Author Topic: Matt's 12 litre no-tech cold water shrimp tank (Read 31010 times) 79 replies

Sue · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2018, 07:43:27 PM »

When I first had cherry shrimp they kept dying with a white line across their backs. A member on here then (Natalia) told me that was a sign of a failed moult, which I do realise isn't the same as your shrimp. But she said that there is a bacterium that affects shrimp and although there are meds that can be used, she preferred a preventative which boosts the immune system instead. She recommended beta glucans - this is sold on Amazon and Ebay as Genchem Beta G. I got some, and whether it helped or not I can't be sure because the last shrimp was a female carrying eggs, she died but the babies survived and were the start of my colony. Would the babies have been OK anyway, or did the beta g help?
This might help your shrimps.

daveyng · « **Reply #21 on:** July 09, 2018, 10:36:07 PM »

I understand Calcium deficiency can cause Shrimp to die post moult. Don’t know if this could be a possibility in your case.

Matt · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2018, 09:26:58 PM »

My latest thinking is actually that they didn't have enough food overall. I'm going to try upping the feeding regime. As a new tank I don't think it had enough microflora to support them all the shrimp and snails on the low feeding regime I had them on to protect water quality.... I'm not sure but I might move the snails into another tank...

Matt · « **Reply #23 on:** July 28, 2018, 10:27:49 PM »

Rescape!

I've taken the snails out and put them in my main tank... they generate far too much waste for a small tank...

I'm also moving the tank to a different location in my house. Having a large still body of water in the kitchen just wasn't sitting well with me especially after some lovely looking mould started growing on the wood! This means that the tank will no longer be viewed from all angles. Hence the new layout.

I'll get a better picture in the morning, though you may just be able to see the top of a sponge filter in the background which I had sitting in the cupboard - now the tank can be nearer a power outlet this is doable so seems silly not too... I'm thinking of adding a pair of least killifish!

If anyone is interested in building a no tech coldwater shrimp tank themselves I would certainly recommend it as this was a really easy project. Just don't add anything else other than the shrimp. By the way, my setup was more like 8 litres of water due to the low water level so no need to worry too much about size it would seem... Just make sure you have live plants (the plants viaibly grew in their time in the tank with no ferts added) including floating plants and give some thought to cleaning the tank as you set it up... minimise any caves that you can't get a siphon into to clean and I would also consider having just plants attached to wood/rock you can easily remove. That way you could just pick out the decor, do your cleaning, decor back in and your done. That would make for a really successful low maintenance tank

Come to think of it... that's not a bad idea... strange how writing this has got me thinking maybe I should have set it up this way... I'll have to see if I can get another 12liter tank on the cheap like I did this one...

Littlefish · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2018, 07:12:35 AM »

A lovely looking tank @Matt
So good to know that something that looks like that can be put together and maintained as a no-tech tank.

I'm now thinking that anyone who may have run out of room around the house for any more tanks could set up a tank like this, pop in a battery operated air pump, and have a tank in the bathroom...

Matt · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2018, 07:20:08 AM »

Oh dear...

Littlefish · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2018, 07:28:06 AM »

That was my first reaction when the idea popped into my mind.

Matt · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2018, 09:47:46 AM »

Quite "reflectioney... but still a better photo

fcmf · « **Reply #28 on:** July 29, 2018, 11:57:53 AM »

Quote from: Littlefish on July 29, 2018, 07:12:35 AM

I'm now thinking that anyone who may have run out of room around the house for any more tanks could set up a tank like this, pop in a battery operated air pump, and have a tank in the bathroom...

Glad that Littlefish is still operating in "Littlefish true mode".

Littlefish · « **Reply #29 on:** July 29, 2018, 03:12:24 PM »

Even when I'm trying my best to cut down.

Matt · « **Reply #30 on:** August 27, 2018, 10:44:32 PM »

This tank has had another rescape. It was always part of my plan to 'practise my aquascaping' with this tank so please dont be too shocked if nothing is staying still for more than 5 minutes!

I actually need to get some better pictures so bear with me as some of these are from when it had been 3 weeks with no maintenance but it shows what I was going for! I have got a light for the tank too.

The tanks inhabitants are not really working out like id hoped... Glass shrimp getting very large (see photo of pregnnt one). I can't decide whether to get a heater and do fancy shrimp or, like I was thinking before, get a pair of least killifish (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/heterandria-formosa/) which for what I can find out will be just fine in there unheated despite the small space available and Maidenhead can get them in for me. Or of course I could do both!... I get the impression cherry shrimp will tolerate low temps too just not breed etc... so much research and decision making to do!!

Either way I think im going to DIY a small hidden air powered filter for the tank as another experiment. Last one was too bulky.

Anyway im happy for now as im getting pearling off the plants when the lights are on!! Presumably the surface area to tank volume is small enough and the lighting period short enough (1 hour only) to facilitate this at the moment.

I will enjoy experimenting before probably looking back round to having this back to no tech at some point. Theres something so satisfying about it being like that. Or I did have a plan for a hang on back filter with integrated heater... oh the possibilities!!!...

Sue · « **Reply #31 on:** August 28, 2018, 09:23:13 AM »

If you do get Heterandria formosa, we want pics. Or at least I do

I've always wanted these fish even though my hardness is right on their lower limit, but I have never actually seen any. I'll have to make do with owning them by proxy

Littlefish · « **Reply #32 on:** August 28, 2018, 09:34:10 AM »

Your tank looks lovely.
With all the options for future reworks we will expect to see lots of pics.

Shame your current tank inhabitants are not working out, I like the look of those glass shrimp.
Nice markings on those killifish, I should imagine they'd look great in a planted tank.
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this tank next.

Matt · « **Reply #33 on:** August 28, 2018, 06:19:55 PM »

Don't worry there will be many many more pictures to come from this tank!

fcmf · « **Reply #34 on:** August 28, 2018, 07:38:27 PM »

I agree - tank looks lovely and I'm looking forward to reading of / looking at its development.

Matt · « **Reply #35 on:** September 01, 2018, 05:35:37 PM »

First tank inhabitants added...

I have the least killifish on order

exciting times!

I seeded a filter sponge which I had spare as it didn't fit the filter intake on my big tank (was meant to be a shrimp barrier) in the puffer tank for a month. I then used some spare parts to build a 'small as possible' air powered sponge filter which I have hidden within the rocks. I'm hoping the shrimp will keep it seeded for a couple of weeks. I'll add fish food to keep them and the filter going until the fish arrive.

Littlefish · « **Reply #36 on:** September 01, 2018, 05:57:18 PM »

Very nice shrimp.

fcmf · « **Reply #37 on:** September 01, 2018, 10:04:24 PM »

Yes, lovely shrimp. What type is it? I'm not at all familiar with them.

Matt · « **Reply #38 on:** September 02, 2018, 06:27:03 AM »

Quote from: fcmf on September 01, 2018, 10:04:24 PM

Yes, lovely shrimp. What type is it? I'm not at all familiar with them.

I'm trying to get it IDd... I've no idea!! It's white with dark blue stripes that go lighter blue at the bottom. Also has hints of red on the tail (this probably means they are low quality I think, but I like it).

Sue · « **Reply #39 on:** September 02, 2018, 10:36:16 AM »

When I first saw the photo I thought 'crystal black shrimp'. But there are bee shrimps as well, which are striped and come in various colours. You will need a shrimp expert to tell the difference

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Matt's 12 Litre No-tech Cold Water Shrimp Tank

Matt's 12 Litre No-tech Cold Water Shrimp Tank

Author Topic: Matt's 12 litre no-tech cold water shrimp tank (Read 31010 times) 79 replies

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