Taking the plunge....10 Gallon Shrimp Tank Build

1. I do have an Indian Almond Leaf in the tank and have seen shrimp on it. Also, quite a few plants and driftwood. Algae has decreased substantially. Do I need to feed anything else? I may add a slice of cucumber or spinach from time to time, but do I need to add anything else to feed them?

From my own experience, I personally would not put any vegetables in there. I blanched a zucchini according to a website for RCS and no one- not the RCS or the ghost shrimp would even touch it. (Zucchini was the member's favorite vegetable, followed by carrots.) I tried for probably 1.5 to 2 months on this vegetable idea and the only thing I got was a mess when I took it out 24 hours later each time. Eventually, I stopped and all involved are happier.

On that note, I will say that these RCS are the best cleaning crew in the world. I have probably a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio now in the 10 gallon tank of RCS to ghost shrimp and algae and dead leaves of plants are now a thing of the past. They do poop a lot, but I vacuum that out during my weekly water change (50%) which leads me to your next question.

2. My nitrates seem kind of high for what I'm seeing are ok for shrimp. I've tested almost every day this week and early in the week was up to about 30-40 PPM, so I did a probably 30% WC. This brought it down to about 20 PPM and that was on Tuesday. Since then, every day it is staying at 15-20 PPM. I was hoping that with as much plants as are in there, they would be consuming some of the nitrates but it doesn't seem to be happening. I did another WC tonight of about 25-30%, but it really didn't affect the nitrates much. I have only put in some Thrive once this week because I'm afraid that if I don't, the new plants are not going to establish. It seems that smaller water changes and less frequent are what I need to be doing with a shrimp tank, but it's not reducing the nitrates. I may be overthinking this, but I need help!

This is something I struggled/struggle with as well. I did make a posting about it (HERE, again, if you want), but there were no exacting answers or results from that. And honestly, I continued to struggle with this. Eventually, I thought about it, though, and if the shrimp can survive (and multiply!) in this DC water which (now) has 5-10ppm nitrates and goes up for some magical reason in my tank to 40/80 (I can't tell the difference), I will accept that. So, I continue to do 50% water changes every week and everything is hunky dory.

Also two comparison notes- (#1) I don't use any chemicals or fertilizer in the tank except prime when changing the water. (#2) I don't have a planted tank. Just gravel at the bottom and all of my aquatic plants are free floating. I have lots of pothoses rooting/growing in there as well, in the hopes that they will suck up nitrates, but that still doesn't seem to be the case.

Now, the interesting part- at least in my mind. In the past couple of weeks, I decided to add about 15 ember tetras in this tank. Before adding them, I did a water change and cleaned two of the three filters I have. (one of these and one of these LINKS FOR BOTH) Nothing fancy- I just squished the sponges in the waste water and shook the bio media in the waste water as well to rid if of any loose sediments or plant gunk. The next day, after acclimation, I measured the nitrates. These had actually gone down to 10/20! It was not enough time for the fish to have much of an impact, so I am guessing that maybe there was lots of gunk/stuff (?) in the filters making nitrates. The next water change, I did the same thing with the third filter (a green sponge one) and so on Tuesday, my water change day, I will see if all three filters being cleaned helped bring the nitrates down. I've never read about this happening before, but hey, it worked, so I'm glad.

 

Wow! I'm doing that with my sponge filter today! Maybe that's part of the issue.

Thanks for the tip with the vegetable. I'll refrain from doing that then. I feel like in the 10 gallon there is enough to keep them fed if they want it. I just don't want to starve them.

Here's a pic of the tank now by the way. It's kind of a mess of jumbled plants, but I like it that way. I feel that it makes them more secure and it looks more natural.

 

Looking Good!
As mentioned rinsing the sponge filters maybe the solution for the high nitrates. I had a dual sponge setup and I would rotate the cleaning. Mine nitrates hoovered around 5-10. Also, once the plants were established I rarely added any ferts. I had Otos and rabbit snails with my shrimp. So I did add vegetables. Zucchini and Brussels sprouts they enjoyed it. Here are a couple of pics at feeding time.








Let's see if the "Shrimp Guru" richiep has any ideas.

Good Luck!

 

Looking Good!
As mentioned rinsing the sponge filters maybe the solution for the high nitrates. I had a dual sponge setup and I would rotate the cleaning. Mine nitrates hoovered around 5-10. Also, once the plants were established I rarely added any ferts. I had Otos and rabbit snails with my shrimp. So I did add vegetables. Zucchini and Brussels sprouts they enjoyed it. Here are a couple of pics at feeding time.


Let's see if the "Shrimp Guru" richiep has any ideas.

Good Luck!

Love the pics!! How many Otos do you have?

 

This topic of high nitraits as been something I've tested for myself over this past and have done some documentation, all.my shrimp tanks were always run on double sponge filters and like the rest of you things would jump about making me do extra water changes on certain tanks to yet them down, no doubt the amount of veg like broccoli breaking down played a part as the shrimp came in shifts treat it so I left it in, so I decided to change all my filters except 1 to Aquael Versamax and the results have been truly amazing. I was going to do an article on this but now I've been asked by jmaldo I'll share the findings here,

Let's start with the the media I changed 9 tanks over to Biohome media, in the 1st photo shows the two types, I'm using both in the same type of filter and the both claim to do the same job, so it just depends on your filter as which type you pick


The next series of photos show a constant colour once the filters got seeded and settled down, until I started to see a change I left the sponges in with them for a month then over the next few water changes this media showed just what it can do.
The 1st here still shows some nitraits but from there on things change to all tanks except one
The one with sponges









The one tank with double sponge I left in I cannot get the nitraits down, although they do fluctuate quite a bit I could not get them down so as with the rest I changed the filter system, the 1st photo is with the sponges in place


The 2nd picture here is with biomedia I took the sponges out Thursday you can see a difference but I expect to drop drastically in a week


Conclusion biomedia dose work
Advise anyone running sponge filter id take out every week and clean in changed tank water

 

This topic of high nitraits as been something I've tested for myself over this past and have done some documentation, all.my shrimp tanks were always run on double sponge filters and like the rest of you things would jump about making me do extra water changes on certain tanks to yet them down, no doubt the amount of veg like broccoli breaking down played a part as the shrimp came in shifts treat it so I left it in, so I decided to change all my filters except 1 to Aquael Versamax and the results have been truly amazing. I was going to do an article on this but now I've been asked by jmaldo I'll share the findings here,

Let's start with the the media I changed 9 tanks over to Biohome media, in the 1st photo shows the two types, I'm using both in the same type of filter and the both claim to do the same job, so it just depends on your filter as which type you pick
View attachment 784907
The next series of photos show a constant colour once the filters got seeded and settled down, until I started to see a change I left the sponges in with them for a month then over the next few water changes this media showed just what it can do.
The 1st here still shows some nitraits but from there on things change to all tanks except one
The one with sponges
View attachment 784908
View attachment 784910
View attachment 784911
View attachment 784915

The one tank with double sponge I left in I cannot get the nitraits down, although they do fluctuate quite a bit I could not get them down so as with the rest I changed the filter system, the 1st photo is with the sponges in place
View attachment 784925
The 2nd picture here is with biomedia I took the sponges out Thursday you can see a difference but I expect to drop drastically in a week
View attachment 784933
Conclusion biomedia dose work
Advise anyone running sponge filter id take out every week and clean in changed tank water

A lot of really great information! I will admit that I only have 1 sponge filter running right now, but I do have a seeded extra sponge running in another tank that I can move over. I will start with that in addition to cleaning it in the tank water weekly.

I took a look at the filter that you recommended. It's pretty expensive and it didn't have good reviews. What have you found that separates it from other smaller HOBs?

 

This topic of high nitraits as been something I've tested for myself over this past and have done some documentation, all.my shrimp tanks were always run on double sponge filters and like the rest of you things would jump about making me do extra water changes on certain tanks to yet them down, no doubt the amount of veg like broccoli breaking down played a part as the shrimp came in shifts treat it so I left it in, so I decided to change all my filters except 1 to Aquael Versamax and the results have been truly amazing. I was going to do an article on this but now I've been asked by jmaldo I'll share the findings here,

Let's start with the the media I changed 9 tanks over to Biohome media, in the 1st photo shows the two types, I'm using both in the same type of filter and the both claim to do the same job, so it just depends on your filter as which type you pick
View attachment 784907
The next series of photos show a constant colour once the filters got seeded and settled down, until I started to see a change I left the sponges in with them for a month then over the next few water changes this media showed just what it can do.
The 1st here still shows some nitraits but from there on things change to all tanks except one
The one with sponges
View attachment 784908
View attachment 784910
View attachment 784911
View attachment 784915

The one tank with double sponge I left in I cannot get the nitraits down, although they do fluctuate quite a bit I could not get them down so as with the rest I changed the filter system, the 1st photo is with the sponges in place
View attachment 784925
The 2nd picture here is with biomedia I took the sponges out Thursday you can see a difference but I expect to drop drastically in a week
View attachment 784933
Conclusion biomedia dose work
Advise anyone running sponge filter id take out every week and clean in changed tank water

Spot on Richie. I've found that over time those nitrates will drop to 0. I use biomedia in all my tanks and after several months they all run at 0 nitrates. Even if I start a new tank with seeded media it will run at under 5 nitrates and drop to 0 about a week after the cycle finishes

 

I remember a discussion here a year ago and I was using biomedia in a filter then and posted about no nitraits but now I've done a better and more comprehensive test to prove it works

A lot of really great information! I will admit that I only have 1 sponge filter running right now, but I do have a seeded extra sponge running in another tank that I can move over. I will start with that in addition to cleaning it in the tank water weekly.

I took a look at the filter that you recommended. It's pretty expensive and it didn't have good reviews. What have you found that separates it from other smaller HOBs?

The aqael is a big filter although they have a range of three, the reviews are probably set against its price but i can't fault the 8 i have and the other is an all pond solution filter and retails in the UK £19 and packs as much media as the aquael so you can pack a lot of media in, my tanks are all 10g when using smaller hobs go for the small biomedia to pack more in,

 

That's a good track record! I chose the Sponge filters because so many places recommended them as something that the shrimp would like because of less flow and they'll pick at the organisms and junk in the filter. I'm not above changing that up if it will help. I did move the 2nd sponge filter to the tank when I did the WC earlier. I'll take a look at the nitrates a little later and see if there's any change.

Back to the filters and biomedia...a while ago, I had taken out the cartridges on my HOBs on other tanks to add sponges. It's a MOD that I saw in a video on YouTube. I have further modified a little by adding polyfil to filter out the smaller junk. On a couple of spots, I have added nylon bags of bio balls as well. Seeing what you're talking about, I'm wondering if it's time to tweak again. Perhaps adding the media that you described would be a better option.

 

That's a good track record! I chose the Sponge filters because so many places recommended them as something that the shrimp would like because of less flow and they'll pick at the organisms and junk in the filter. I'm not above changing that up if it will help. I did move the 2nd sponge filter to the tank when I did the WC earlier. I'll take a look at the nitrates a little later and see if there's any change.

Back to the filters and biomedia...a while ago, I had taken out the cartridges on my HOBs on other tanks to add sponges. It's a MOD that I saw on on YouTube. I have further modified a little by adding polyfil to filter out the smaller junk. On a couple of spots, I have added nylon bags of bio balls as well. Seeing what you're talking about, I'm wondering if it's time to tweak again. Perhaps adding the media that you described would be a better option.

Whrn you say bio balls do you have a picture or link to what you are using

 

This is it: Biological Filtration Bio-Filter Balls | Marineland®

 

This is it: Biological Filtration Bio-Filter Balls | Marineland®

In the uk we don't use them in filters at all, the only place you find them are in large baskets in ponds or garden center large goldfish tubs, they are designed to roll around in baskets where a good water flow exist to keep knocking them into each other, that's their true purpose .
As for filters they are just no good your better off taking them out and putting larva rock or biomedia in, as it stands your loosing good valuable space space, just but taking these out and replacing you will find and increas in bacteria and no doubt less nitraits

 

In the uk we don't use them in filters at all, the only place you find them are in large baskets in ponds or garden center large goldfish tubs, they are designed to roll around in baskets where a good water flow exist to keep knocking them into each other, that's their true purpose .
As for filters they are just no good your better off taking them out and putting larva rock or biomedia in, as it stands your loosing good valuable space space, just but taking these out and replacing you will find and increas in bacteria and no doubt less nitraits

Good to know! I appreciate it!!

 

Love the pics!! How many Otos do you have?

I had 3 in the 10g with the shrimp and snails. It did take awhile to find some to survive. Since they are usually starved by the time we get them. Been keeping them for years.

 

A couple of more pictures. They were really out last night and I got a couple of good pics! It's so different than having to take 20 pictures of constantly moving fish and having one kind of turn out. The shrimp let me get close and focus and take some nice ones...

 

Remember I said about the red legs well the first picture clearly shows them so that one goes straight back in, you can slso see red legs in the 3rd picture so that one also goes back, the middle shrimp although thd legs are clear the body as a nice deep red and something I would work with so she would go back in as well,
At the end of the day its what you like, if you're not happy with them then don't do it,

 

Remember I said about the red legs

Forgive me...I went back through the whole post to see what you were referencing, but couldn't find it. Poor memory here I suppose, but can you restate what you said about the red legs? Maybe it was on another post that I did about shrimp?

I appreciate the help and knowledge sharing!!

 

Sorry Leeman I've lost the plot here i asked in another thread for pictures of shrimp this person wanted to return to the main tank from the cull tank and when you posted these pictures well you seen my answer, its probably age related on my side

 

Sorry Leeman I've lost the plot here i asked in another thread for pictures of shrimp this person wanted to return to the main tank from the cull tank and when you posted these pictures well you seen my answer, its probably age related on my side

LOL!! You're not alone in this! I just assumed that it was me...

 

I've done this on other threads its so easy to loose track when you've got ½dozen youranswering to,
Thats my excuse and sticking to it

 

I've done this on other threads its so easy to loose track when you've got ½dozen youranswering to,
Thats my excuse and sticking to it

Hey, you're answering questions and helping people...some grace is well-deserved!

I have found that I've also done the same thing when answering threads about things that I'm knowledgeable about. It's funny that at the same time that I'm starting a Cherry Shrimp tank, my perception is that there's a lot of other people also posting about Cherry Shrimp.

 

The shrimp & invert section as a great following and knowledgeable people I'm just fortunate that I have the time to keep fishlore active this is the only reason people see more of me

 

I've done this on other threads its so easy to loose track when you've got ½dozen youranswering to,
Thats my excuse and sticking to it

I always love your posts and learn so much. Your humor (humour!) also makes my day! Thank you for always sharing the wealth of information in your brain!

 

A lot of really great information! I will admit that I only have 1 sponge filter running right now, but I do have a seeded extra sponge running in another tank that I can move over. I will start with that in addition to cleaning it in the tank water weekly.

Quick update about the nitrate discussion. As promised, I did another 50% water change on Tuesday and before adding new water, I tested the nitrates. I was down to 10/20! I really think cleaning out the sponge filters helped!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make a direct comparison this Tuesday since I removed/added plants to the tank, so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

 

Ì

Quick update about the nitrate discussion. As promised, I did another 50% water change on Tuesday and before adding new water, I tested the nitrates. I was down to 10/20! I really think cleaning out the sponge filters helped!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make a direct comparison this Tuesday since I removed/added plants to the tank, so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

its starting to work then

 

In the uk we don't use them in filters at all, the only place you find them are in large baskets in ponds or garden center large goldfish tubs, they are designed to roll around in baskets where a good water flow exist to keep knocking them into each other, that's their true purpose .
As for filters they are just no good your better off taking them out and putting larva rock or biomedia in, as it stands your loosing good valuable space space, just but taking these out and replacing you will find and increas in bacteria and no doubt less nitraits

I took those bio balls out last week and replace with lava rock that I had already. Thank you for the suggestion!

As for an overall update...I had some really cool findings last night when I was watching the tank!

Number one: I have a baby shrimp in there (I think that I may have seen 2). Here's a couple of pictures of it. One by itself really zoomed in. The other is with a normal sized (or maybe even large) adult. So excited by this. I would imagine that these were maybe tiny uncolored babies that hitched a ride when I bought the original 8 two weeks ago. I can't imagine that they would have colored up like that in such a short time if they were born in my tank. Also, I have seen that molting has occurred as I saw a couple of shells a day or two ago. One more also...I saw an adult yesterday that is berried. So more babies are coming!!




Number two: My nitrates are in a good place in the tank. Seem to be about 5-10 ppm each time that I have done a test this week. Also...check out the picture of my plants pearling! I've never had a planted tank doing so well that the plants are pearling like this!




Number three: The shrimp have friends...I found a bladder snail! It surely hitched a ride either with the shrimp or in some plants that I received recently. There are some very young snails that are still translucent that I was wondering what would be...I'm guessing baby bladder snails. I know that they can get numerous if left unchecked, so I may have to consider doing something about them eventually.




Number four:
A couple of leaves of Duckweed hitched a ride with the shrimp 2 weeks ago and it's starting to multiply. You can see it from the top of the tank. I love how it and the Brazillian Pennywort (imported from my hex tank) is floating at the top. I know that these can take over quickly, so I'm keeping an eye on it and will harvest when it becomes too much. But, I've always wanted a heavily planted tank that has things growing wild in it and it's actually happening and it's very good for the inhabitants! I'm stoked!

 

Your tank will benefit from the extra bacteria that will colonise in the lave rock, it will take 2 weeks for the bacteria to spread into the lava rock,
That was a good move

 

New update:
I went away for a week and came back to find that the duckweed and Salvini have spread at the top of my tank and roots are coming down just under the tanks surface! I've always loved that look and wanted that in my tank. The tank is really looking wild and I love it! I don't see as many shrimp as I used to when they first went in. There's always a couple out. Mostly, I see 2 big ones and two of the baby ones. Hopefully that doesn't mean that I've lost a bunch.





One other really cool thing...I've achieved 0 (zero) nitrates!! See pic below! I tested it twice to be sure.