Will This Let Me Keep A Carpet And Crs?

Wanna keep a nano with a carpeting plant. Also want crystal red shrimp. Most sources say CO2 and shrimp do not mix. So, was wondering if the following method would work:

>dry start a tank with monte carlo, wait until it fills in
>flood the tank, give carpet it's first trim
>give it lots of CO2 and fertilizer for first week
>over period of a couple of weeks, slowly back down on the CO2 each day
>after several weeks remove CO2 altogether
>add cycled filter media to the filter of the now mature, well planted tank
>add crystal red shrimp

I may opt for some hardier neos instead, but would this method ensure that I can keep my carpet and shrimp without the added risk of gassing them? Monte carlo isn't a high tech plant so once it is established I can back down on the CO2 no problem, right?

 

As long as your not gassing them, many crystal breeders have used CO2 injections in their tanks without problems. All you need is good water surface movement (like at night, an airstone on a timer) so they have plenty of O2.

 

As long as your not gassing them, many crystal breeders have used CO2 injections in their tanks without problems. All you need is good water surface movement (like at night, an airstone on a timer) so they have plenty of O2.

The tank is only 3 gallon so it's going to be hard getting the CO2 to a sweet spot. The filtration will be sponge or trickle so I'm not too worried about CO2 build up at night being an issue.

I have heard CRS don't really breed in CO2 injected tanks, though.

 

I have co2 on a 7gal, not too bad to hit the sweet spot.... 3gal will be a touch more difficult, but not impossible.
Never heard of issues with crystals and co2

 

I have co2 on a 7gal, not too bad to hit the sweet spot.... 3gal will be a touch more difficult, but not impossible.
Never heard of issues with crystals and co2

I just don't know how they'd handle the pH swings, especially since they require a really low KH. Any advice? I plan to use remineralized RO (Salty Shrimp GH+) and I have an active substrate that buffers pH to 6.

EDIT: If you are telling me it's safe I'll opt for dwarf baby tears instead. I still need a good bright LED though.

 

Neos are more of an issue with buffered substrates and co2 then crystals, I know many who have no issues with co2....ph swing from co2 has no effect on fish/inverts, as it’s a temporary change due to the co2 in the water, not something that is a permanent change...
(Not sure how to better phrase it, hope this makes sense)

 

Neos are more of an issue with buffered substrates and co2 then crystals, I know many who have no issues with co2....ph swing from co2 has no effect on fish/inverts, as it’s a temporary change due to the co2 in the water, not something that is a permanent change...
(Not sure how to better phrase it, hope this makes sense)

I've just always heard caridina are notoriously sensitive to water parameter fluctuations, so I want to be safe. I think a miniature IwagumI setup with CRS would look so nice...

 

Yes, to permanent fluctuations, not to temp ones caused by co2

Can’t wait to see the pictures! Sounds perfect!

 

Yes, to permanent fluctuations, not to temp ones caused by co2

Can’t wait to see the pictures! Sounds perfect!

One more question, better to add shrimp before I start CO2 or after?

 

One more question, better to add shrimp before I start CO2 or after?

Do you mean the daily CO2 or the weeks in which you allow the plants to fill in?

 

Do you mean the daily CO2 or the weeks in which you allow the plants to fill in?

If I'm doing dry start, then after I flood the tank. Should I add shrimp first and wait for CO2, or get CO2 established on the system first?

So the latter I guess.

 

If I'm doing dry start, then after I flood the tank. Should I add shrimp first and wait for CO2, or get CO2 established on the system first?

So the latter I guess.

Yeah, I would do the latter just so you can play around with it and allow it to stabilize.

 

Yeah, I would do the latter just so you can play around with it and allow it to stabilize.

Thanks, appreciate the help!

 

Going with above, shrimp can handle the small fluctuations of water parameter, espeically when its extremely gradual like CO2 injections.