Shrimp in 18G community

So I'm starting to get keen on adding shrimp to my tank, and looking for some experiences from those that have kept them.

I've read the guides, both here and elsewhere, but would value personal experience.

It will be a matter of what I can get, but I'm thinking RCS and Tiger.

Looking at 12-24 in an 18G (70L)

Things I'm wary of:-
Filter intake - I have the standard 12mm (0.5") Eheim intake?

My apisto may just find them too irresistable - although he is still quite small and should stay that way.

Fertilisers - I currently use Seachem Flourish Root tabs and Flourish Comp, as well as Excel - I know RCS are sensitive to copper (Cu), should I be concerned with any of these adversely affecting them?

CO2 injection - currently disconnected, but normally DIY kit is running.

Parameters at last check:
pH 8.0 (this should come back down to around 7.2-7.4 as I've been double dosing excel lately)
GH - stays relatively constant at around 120ppm
KH - stable at around 53ppm.
Amm, Nitrite, Nitrate = 0, 0, 0 (planted tank)
Temp - stable at 24.5-25C (76-77F)

Environment - plenty of plants (see profile), lots of dark places, and options to climb etc, for photos of tank: New Additions to my planted | Aquarium Plants 89533

Anything I'm overlooking before I dive in to this?
Acclimation - I assume a slow, multi-hour drip method would suffice?
What about Calcium ???

I think I should be ok, but let me know if I'm being a bit ambitious.

 

Try ghost shrimp first. They are sold as inexpensive feeders (around thirty cents each in my area) and thus you will not be at much of a loss if your little apisto or glowlights just can't resist them. As long there isn't elemental copper in the tank, it should be fine. Copper Compound is often found in fertilizers, but is, as I hear, all right for shrimp and snails. Your numbers should be fine, as shrimp are much cleaner then shrimp. I want to introduce a few shrimp to my tank sometime and see what my own Borelliis think of them as soon as I get around to it, if you haven't already done it, I'll let you know. Good luck!

 

Try ghost shrimp first. They are sold as inexpensive feeders (around thirty cents each in my area) and thus you will not be at much of a loss if your little apisto or glowlights just can't resist them. As long there isn't elemental copper in the tank, it should be fine. Copper Compound is often found in fertilizers, but is, as I hear, all right for shrimp and snails. Your numbers should be fine, as shrimp are much cleaner then shrimp. I want to introduce a few shrimp to my tank sometime and see what my own Borelliis think of them as soon as I get around to it, if you haven't already done it, I'll let you know. Good luck!

Copper is not safe for snails at all. Anything containing copper or copper sulfate should not be used on a tank with snails in it. As for shrimp I'm not entirely sure.
Snails+Copper=No more snail.

 

I agree with getting your toes wet first with the ghost shrimp, mostly to see if your other fish eat them. Don't be surprised if they die off quickly for no reason, it happens. I use the flourish root tabs and they don't seem to bother my amanos.

 

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Hmmm, ghost shrimp, will do some more research. I don't know how 'cheap' they'll be here. Everything aquarium related in Aus is expensive, including livestock

If they are the same price, I'll go RCS

Still welcoming all comments, this won't happen for a week or two anyway (assuming I can find them, shrimp seem to be rare in my parts lately).

 

Copper is not safe for snails at all. Anything containing copper or copper sulfate should not be used on a tank with snails in it. As for shrimp I'm not entirely sure.
Snails+Copper=No more snail. | Furallicah 84190

Not even Copper Compound? Good to know. I have read specifically on the compound for RCS, but whether the site was correct or not, I am now questioning.

Good luck Ryan- and if you can't find ghost shrimp for cheap, try to find feeder shrimp at least. If not possible, then good luck with the RCS.

 

I'd say no to Ghost shrimp. Most of these guys are 1: predatory and would eat baby shrimp (in case you decide to get another species) and fish fry (in case you get any), and 2: often bred for being feeders so are often riddled with parasites and such.

You have vast choices of shrimp looming in front of you. RCS, BPS, yellow, snowball, green shrimp, tigers, CRS, bamboo, vampire, etc. Research each one carefully, sooner or later, one of them would ring that bell in your head.

 

I use flourish comp and excel in my shrimp tank without any noticeable side effects.

I don't know if you'll manage to keep dwarf shrimp with an apisto, definitely go with something cheap to find out. Even if they do survive you definitely won't be having any shrimplets in the tank.

 

Thanks again.

Jeta - not too fussed about 'shrimplets' although would be nice if it happened.

Still on the hunt for some shrimp though. Things suddenly got a little busy in life....