64L Shrimp Tank - New Build

[Jon Crosby]

So I got a new tank out of the blue, I completely low balled someone on Gumtree, this is what I got and what I paid.

He was advertising a 64L Tank with 24W LED Light, HOB 3W Pump + Filter which was apart of the package when buying new. But I also got an Aquaone Air 02 Pod 100, Aquaone Maxi 102F Internal Filter, Aquaone Glass Heater 100W which would come to a total price of around $290 AUD and I paid $80 so it was a steal in my eyes.

As much as my partner doesn't want this tank to be set up, I am dismantling my current RCS tank to give them 3x more space so for me it's a no-brainer. The current tank is a Kmart 20L Starter tank which started with an experiment and has now been left for a good 6 months longer than I should have! My partner calls it the slums, so here is what it looks like?



So it looked good when it was first set up and carpeted properly but over time it's been torn apart by the RCS, they have uprooted a large portion of the carpet and now it looks pretty bare, I have got a temporary "Sponge Filter" but it does the job.

Anyway onto the new tank, 6mm Glass, 64L Tank, and most important to me as I have always wanted one it is Rimless.



So what's next? I needed a fair amount of items for this build and I went straight to my LFS.

Sponge filters, ADA Soil, Fine pebbles, Driftwood, Rocks and plants.

Corner Sponge Filters X2 - ✓ $17.98

ADA Amazonia Light 9L - ✓ $54.95

Fine Pebbles (For Capping Soil) 10KG Bag - ✓ $14.98

Driftwood "Small" - ✓ $30.00

Rocks - Haven't sourced the ones I want

Plants (Various plants) - $37.50

Not from my LFS but I needed a stand, something that would hold approx 90KG of weight. It was hard to find something that would hold and be the right size for where the tank is going to be placed. But I managed to find this in Ikea and it was a perfect size and solid as anything!





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What's next? Well over the next few days I shall receive items I have ordered online with my last package coming Friday (hopefully) but as they come I will post the process as I go along.

 

[AcornTheBetta]

So I got a new tank out of the blue, I completely low balled someone on Gumtree, this is what I got and what I paid.

He was advertising a 64L Tank with 24W LED Light, HOB 3W Pump + Filter which was apart of the package when buying new. But I also got an Aquaone Air 02 Pod 100, Aquaone Maxi 102F Internal Filter, Aquaone Glass Heater 100W which would come to a total price of around $290 AUD and I paid $80 so it was a steal in my eyes.

As much as my partner doesn't want this tank to be set up, I am dismantling my current RCS tank to give them 3x more space so for me it's a no-brainer. The current tank is a Kmart 20L Starter tank which started with an experiment and has now been left for a good 6 months longer than I should have! My partner calls it the slums, so here is what it looks like?

View attachment 735534

So it looked good when it was first set up and carpeted properly but over time it's been torn apart by the RCS, they have uprooted a large portion of the carpet and now it looks pretty bare, I have got a temporary "Sponge Filter" but it does the job.

Anyway onto the new tank, 6mm Glass, 64L Tank, and most important to me as I have always wanted one it is Rimless.

View attachment 735537

So what's next? I needed a fair amount of items for this build and I went straight to my LFS.

Sponge filters, ADA Soil, Fine pebbles, Driftwood, Rocks and plants.

Corner Sponge Filters X2 - ✓ $17.98

ADA Amazonia Light 9L - ✓ $54.95

Fine Pebbles (For Capping Soil) 10KG Bag - ✓ $14.98

Driftwood "Small" - ✓ $30.00

Rocks - Haven't sourced the ones I want

Plants (Various plants) - $37.50

Not from my LFS but I needed a stand, something that would hold approx 90KG of weight. It was hard to find something that would hold and be the right size for where the tank is going to be placed. But I managed to find this in Ikea and it was a perfect size and solid as anything!


View attachment 735549


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's next? Well over the next few days I shall receive items I have ordered online with my last package coming Friday (hopefully) but as they come I will post the process as I go along.

Nice. Following!

 

[Jon Crosby]

So while I wait for my corner sponge filters to arrive I am currently leak testing/water logging my driftwood. Which is good as it’s leaking tannings As we speak so won’t be as brown when fully set up.



The seiryu stone holding down the driftwood will be removed once I start setting up.

 

[Jon Crosby]

Everything came a day early! Was a pleasant surprise when coming home from work that evening.

So set up started at around 6PM and went on for a good couple of hours minimum.

First up is placing the corner filters on either side of the tank like so -



I placed my driftwood as my centre piece, I love this piece as it gives off so many angles and different heights of the branches. Potentially in the future I might look into adding some type of moss to the tree but that would only happen once the piece of waterlogged as I wouldn’t want to keep disrupting the scape.

Next up is pouring the ADA Amazonia Light substrate into the tank, making sure to give it a generous 1-2 inches of soil. Still with half a bag of ADA left does that mean I can get a nano tank? Don’t want it going to waste after all.

I ordered 5 different plants for this scape, ones I’ve never actually used before but wanted to try. I bought the following -

1x Ambulia

1x Gold Pennywort

1x Lace Fern (my favourite now seeing it)

2x wisteria (not my favourite)

2x assorted cryptocoryne

I decided to plant these dry straight into the ADA before adding any water, was a bit harder than I thought as you can’t see how they are going to look once water is in the tank.

It looks like a mess and I was tempted to rip them out, do it again when water is in but I let them be and started to wash my gravel, I went to 3 different places to find the stone I have used in a previous scape, all 3 said they had them in stock and none of them did but the last one had the size below what I normally use 1-5mm sized stones compared to 5-8mm not a huge difference but they aren’t


Everything is in and I’ve started to fill it up, driftwood is staying put for now (touchwood)

I don’t have a finished photo just yet as I wanted to let it sit for a day before showing but will upload today after work.

 

[Jon Crosby]

We’ve had a few teething problems let’s say.

Numerous times the driftwood was get dislodged and float to the top and the proceed to pull out some of the plants. Rather frustrating but I decided to get a piece of rock and fishing line and keep it down in place that way, I guess in a way you wouldn’t know the fishing line was there but I do and it bugs me but I’ll have to put up with it for now until I can cut and remove the line and stone.



Am I happy? Far from it I’ve got some playing around to do with this set up. More plants? different plants? Do I add some rock?

Do we have any recommendation?

 

[ProudPapa]

Since you asked for recommendations, I'd put some taller plants in the front left corner to hide the sponge filter and call it good.

 

[Jon Crosby]

Since you asked for recommendations, I'd put some taller plants in the front left corner to hide the sponge filter and call it good.

100% agree with you on that!

I do have some blue stricta in my other tank which needs a trim and could get a decent bunch to attempt to cover that up.

Otherwise I am more than happy to purchase a new plant if you have a recommendation for one?

 

[ProudPapa]

That should be fine.

 

[Flyfisha]

Oh dear me.
i just spotted something a little important.

The tank appears to be sitting on the table top without anything else under it?

It is standard practice to have a foam mat, polystyrene sheet or whats called a yoga mat in America. Aussies might call it a foam camp mattress. It not to late to put something under the tank if you have nothing under it at the moment.

 

[Jon Crosby]

Oh dear me.
i just spotted something a little important.

The tank appears to be sitting on the table top without anything else under it?

It is standard practice to have a foam mat, polystyrene sheet or whats called a yoga mat in America. Aussies might call it a foam camp mattress. It not to late to put something under the tank if you have nothing under it at the moment.

So I was a little unsure on this as to how important it really is to have a foam mat, I guess I went for the not so important route.

never the less I have ordered 2 - 30x30 as I couldn’t find one big enough.



How easy will these be to put in? Well hard I’m guessing, it’s a near 100KG I’d say is sitting on the stand at the moment but im sure I’ll figure a way to do it

 

[Flyfisha]

How many buckets/ containers do you have?
From experience moving tanks you will need to remove all but 100 mm/ 4 inches of water. Then you can pick the tank up . Even with that much water you can easily get a wave going one way and then the other and back again. It’s funny to think of the wave getting bigger and bigger but not funny when it happens. Trust me the wave is not as funny as you may think . The weight builds up and you can’t stop it as water starts coming out over the top at one end and then the other trying to stop it only makes it worse ,hilarious to describe it may be?

Adding most of the old water allows for a standard water change.

 

[Jon Crosby]

That should be fine.

So I had a little snip at my other aquarium to get some of the blue strica, I’ve now got 3 areas in the new tank of it.

here is what it looks like now, does it hide the filter better?

 

[Jon Crosby]

How many buckets/ containers do you have?
From experience moving tanks you will need to remove all but 100 mm/ 4 inches of water. Then you can pick the tank up . Even with that much water you can easily get a wave going one way and then the other and back again. It’s funny to think of the wave getting bigger and bigger but not funny when it happens. Trust me the wave is not as funny as you may think . The weight builds up and you can’t stop it as water starts coming out over the top at one end and then the other trying to stop it only makes it worse ,hilarious to describe it may be?

Adding most of the old water allows for a standard water change.

I have got a couple of different bucket that will hold around 3/4 of the water that I’ve got in the tank so ill be able to lift up the tank fairly easy.

hopefully they turn up by the end of the week so I can do it over the weekend

 

[Flyfisha]

Petbarn , Justfriends and petstock can legally sell this plant as goldfish food . Unfortunately it is not a true aquatic plant. Nobody can keep this house plant alive . Sadly you have done your money.
A link or two

is blue stricta a true aquatic plant

Non-aquatic plants to avoid!

(edit i mention this because you will need to remove it as or before it pollutes the water.

Can I recommend NSW cichlid society as a way of finding like minded people in your area. A very big club .

New South Wales Cichlid Society

 

[Jon Crosby]

Petbarn , Justfriends and petstock can legally sell this plant as goldfish food . Unfortunately it is not a true aquatic plant. Nobody can keep this house plant alive . Sadly you have done your money.
A link or two

is blue stricta a true aquatic plant

New South Wales Cichlid Society

thank you for your comment, I gave the link you posted a read and I didn’t fully understand it.

“
Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei)


This plant may last in the aquarium for a few weeks, but will eventually melt away. Aquatic alternatives is the Blue Stricta.

when I read that it says that an alternative to aluminium plant is blue stricta.

The cuttings I got from my other tank have been going for a good 18 months or so and showing no sign of dying or anything like that.

 

[Flyfisha]

Ok that’s good news.

 

[Jon Crosby]

Ok that’s good news.

Hopefully, it will thrive in this new tank, the only difference is that the temperature off the tanks. I got it from a tank that is 27 ° and the new tank it is 23 °

 

[Jon Crosby]

So I came across a mist maker today, just walking past a random shop and thought I’d like to give it a try. For $25 AUD, even if I don’t like it it’s not the end of the world.

The one big downside to this is that it’s got Coloured LED lights which change colours. It’s all they had in stock but I thought I’d be able to hide the lights with the right placement and plants.

 

[Jon Crosby]

So I was a little unsure on this as to how important it really is to have a foam mat, I guess I went for the not so important route.

never the less I have ordered 2 - 30x30 as I couldn’t find one big enough.

View attachment 736574

How easy will these be to put in? Well hard I’m guessing, it’s a near 100KG I’d say is sitting on the stand at the moment but im sure I’ll figure a way to do it

So, they came on Friday and I have just "installed" them. I was halfway through filling up from my water change and completely forgot to put them into place! So I thought I'd lift it and get my partner to slip them under each side. I'd say the tank was a good 75% Full and was heavy! No idea how I managed to lift it without making a mess or disturbing anything in the tank. Thank you for giving me the idea to put these in, they are now in place safe and sound.

 

[Jon Crosby]

I have uploaded a

off my tank while they are having their dinner. I will be looking to do some more videos in the future with different foods they will be munching down on.

 

[Jon Crosby]

I need some advice, I’m looking to get some fish added into this shrimp set up to make the tank come more alive as they say.

I’ve had harlequin rasboras before and they seem to always hang in the upper space of the tank.Do they work with RCS?

hillstream loaches is always something I’ve wanted to try out but would they work?

does anyone have any suggestions as to what I could have in the tank?

 

[Flyfisha]

64 litres/ 17 gallons. A tank size I am very familiar with.
My suggestion is to add a large group of small colourful fish all from the same species. Adult Harlequin rasboras are not small. I can’t say how they go living in a small tank with cherries?
Both endlers ( males only) and emder tetras can live in close proximately to cherry shrimp long term no worries. And I have done that in 60 litres before . Both fish will eat from the floor of the tank. Both these species will coexist with shrimp and let the shrimp multiply.

Have you been to AllFish 2U in Penrith ?, a good little shop worth the drive.

Allfish2u Penriths best aquarium store

edit,
I have experience with hillstream loaches they are I suggest not suitable long term with shrimp as they also eat the same bio film as shrimp. The grow quite big . Common belief is they need lots of oxygen and fast moving water.I think their adult size rules them out?

 

[ProudPapa]

Celestial pearl danios or kubitai rasboras would be good options.

 

[Jon Crosby]

Just a mid day snack for my shrimp, does everyone boil there vegetables before feeding? I thought you only boil vegetables because they float if you don’t. The coil I use sinks and doesn’t allow the zucchini to float once in the tank and because I haven’t blanched the zucchini it has more nutrients?

What other vegetables am I able to feed my shrimp?

 

[Flyfisha]

I do not boil my vegetables. Perhaps our farmers have to work under different rules for using pesticides? I don’t know that . But nobody in my club boils vegetables and all the Californians do. Buy organic if you don’t want to think about it. The list is endless for vegetables that shrimp and plecos etc will eat.
Zucchini is convenient for the human .cucumber drops seeds as does zucchini when they get bigger.
Things like sweet corn cobs will start all the knockers going on about how its not a natural food and its got starch and is to sweet etc etc. Unless you yourself eat sweet corn every day don’t put your left cobs in everyday. Sweet potato. Mushrooms. Silverbeet. Unsalted tinned beans, pumpkin. Etc etc

Do you follow Mark the Scottish guy in Norway?

He has done hundreds of videos of wild foods.This is but one video.

 

[Jon Crosby]

64 litres/ 17 gallons. A tank size I am very familiar with.
My suggestion is to add a large group of small colourful fish all from the same species. Adult Harlequin rasboras are not small. I can’t say how they go living in a small tank with cherries?
Both endlers ( males only) and emder tetras can live in close proximately to cherry shrimp long term no worries. And I have done that in 60 litres before . Both fish will eat from the floor of the tank. Both these species will coexist with shrimp and let the shrimp multiply.

Have you been to AllFish 2U in Penrith ?, a good little shop worth the drive.

Allfish2u Penriths best aquarium store

edit,
I have experience with hillstream loaches they are I suggest not suitable long term with shrimp as they also eat the same bio film as shrimp. The grow quite big . Common belief is they need lots of oxygen and fast moving water.I think their adult size rules them out?

I took your advise and went for 10 ember tetras, they are very small but distinct in my eyes. I watched for a good 10 minutes or so once I had put them in and they haven't touched the shrimp once which I am happy about.

I got 10 of them do you think I could get more in the future? I paid $40 for 10 what would you pay where you live?

I have been to Allfish2u just once but only briefly as I was working out that way for a day. I do tend to stick to my local ones and I have 3 that I have really good relationships with

 

[Jon Crosby]

Celestial pearl danios or kubitai rasboras would be good options.

I had a look at these online and they looked really nice but he price became an issue.

10 Celestial pearl danios would of cost - $244.90 AUD - $174.46USD

10 kubitai rasboras would of cost - $96.50AUD - $68.74

 

[Flyfisha]

The issue Australia has with CPD is all the current stock has come from a handful of ( accidentally) mislabeled fish just a few years ago. An effort is being made to import some new blood but as they are not exactly legally in the country at the moment it’s a bit unknown. Until some more are accidentally mislabeled or brought in legally the Aussie bloodline is kind of weak. My local club members are breeding them at a better price but like I say the bloodline is not strong.IMO.

Ender tetras are available everywhere and a great little cheap strong fish. Yes $4 Australian each is a normal price. Even I have accidentally breed them. I see no reason not to add a few more into the 64 litre/ 17 gallon tank. Perhaps do that soon ? I don’t know maybe 5 more? It’s your call. I have 30 odd in a 140 litre / 38 ish gallon . ( 90 cm tank ) .They don’t get big and they never hunt shrimp.

 

[ProudPapa]

I had a look at these online and they looked really nice but he price became an issue.

10 Celestial pearl danios would of cost - $244.90 AUD - $174.46USD

10 kubitai rasboras would of cost - $96.50AUD - $68.74

Good grief. I got 16 of them a few weeks ago for $60.00 USD (plus shipping, which wasn't a lot).

 

[Jon Crosby]

I do not boil my vegetables. Perhaps our farmers have to work under different rules for using pesticides? I don’t know that . But nobody in my club boils vegetables and all the Californians do. Buy organic if you don’t want to think about it. The list is endless for vegetables that shrimp and plecos etc will eat.
Zucchini is convenient for the human .cucumber drops seeds as does zucchini when they get bigger.
Things like sweet corn cobs will start all the knockers going on about how its not a natural food and its got starch and is to sweet etc etc. Unless you yourself eat sweet corn every day don’t put your left cobs in everyday. Sweet potato. Mushrooms. Silverbeet. Unsalted tinned beans, pumpkin. Etc etc

Do you follow Mark the Scottish guy in Norway?

He has done hundreds of videos of wild foods.This is but one video.

I always buy organic just in case of pesticides I feel like its not worth the chance if something is on it that shouldn't be.

I think I will try sweet potato next, it should be no mess which is the best part. I had a few seeds fall out of the Zucchini when I pulled out the coil.

I don't follow Mark the scottish guy but I do now.

The issue Australia has with CPD is all the current stock has come from a handful of ( accidentally) mislabeled fish just a few years ago. An effort is being made to import some new blood but as they are not exactly legally in the country at the moment it’s a bit unknown. Until some more are accidentally mislabeled or brought in legally the Aussie bloodline is kind of weak. My local club members are breeding them at a better price but like I say the bloodline is not strong.IMO.

Ender tetras are available everywhere and a great little cheap strong fish. Yes $4 Australian each is a normal price. Even I have accidentally breed them. I see no reason not to add a few more into the 64 litre/ 17 gallon tank. Perhaps do that soon ? I don’t know maybe 5 more? It’s your call. I have 30 odd in a 140 litre / 38 ish gallon . ( 90 cm tank ) .They don’t get big and they never hunt shrimp.

I am from the UK, getting fish is so easy and don't need permits etc but out in Aus its so strict which is a good thing long term but can be a burden when you really want something but can't get it.

Yeah I was thinking to add more, will give these guys a week to see how they get on.

Good grief. I got 16 of them a few weeks ago for $60.00 USD (plus shipping, which wasn't a lot).

Yeah Aus isn't cheap for certain fish, I wanted some otocinclus catfish and to get 6 was going to cost me $105 AUD - $74USD back home in the UK they cost 23.70 Pounds - $42 AUD - $29 USD

 

[Jon Crosby]

Feeding time on the weekend. They’ve got a mixed bunch tonight as I am testing out to see what they like the most.
As you can see they have got Carrot, Broccoli, peas and Brussel sprouts.

I put it in the tank went to get a drink came back and was swarmed.

 

[Flyfisha]

LoL I know what happens if you leave broccoli in a warm tank more than 12 hours.
Nothing dangerous or hard to remove.

Me thinks that might be just a little to much for them to eat tonight?

 

[Jon Crosby]

Just over 2 months later I thought I’d leave an update on how the tank is going.

I’ve trimmed back twice since the last update and will be trimming again tomorrow morning.

Picture 1 - one of my healthy floaters

Picture 2 - a full front view of the tank. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from how it’s growing got to be careful with cutting tomorrow and not cut to much.

Picture 3 - a top view looking down into it, a different view than normal

Picture 4 - Limnophila sessiliflora growing sideways and rooting, was going to take out but interested to see what happens with it. Any ideas?

 

[Jon Crosby]

First of all, merry Christmas from Sydney!

So after being away for work for the past 14 weeks my partner has had to take the reins with my tank. She said that the plants are growing and growing and one has started to grow outside of the tank. But she didn’t know where to trim it so I said I’ll do it when I come back for Christmas.

I came home to this….



She wasn’t joking when she said it’s growing outside the tank. I literally have no idea where to even start with cutting it down it has gone crazy. The roots are everywhere… what should I do? Let it carry on or start to try and cut it down. The plant in question is blue strict I believe.



I have topped the water level back up to the top and this is what it looks like… can anyone give me any pointers….

 

[Flyfisha]

Merry Xmas Jon Crosby ,

A little fun fact about stricta, it’s one of the non aquarium plants often sold. While it can grow emersed ( part out of water) it s a marsh plant or marginal plant that will definitely not stay alive under water indefinitely. Not an aquarium plant. My guess is Petbarn can get away with selling these emersed plants because they are goldfish food.

Perhaps cuttings two or three nodes ( leaves ) above the water level will encourage new growth in the form of two new stems from each one above the water ?
To continue the above tank theme you could look into growing pothos?,a vine. Or pond plants.

There are a few plants like this with the rush family being another the can survive under water for months but will never grow happily and eventually die if completely submerged.

 

[Jon Crosby]

Merry Xmas Jon Crosby ,

A little fun fact about stricta, it’s one of the non aquarium plants often sold. While it can grow emersed ( part out of water) it s a marsh plant or marginal plant that will definitely not stay alive under water indefinitely. Not an aquarium plant. My guess is Petbarn can get away with selling these emersed plants because they are goldfish food.

Perhaps cuttings two or three nodes ( leaves ) above the water level will encourage new growth in the form of two new stems from each one above the water ?
To continue the above tank theme you could look into growing pothos?,a vine. Or pond plants.

There are a few plants like this with the rush family being another the can survive under water for months but will never grow happily and eventually die if completely submerged.View attachment 828723

Merry Christmas to you Flyfisha,

I had no plan on having a plant grow outside of the tank it has kinder just happened but I do remember over a year ago when I planted that it wasn't a true aquatic plant. The piece in question was a cutting from my other tank that I would say had been in there for 6 months prior to putting into this tank now. So even though it has been planted for 18 months or so and looks no sign of dying off.

Do you think I should take it out completely? I would like to rescape in the new year (I think)

 

[Flyfisha]

I like the look ,at least for now why change it.

As you are getting new plants in the new year it seems that is the time to pull everything out?

 

[Jon Crosby]

I like the look ,at least for now why change it.

As you are getting new plants in the new year it seems that is the time to pull everything out?

Yeah that's true, I guess I am just impatient. Do you know how long ada soil lasts before it needs replacing?

 

[Blacksheep1]

Just had a read through your whole thread ! That tank was a bargain. It’s looking great, if you trim the sessiliflora the tops will grow back again , lovely plant.

Ada lasts about 2-3 years usually .

 

[SotaAquatics]

Yeah that's true, I guess I am just impatient. Do you know how long ada soil lasts before it needs replacing?

How deep do you want to go down the worm hole? NH4 in aqua soil substrates drops dramatically and can be used up in as little as weeks for a fast growing system or many months for slow growing plants. This is the main benefit you get from using aqua soils over any other substrate and why they usually suggest refreshing them every 12-18 months. ADA suggests every 1.5 years, once most of the NH4 has been depleted in most tank set ups.

You could extend the use of an aqua soil relatively indefinitely by using osmocote (use the NPK one without trace elements) and proper water column fertilizing however at a certain point that is really no different then having just started out with an inert substrate with a high CEC. A fresh aqua soil will almost always produce the best results for about a year before needing to be replaced over any other substrate. I personally am cheap and have too many tanks to be able to afford commercial aqua soils so I choose to go the route of using inert substrates that wont break down over time with high CEC and adding in appropriate fertilizers. The results for me aren't usually an ADA, AGA or other aquascape contest show quality tank, but they work for me and I still toss grocery bags worth of plant growth every month from trimmings.

Here is some testing that was done on what happens to ADA aqua soil over time.
Ada Aqua Soil™ And Power Sand™ Analysis - Volume 5, Issue 1