Preparing to get ghost shrimp

[SuePotter]

For info on my 2 tanks and equipment please find me in the Introduce Yourself forum. I just joined today, Feb 13,2025.

This is my plan for the near future. (Next 2-3 months - it's my limited budget) So in this post I'll keep my questions to tank and plants. Many more questions to come as I near getting ghost shrimp & friends for them.

I am going to be setting up an 18 gallon hex with houseplants and the aquatic plants. I have a 5yo monstera I will be taking 1 or 2 cuttings from, for the tank.

As spring approaches and my spider plant has plantlets- I'd like to add one plantlet also.

Q 1: From watching many videos, I have seen cherry shrimp tanks with these 2 plants. ARE these plants safe for ghost shrimp?

Q 2: I plan to use spring water, sold at grocery store in 5 gallon jugs. IS spring water a safe water to use?

Q 3: IS there anything I'd need to add to the water for ghost shrimp?

I think this is enough questions for my first post here, but feel free to add anything additional that will ensure the tank will be ready in 3 months or so.

Thank you for your time and help.

Happy Bubbles to all!

 

[Fishfur]

Welcome to Fishlore.

Offhand I can’t think of a houseplant you could grow with its roots in the water that wouldn’t be safe for shrimp including spider plants and any of the aroids.

Why bottled spring water? Why not tap water, which is so much cheaper, particularly if your budget is limited?

 

[SuePotter]

Welcome to Fishlore.

Offhand I can’t think of a houseplant you could grow with its roots in the water that wouldn’t be safe for shrimp including spider plants and any of the aroids.

Why bottled spring water? Why not tap water, which is so much cheaper, particularly if your budget is limited?

Thank you Fishfur.

My tap water is well water, loaded sulphore and iron. We actually get our drinking/cooking water from a natural spring. While a DEC officer testing the water said it was the best water she's tested in our; I don't want to introduce unknown critters. Granted none of us have had any issues over the years, I'd still hate to harm and critters.
My plants are given the spring water, but I'll be using cuttings/plantlets so I don't see how that could harm the ghost shrimp or it's friends.

 

[Fishfur]

Thank you Fishfur.

My tap water is well water, loaded sulphore and iron. We actually get our drinking/cooking water from a natural spring. While a DEC officer testing the water said it was the best water she's tested in our; I don't want to introduce unknown critters. Granted none of us have had any issues over the years, I'd still hate to harm and critters.
My plants are given the spring water, but I'll be using cuttings/plantlets so I don't see how that could harm the ghost shrimp or it's friends.

If you can drink the spring water, there’s not going to be anything in it that would harm shrimp.

Any idea about the GH of the spring water? Ghost shrimp prefer moderately hard water with a basic pH.

 

[SuePotter]

If you can drink the spring water, there’s not going to be anything in it that would harm shrimp.

Any idea about the GH of the spring water? Ghost shrimp prefer moderately hard water with a basic pH.

Actually, no I don't. Looks like a test kit would be a good idea.
I've looked at the API Master 5 in 1 kit, do you think that is a good one, or are there better/more accurate kits?

 

[Fishfur]

Actually, no I don't. Looks like a test kit would be a good idea.
I've looked at the API Master 5 in 1 kit, do you think that is a good one, or are there better/more accurate kits?

The master kit, unfortunately, doesn’t include tests for GH or KH though it used to at one time.

Most multi test dip strips have both GH & KH and while they aren’t going to provide a single numbered result they will give a good idea of whether it’s soft, moderately or very hard.

API does sell the GH & KH tests in one box, cheaper than buying them separately.

 

[SuePotter]

The master kit, unfortunately, doesn’t include tests for GH or KH though it used to at one time.

Most multi test dip strips have both GH & KH and while they aren’t going to provide a single numbered result they will give a good idea of whether it’s soft, moderately or very hard.

API does sell the GH & KH tests in one box, cheaper than buying them separately.

Thank you for all your help I'll add it to my Amazon list!

Thanks again and have great day!