... Ladders for shrimp?

HI y'all.

Okay, so this might be a really silly idea, but hear me out.

I've been thinking about my current setups, and I think I want to transition my 10 gallon into a bottom-feeder exclusive tank. This would mean moving my rummynose tetras into the 20 gallon with my pearl gourami (the tetras have interacted with my betta and show no interest in nipping any fins, so I feel confident about their compatibility). If I do this, I'd have:

Corydoras sterbaI x1
Corydoras habrosus x2
Amano shrimp x1
Cherry shrimp x8

Since a 10 gallon tank isn't all that much surface area to graze, I got to thinking. What if I make some sort of shelf, or terrace, so as to make an entire second "bottom" for them to feed on? Maybe it could double as a cave/hide, since the habrosus can be pretty shy and I think they'd like a place to get out of the light.

I'm not sure what I'd make it out of, because it would have to be smooth for the cory cats and sturdy enough to hold sand/maybe small plants. Would this even work? Do you know of any premade hides/structures with concave tops that I could fill with sand? I'd like to keep the tank looking semi-natural if possible, since everything in there right now is natural. Also--and this is the silly part--would the shrimp appreciate little staircases/ladders so they can walk up instead of swimming? I suppose they can climb, but imagine how cute a shrimp using stairs would be.

I've also considered making sort of a driftwood "forest" for the same purpose, but wood gets in the way during water changes and healthy wood is expensive. Plants are great, but I'd like to utilize the top area of the tank a bit more. I've assumed rocks are too heavy, as I don't want to shatter the tank, so some kind of fake rock/clay material would be really cool if anyone knows of any.

Suggestions would be much appreciated!

TLR- I want to create more "bottom" space for my bottom-dwellers and utilize the top levels of my tank more, but I'm not sure how to go about it.

 

Surface area is key! Maybe a couple of cryptocoryne of some sort and slate sheves with sand on top? Some marimo moss balls too. Shrimp are excellent swimmers but will graze on anythimg with biofilm!
Amazon.com : Natural Slate Stone 3 to 5 inch Rocks for Miniature and Fairy Garden, Aquascaping Aquariums, Reptile enclosures & Model Railroad. (5lbs) : Pet Supplies

 

Surface area is key! Maybe a couple of cryptocoryne of some sort and slate sheves with sand on top? Some marimo moss balls too. Shrimp are excellent swimmers but will graze on anythimg with biofilm!
Amazon.com : Natural Slate Stone 3 to 5 inch Rocks for Miniature and Fairy Garden, Aquascaping Aquariums, Reptile enclosures & Model Railroad. (5lbs) : Pet Supplies

I agree with the shrimp that they will use it I’m just not sure the Corys would swim up. I’ve never had them so I can’t really comment. I know most recommend 6 cories since they school.

 

I have a terra cotta pot that is about 4 inches above the tank bottom and my cirrus love to chill inside it. So I do think the corries would use it

 

I read on another page that oak is safe in aquariums. oak trim comes in many sizes and shapes. maybe you could build structures using oak and glue, with lead weights to keep them down.

 

I agree with the shrimp that they will use it I’m just not sure the Corys would swim up. I’ve never had them so I can’t really comment. I know most recommend 6 cories since they school.

Our seven cories are natural explorers - they do rummage around on the bottom a lot but there's not a surface (rocks, driftwood or leaves) that they haven't visited. They like to get in nooks and crannies too. You are right about numbers too - at least four preferably 6 - they do explore individually but they like to get back together too.

 

Surface area is key! Maybe a couple of cryptocoryne of some sort and slate sheves with sand on top? Some marimo moss balls too. Shrimp are excellent swimmers but will graze on anythimg with biofilm!
Amazon.com : Natural Slate Stone 3 to 5 inch Rocks for Miniature and Fairy Garden, Aquascaping Aquariums, Reptile enclosures & Model Railroad. (5lbs) : Pet Supplies

Good suggestion, I hadn't thought of crypts! And yeah, they seem to have plenty of grazing space at present but I figure more wouldn't hurt.

I agree with the shrimp that they will use it I’m just not sure the Corys would swim up. I’ve never had them so I can’t really comment. I know most recommend 6 cories since they school.

Right, I'm planning on getting more habrosus when my LFS has some healthy ones, and I got the sterbaI (originally in a group of 4) before I realized they get a bit large for a 10 gallon! They're all active and feed well, so I don't think they're super stressed about it, but I am planning on adding more habrosus.

I have a terra cotta pot that is about 4 inches above the tank bottom and my cirrus love to chill inside it. So I do think the corries would use it

Terracotta might work! Thanks for the suggestion.

I read on another page that oak is safe in aquariums. oak trim comes in many sizes and shapes. maybe you could build structures using oak and glue, with lead weights to keep them down.

Yes, it looks like oak is safe along with some other types that grow here. Good idea!

Our seven cories are natural explorers - they do rummage around on the bottom a lot but there's not a surface (rocks, driftwood or leaves) that they haven't visited. They like to get in nooks and crannies too. You are right about numbers too - at least four preferably 6 - they do explore individually but they like to get back together too.

Yeah, they definitely get everywhere! I am planning on getting more habrosus (the sterbaI is a bit of a story but he does seem active, healthy, etc) when my LFS has some healthy ones. In the meantime they don't seem too stressed, and I would rather wait a bit longer for healthy fish than stress them out further by introducing disease into the tank.