be able to fit in more cory with that filter.

 

It depends on what shrimp you get. 

For Caridina bee shrimps like CRS CBS or Taiwan Bees - go with a plant substrate. Like ADA Amazonia, or similar. But these substrates need to be cycled properly, as they will contain more ammonia than non planted substrate. Planted substrates will help maintain proper parameters for bee shrimps.

For Neocaridina shrimps like cherry reds - you can use any inert substrate of your choice. 

 

You don't say where you are from. If you fill in your location in your profile, we might be able to point you in the right direction. Members in the same country might know what is good to get based on what is available in your country.

 

No need. You already have a mature tank and filter media in the fluval. Just transfer some media into the new tank's filter, and squeeze/wash the old filter media in the new tank's water. Yes, it will look dirty (for a little while) but that is a lot more effective and cheaper than ADA's Bacter 100 and powersand. 

 

Depends on where you live. Sulawesi come in the most amazing variation of colours.

Decide what you are going to keep first, as this impacts the tank setup as mentioned above for the substrate choice. Sulawesi shrimps will need a high pH so a tank with inert substrate and lots of limestone rocks or crushed coral.

 

You could. That's your choice, but as long as you know there are risks with any fish with shrimp. Even nano fish might eat newly hatched shrimp. 

 

I don't see the need for one personally. But someone who has one can comment.

I would leave that off the wishlist for now and spend the money on a full test kit first including a TDS and pH meter.

I'm buying a co2 ph controller which will assure I have the ph I want :) oh and by the sulawesi I meant the red stripped ones and/or with the white polka dots ?

[jayc]

11 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

I'm buying a co2 ph controller which will assure I have the ph I want

If you plan on getting Sulawesi shrimp, then how does a CO2 pH controller help keep the pH high at 8.0 or above?

 

[PartyDJ]

1 minute ago, jayc said:

If you plan on getting Sulawesi shrimp, then how does a CO2 pH controller help keep the pH high at 8.0 or above?

 

It has a ph probe and it measures the ph and u have a co2 solenoid valve and if the ph is too low the computer adds co2 and the ph rises and if u turn it off the ph will drop. Get it? Oh and u can adjust what ph u want

[jayc]

16 hours ago, PartyDJ said:

It has a ph probe and it measures the ph and u have a co2 solenoid valve and if the ph is too low the computer adds co2 and the ph rises and if u turn it off the ph will drop. Get it? Oh and u can adjust what ph u want

Oh, I get it. That wasn't a question out of confusion. I don't think you understand how that controller works. It doesn't raise pH. CO2 can only lower pH, not raise it. My point is ... CO2 will not help you if you want to keep Sulawesi. pH needs to be above 8 for Sulawesi.

It will work just fine for Bee shrimp in helping maintain a lower pH. But using CO2 to control pH is not ideal as it is only artificial and temporary. Too much CO2 and the shrimp will suffer.

 

Don't want you to purchase it only to find out that it is not needed for sulawesi shrimp. 

[PartyDJ]

15 hours ago, jayc said:

Oh, I get it. That wasn't a question out of confusion. I don't think you understand how that controller works. It doesn't raise pH. CO2 can only lower pH, not raise it. My point is ... CO2 will not help you if you want to keep Sulawesi. pH needs to be above 8 for Sulawesi.

It will work just fine for Bee shrimp in helping maintain a lower pH. But using CO2 to control pH is not ideal as it is only artificial and temporary. Too much CO2 and the shrimp will suffer.

 

Don't want you to purchase it only to find out that it is not needed for sulawesi shrimp. 

Yea sorry ? I dont really know how it works just now, but my brother has been in this hobby for over 20 years and he knows whats up. He will give me all the co2 stuff and I have to get the controller. I do not know what shirmp ill get so I have to do some research and if the shrimp need higher ph ill get some seachem or aquavitro products to satisfy their needs. 

Edited January 1, 2019 by PartyDJ

[Zoidburg]

The standard "dancing" red Sulawesi shrimp (red with white fore-arms and white dots) also come in blue... (i think?) but I don't know how hard it would be to get a hold of them. Sky Fish has them.

https://skyfish-aqua.com/cat/觀賞蝦-en/sulawesi-shrimp/?lang=en