29g With African Filter Shrimp

Hi, I have a 29G tank that I've posted before here in my tank journal along with a few pics. Briefly, there's an aquaclear 70 on the back of a 29G and it's been set up for about 3 months.

Roughly, it looks like this



It has some pretty good flow to it and the only "dead" spot in the tank is to the far left. It has some platies (6+ a few fry) and swordtails (2+1 fry) and a bunch of snails. 1BN pleco as well.

The tank does have some aragonite to help with acidity from the soil.

Question:

The question is that I have a fan filtering shrimp and he just won't come out of the rocks under the bottom left (behind the anubias there's a rock to which a java fern is tied to and there's a tiny cavity under the rock).

I adjusted the wood so it was more "up" towards the filter and moved a few things, but he still won't come out. I've been trying some green flake crushed up, but he won't even go out to "pick" for food. Is he still adjusting? (Got him 2 days ago)

What would be a good option for more flow? Another filter or maybe a powerhead? If a power head, what would be good so that the tank mates aren't blown about?

Thanks!

 

You could probably hide a hyrdo sponge filter behind the plants on the left and have the added benefit of a seeded sponge filter you can move to a QT/Hospital tank when needed. You can run them with air or powerhead. I would just make sure if you use a powerhead (by itself or with a filter), to get one that is adjustable so you can regulate the flow on it. I would move the heater closer to the HOB as well if you can to help circulate the heated water better in the tank.

 

You could probably hide a hyrdo sponge filter behind the plants on the left and have the added benefit of a seeded sponge filter you can move to a QT/Hospital tank when needed. You can run them with air or powerhead. I would just make sure if you use a powerhead (by itself or with a filter), to get one that is adjustable so you can regulate the flow on it. I would move the heater closer to the HOB as well if you can to help circulate the heated water better in the tank.

Yeah, that sounds like a good option to look into. My LFS does have them, so I could try that out. I've never used one before, so it will definitely be an interesting experience. Ironically, I just moved my Aquaclear 50 to my QT tank, so... I do need a backup.

I will definitely move the heater. Thanks for the advice.

 

He could still be adjusting, you also have to remember that shrimp molt so its good that the shrimp found a safe cave spot.

I also have a bamboo shrimp in my 29 gal, just give time first and then once you start seeing yours out and about maybe rearrange until you find the set up that works perfect.

I've had mine for over year but my recent move that put a broad leafed plant (sword in my tank)
Near my filter seems to be the favorite, the shrimp hangs out on the leaves there and on the wood like this picture

Good luck

 

He could still be adjusting, you also have to remember that shrimp molt so its good that the shrimp found a safe cave spot.

I also have a bamboo shrimp in my 29 gal, just give time first and then once you start seeing yours out and about maybe rearrange until you find the set up that works perfect.

I've had mine for over year but my recent move that put a broad leafed plant (sword in my tank)
Near my filter seems to be the favorite, the shrimp hangs out on the leaves there and on the wood like this picture

Good luck

Thanks! I was just making sure he found a good place to chill in his new home. I thought I had a good setup, but good to know that it might be just some minor adjustments. I don't know if he's got to molt or not ATM, but hopefully if he does he'll be safe and my (admittedly curious) platys leave him alone!

 

Quick update, yesterday I changed the aquarium around a bit. Excuse the dark photo, but here is how it looks right now after a water change:




So as you can see I moved the filter to the right and put in the sponge filter in the back left. It ain't pretty, but it works.

At any rate, the shrimp still isn't coming out and I'm getting a bit nervous. I've seen him fan a few times and he still is hiding. In addition, I crushed up a pleco wafer and put it in front of him and one piece fell on top of his head... He ended up just staying there until I tried to see if he was alive and scurried off.

Is there anything I should be looking into doing at this point? I just want the poor guy to do better

The pH of the water is around 7.2-7.4 and there's some aragonite in the substrate to help with the decomposition of the plant matter. My ammonia and nitrites are 0 and the nitrates were something like 40, but I did a water change anyways...

Would culturing infusoria and artificially "propping up" the amount of them be a route I should take??

 

So its still been a total of 4 days right?

 

So its still been a total of 4 days right?

Yeah, it's probably too soon to "really worry".

Trust me when I say "doing nothing is the hardest thing".... But I think that's probably what I should be doing.