(Part 2) Best products from r/shrimptank

I was in your shoes not too long ago, it's overwhelming! Here's a list of things that I bought, but I am not an expert so if others have better input go for that:

Equipment

• 10 gallon tank with hood
  
• Broad Spectrum Light The one that came with the hood did not provide enough for the plants, you definitely need to invest in a broad spectrum bulb.
  
• CaribSea Flora Max Substrate I learned that shrimp prefer darker color substrate, this was worth the investment! My shrimp were so unhappy with cheap gravel, after switching to this substrate they are very active.
  
• Air pump
  
• Sponge filter
  
• Heater, maybe optional for you?
  
• Thermometer
  
• Gallon Bucket
  
• Siphon
  
• Seachem Prime Because it's a smaller tank, I ended up poking a pinhole sized hole in the seal so that I could use it as drops rather than pouring it in.
  
• [Seachem Stability] (https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-67101230-Stability-500ml/dp/B0002APIIW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1499786377&sr=1-1&keywords=seachem+stability) Use this while you're cycling your tank, follow the instructions.
  
• API Test Kit
  
• Feeding Tray For the longest time I was really confused as to how the feeding tray worked, you can either get a tube or pre-soak the pellets and then drop them into the tray using long tweezers. This will help prevent ammonia/nitrite spikes.
  
• Long Tweezer Set
  
• Pellets Do also feed them blanched vegetables, make sure to peel the skin and buy organic to avoid chemicals/pesticides
  
• Timer Outlet Worth the investment! So you don't have to keep remembering to turn the light on and off.
  
  Shop for whatever is cheaper, I have a huge heater because I had an extra one from before. I've read that it's not necessary but also have read that if you want them to breed you need to stimulate warm water. For now, I keep the heater off and leave it at room temperature of 72F. They seem very happy! Most important in my opinion, add plenty of plants and a marimo ball or 2.
  
  Lastly, I'm unsure of the siphon, I think it's good to have a bucket and siphon just in case your water parameters are looking bad so you are prepared to do a water change. From what I read, shrimp have a very low bio load and should be able to sustain themselves. Make sure to do tests regularly.
  
  EDIT I just read that this is your first aquarium, so here is a detailed write up:
  
  Setting up your tank
  
  
• 1. Find a stable top to place your aquarium on, keep in mind a well sunlit room will mean more plant/algae growth. Make sure it's sturdy and made for heavy objects, don't want to place it on a flimsy shelf or it might break! I keep mine on top a waterproof place mat because water drips are going to happen.
     
• 2. Rinse everything as a precaution! NEVER use dish soap!! If you must sanitize, vinegar is okay. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly. Also, NEVER use any kind of soap on your hands before handling things, just rinse well with water. Add your substrate, I lightly rinsed mine as there are beneficial bacteria living inside the substrate, pour it in. Make sure it's at least 2" of floor. Your water will be cloudy if you bought the substrate I listed, don't worry as it will settle after an hour and be clear.
     
• 3. Fill water half way, use a small plate and pour the water on top of that to avoid the substrate being pushed around. NEVER use hot water! If you're using tap water be sure to always use cold water. It's also recommended to purchase "RO water" (Reverse Osmosis Water) as some times your tap water can be too "hard". The best thing to do is use the test kit on tap water and go from there. If the kH/gH are very high 100+ you will need to use RO water. I like to place my plants and decor now while the tank is half full. Place in your thermometer, heater, sponge filter, etc. After that, continue to fill all the way to the top remembering to aim the stream on top the plate. Leave about a half to an inch from the top.
     
• 4. Take out plate, plug in filter, add in Seachem Prime and Seachem Stability. Please read the label for instructions and dosage according to your tank size. Since there is nothing inside you can add it after you've added the water to the tank. Moving forward, be sure to add the chemicals in the water bucket BEFORE pouring into the tank.
     
• 5. Turn on filter, wait for the water to settle and temperature to come up. They say shrimp can tolerate 52F to 86F but ideally room temperature water is best, this is where your water heater will come into play. Follow which ever cycling method you choose before purchasing your shrimp. This can take up to 6 weeks.
     
     After your tank has cycled
     
     
• 1. When adding your shrimp, there are many methods, the way I acclimate my shrimp is:
     
• 2. Put the shrimp in a 1 gallon tub using the water that they came in.
     
• 3. Drop in a tablespoon of the tank water, ONCE every 2 minutes.
     
• 4. After the water has reached 1/3 old water, 2/3rd new water, your shrimp are ready to be placed into your tank.
     
     Please don't skip the important step of acclimating your shrimp! They are very sensitive to water changes and this ensures that they will survive.
     
     Here are my water parameters, people have all kinds of ranges but this is what works for me:
     
     
• kH: 60 / gH: 40 / pH: 7.0 / NO2: 0 / NO3: 20 / Ammonia: 0 / Temperature: 72F
  
  I hope this helps... again, I was in your shoes not too long ago, it was really overwhelming. But after a lot of research I think my tank is in a good place :). Other users, if there's anything in my list that seems incorrect please let me know!

I had to change the sponge filter to a smaller one that would fit in current filter repository, this one appears to be entirely plastic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KZJYC9G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A7SIQ2Y2T11UM

My tank currently has frogbit, and duckweed... the growth is crazy on it but keeps the water very clean. Also have moss(s) and some anubas in this tank so it's pretty heavily planted.

The petri dish is a great tip, guessing glass ones are better than plastic so they sink? Any recommendations on places to pick a cheap/decent one from? Would think a nice expensive scientific dish would be a waste of money, and could be better spent on other items.

I have an API master test kit, but it doesnt have GH/KH testing capabilities. thinking i'll get cheap test strips to test my water from the faucet/current levels to know what i need to do. or are the electronic readers better?

Plenty of Oak trees near me, and i'll be sure to use the oak leaves as needed. Love using free things when i can lol. My fiance stocks our house with what seems to be great shrimp food as well, so that'll help the wallet.

Just to be clear, you mean CRS to be "Crystal Red Shrimp", right? RCS "Red Cherry Shrimp" are a different species?

I've been keeping a 20L with RCS for over a year, and i would say i've just gotten the tank stable enough to start thinking about Caridina shrimp (CRS).

As a warning, i would suggest that you start out with neos. Shrimp can have a very hard time in new tanks. I'm on my my third, and it takes months before a tank becomes "comfortable" for shrimps. Neos are much hardier than Caridina, and won't interbreed. I've also heard tales that Caridina are more aggressive feeders so there are no real worries about the Neos overwhelming Caridina.

To address your questions:

• I wouldn't pull molts out, the shrimp will eat them. Don't stress it if you vacuum a few out though.
  
• If your tank is cycled, shrimp will provide a small amount of bioload that will stabilize. Extra food is a much more significant bioload add.
  
• I don't know about Caridina, but my Neos love their "shrimp tubes". I know these are used in industrial scale shrimp and crayfish farming. They're cheap and inert, so maybe look into them.
  
• Again, Neo specific, but my shrimp don't seem to care about lighting, even very high light intensity.
  
  Just to review your last point: One of the things that my shrimp seem to be very sensitive to is stability, and new tanks just don't have that. As a good starting measure though, i would look into Biozyme.
  https://www.amazon.com/Genchem-Biozyme-50g-Microorganism-Shrimps/dp/B01JHNCJ5O
  It does wonders at adding artificial "biofilm". I'm sure there are similar products, but you need to make sure that every surface in your tank is established with biofilm (shrimp food!)
  
  Best of luck

Well, $42 I think on amazon. But, sometimes I've seen them cheaper. But, have to be honest, depends on what you have in the tank, where it's located in the house, and what the house ambient temp is year round.

So, I have three 5.5 gallon tanks:

One has an Aqueon 50 watt preset heater with shrimp in it, heats low to mid 70s pretty much year round, ok for shrimp, not so much for fish. This is on an outside wall, so the 72F in winter is something I have to watch out for. If it's an exceptionally cold winter/cold snap, I'll add a Cobalt Aquatics 5 watt for a boost. And since I have glass lids, the lights do generate some heat if they lay on the glass vs raised off the glass w/those little "legs."

Another has the Cobalt Aquatics neotherm, it was stuck for well over a year at mid 70s because no matter what I did I couldn't adjust the 2 buttons at the same time, I called them they offered to send a new one for free...I didn't receive it as scheduled but I also didn't bother calling them back, I'm sure they would have resent. Just this year, I took the lid off, pulled the suction off the back glass, and grabbed that sucker with both hands and I guess I gave it the leverage needed to force the stuck button, so now it adjusts lol. my laziness really not wanting to do all that before now but the tank was planted and I didn't want to destroy everything doing that... now I'd been using it as quarantine, so not really anything much in there so no worries lol.

And the third one is also on an outside wall. This one has a 20 watt TopFin Betta preset heater AND a Cobalt Aquatics 5 watt preset and this winter when it was really cold, an Aqueon 10 watt preset. I can play mix and match like this because I have had quite a few little nano tanks that I've decommissioned so I can do that. Right now, it's 85F in the daytime so I've only got the 20 watt and the temp is 78F.

The only heater of the above ones I mentioned that was expensive was the Neotherm, so...you could go for a cheaper one.

ha! I decided to see if they had a 50 watt Aqueon PRO and they do!!! Says it's 9 inches high, so it's shorter! And less then the neotherm.

Hey all, I’m finally preparing to make the leap into shrimp keeping. I have a ~15 gallon tank (pictured above with water bottle for scale) with a sponge filter and I have a large piece of wood with Java ferns in another tank I’m going to move into it. I’m new to shrimp and planted tanks and am very excited, but in need of some advice as far as necessities.

I’m planning on getting the following:
-Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum (8.8 pound) substrate
-this LED Full Spectrum Light
-some java moss for ground cover

I have a couple questions as well:
-Are there any small snails y’all would recommend?
-What test kits would you recommend?
-Is RO/DI water necessary?

I’m looking forward to becoming a part of the community! Thanks for your help!

The air flow on the tetra whisper 10g is pretty low, I'd get a stronger pump and an airline splitter. I have a tetra whisper 40g I got for about 8 dollars on amazon that runs a big sponge filter and (with a splitter) 2 additional airstones that I use to aerate my tap water jug to help gas off. The good thing about the splitters is if the pump is too strong you can use the valve to lessen airflow, or make 1 thing strong flow and 2 things light flow etc.

It has a hole that you can see right through it. I might not be the right dimensions, but it looks like this.

I have the tetra 3i filter. I couldn't get any pictures of the tube, but it has a thin plastic cross covering the opening... But it seems that could be easy for the shrimp to get suck in through those gaps.

Are you suggesting something like this? I'm looking around on Amazon for a similar one that would fit the dimensions. Any recommendations are more than welcome!!

I also have recently done this with a 10 Gallon tank. I recommend putting in an Apple/Mystery Snail and a Otocinclus Algea eater once the tank is established for some time. Oh, and a Bright light so algea and biofilm can grow to feed stuff. I recommend this light, as it works great for me. Have fun.

Oh, and here is the substrate I used.

I have the 60: https://www.amazon.com/AZOO-AZ13097-Mignon-Filter-60/dp/B005VEWCMO

The 150 is also good.

The only reason I went with the 60 is because it's very small, and there is little bioload in the tank it's on.

Sunsun makes smaller rated canisters but they are still bigger than a HOB. This is a small one https://www.amazon.com/TechnToy-HW-603B-3-Stage-External-Canister/dp/B00CC6SCJQ or https://www.amazon.com/SunSun-Hw302-264GPH-Canister-Filter/dp/B00MGX7JXA/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1469731069&sr=1-1&keywords=sunsun+canister+filter

Also like snowmunkey said, aquaclear HOB are also an excellent choice.

Yup thats exactly what happeneds.

I learned about it from this video here by Aquarium Co Op

https://youtu.be/VfAJ3ITS3Nw

I bought a DIY Co2 kit from amazon that uses vinegar and baking soda.

https://www.amazon.ca/ZJchao-DIY-Aquarium-Plant-System/dp/B008CUZJF6/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=diy+co2&qid=1571041282&sr=8-3

Hope that helps :)

Thanks, I'll do a bit more research on CO2 before I pull the trigger. I'll probably end up buying this since it's pretty cheap and seems good for a beginner.

I have that same tank full of Cherry shrimp, at least 50 of them and heavily planted. I replaced the light with this Nicrew LED and it works great. I use the Fluval Mini CO2 with a diffuser instead of the reactor chamber it came with, I just didn't like how it looked in the tank but it works fine. I only run about 1 bubble per second for about 4hrs a day and the plants grow like crazy. You will need to modify the filter by putting filter floss on the inside of the filter slots or a fine mesh on the outside to keep baby shrimp from being sucked into the filter, Makes a lovely little planted shrimp tank overall. I use Ecocomplete substrate.

Pretty sure it's a sponge filter. Something like this

I don't do too anything fancy. Break up an algae wafer, very small pinch of fluval shrimp food, and for shrimplets I do go a bit fancy with Bacter AE Then sometimes I put some fresh veg for them and the snails. Thin slice of cucumber.

I would like to try some nicer foods for color, but my shrimp are breeding pretty well so I'm not worried about it. I'm a bit of a tight ass when it comes to spending money.

Thanks for this. Is any praziquantel method okay? It's gotten a bit worse so I'm trying to find a method to cure the entire tank. These are the products I found (usa). Which do I use?

https://www.amazon.com/Aquascape-81041-Praziquantel-Treatment-Ounces/dp/B00M2Z3IUA

https://www.amazon.com/Tapes-Thomas-Labs-Capsules-praziquantel/dp/B075F1YY9N/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Praziquantel&qid=1565124445&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-2

For both, it says to remove any chemical filtration. I have Seachem Purigen in my filter. Would I be removing that for the entire 2-3 weeks? According to http://aquariumbreeder.com/shrimp-disease-scutariella-japonica-treatment/ it says to do a 30-40% water change after treatment. Does that mean after the first dose? How long do I wait before doing the water change?

Or does it mean do a water change after the 2-3 weeks once treatment is complete? Or both? I'm sorry for asking so many question, but I would greatly appreciate it!

Edit. I have a planted 10g and I see multiple shrimp with it

This isn't necessarily the "right" one, but it works for me and it was pretty cheap compared to all the others (get the 20"-27" for a 10 gallon and there is currently a used one on Amazon for $24 instead of $31):
https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Aquarium-Light-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B01C84SLRO?th=1

Using this kit from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCXOPKP/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The recipe it comes with uses citric acid and baking soda. Has been working like a charm since I got it in June

This one? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CC6SCJQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MLYjzbTJ3RE5Y

If not, can you link me the correct one?

What's the best solution for protecting the shrimp from getting stuck in the filter?

Yeah so I decided to do no fish, just shrimp and snails. Does this look like a good tank? https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Culture-Aquarium-10-gallon/dp/B06XQQKDL8/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=aquarium&qid=1571072920&refinements=p_n_feature_seventeen_browse-bin%3A7955317011&rnid=7955314011&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1

​

What filters would you recommend.

The same, a couple of T-shaped sponge filters, Matten filter if you want as an addition to them.

Substrate is optional for neocaridina shrimp, and, if used, be inert. Black sand, not too fine, allows them show more intense colors. If you will be using tap water, not too soft, using active substrate is not a good idea, it will be exhausted sooner and adding tap water during water changes will increase pH, substrate will lower it, next water change increase it again, creating jigsaw of pH, not good for shrimp health.

Other shrimps: macrobrachium prawns, ghost shrimp, purple zebra shrimp can use setting for neocaridina too. Then there are fan shrimp, see their requirements online, I'm not familiar with them.

Then there are soft cold water Caridina shrimp, requiring soft water, active substrate and cooling in the summer.

Last is hot alkaline water Sulawesi shrimp, rocky ultra low nutrients environment, more expensive than more usual shrimp. Lava rock small gravel or anything else stony.

Personal observation, could be coincidence, middle priced shrimp (CND $10-12) were much healthier for me than low price shrimp, with lower mortality, no matter was it neocaridina or soft water caridina. Maybe they were grown in better environment.

Useful things to have: GH/KH test kit and TDS meter with calibrating solution. If you will have problems with tap water, Using RO water with remineralizer like Salty Shrimp Shrimp Mineral GH/KH+ for neocaridina or SS Bee Mineral GH+ is a way to go.

Take a look at youtube for shrimp tank setups, for example, Marks Shrimp Tanks.

Hello I was having the same issues as you in which my water had a low tds (around 40) and high phosphates so I decided to get an ro unit without the di and I am pretty satisfied. [I went with the ro buddie that gets sold on Amazon for about 55 bucks and it's quite cheaper today.] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DOG63OY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zAfmzb2AQ0QVQ) I personally prefer this one because I only need ro water every 2 weeks for water changes on my 10 and 20 gallon shrimp tanks so in total only need about 3-4 gallons every 2 weeks. My ro water comes out at a tds of 3 ppm with the ro buddie but if you want it to come out at zero, you can also purchase the di part as well.

The Tank

https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Fish-Aquarium-Starter-Gallon/dp/B01LCZMHPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536884869&sr=8-1&keywords=aqueon+10+gallon

For the gravel I het a $5 discount card since I bought some cat toys, so I got that for $7 from Petco. I would recommend the fluval shrimp stratum though

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Plant-Shrimp-Stratum-4-4-Pound/dp/B00JGQIY48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536884958&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+shrimp+stratum

Then I got this set of marimo balls

https://www.amazon.com/Marimo-Moss-Ball-Variety-Pack/dp/B00I323A0E/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1536884997&sr=1-4&keywords=marimo+balls

Got some pre-filter inlet covers

https://www.amazon.com/LTWHOME-Pre-Filter-Sponge-Fluval-Aquarium/dp/B00J5Z44OE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536885057&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+prefilter+sponge

API Freshwater test kit for $20 from amazon

API GH KH test kit for $8 from amazon

a basic TDS electric meter for $10 from ebay

I got salty shrimp 100 grams for about $20 off ebay

Then I bought a piece of driftwood from the Pet store for $10

I got three java moss balls from the pet store for $6 each

Bought an Anubias plant from the pet store for I believe it was $12

I got 3 amano shrimp and 5 CRS from the pet store, prices vary so check your own pet store.

Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum, 8.8-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JMABYUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qudACbR35MDM5

Works great for this nano planted tank setup.

I recommend this one make sure you get the large version that has the double sponges. Then you just connect an air pump with some airline tubing

For the blanched veggies, they're probably too scared of the betta picking them off. Mine love spinach the most. You could try a powder food that the shrimp go crazy for, I put a link of the one that was recommended when I was researching. Do some searching for a better price or smaller size, it goes a longgggg way.

GlasGarten Bacter AE Shrimp Tank Treatment (35g) | Nutrients for Live Freshwater Shrimp Food/Aquarium Water (Neocaridina, Amano, Red Cherry, Rili) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KB9KDUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V6tGDbRPKCT6E

Ah, it's actually a little more than $50.

https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life-Reverse-Osmosis-50-Gallon/dp/B00DOG63OY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480457897&sr=8-1&keywords=ro+buddie

This is a common one saltwater people like to buy. That's the cheapest one I know of that people recommend a lot. (I don't have this one.)

Keep in mind that you can drink RO water as well, and many people buy RO water systems not for fish but for drinking.

In my opinion, sponge filters are the best shrimp tank filters. No possibility of sucking your shrimp in, and the shrimp can feed on the sponge.

I use one of these for my 5 gallon tank.

The white stuff is "snow" food from aquarium creation and the green thing is boiled spinach. The dish is just a feeding dish I got off of amazon.
https://smile.amazon.com/Shrimp-Feeder-Feeding-Aquarium-Supplies/dp/B01DTRCARG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503732437&sr=8-1&keywords=shrimp+feeding+dish

I'd go with this https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-100106105-Pro-Heaters-50W/dp/B003C5JNXK 50w, i think you can't go wrong with those from what i've researched, if you want peace of mind and price isn't an issue that is, glass heaters always have a chance of going bad.

Sadly doesn't look like they sell them in Europe :( there's the newa pros which look similar but not sure if they're as good.

And i do the same, i'd rather keep my taiwans/pintos at 23c all day long than having the heater off and having it jump from 23 to 20 etc.

I use a pre sponge filter. You can find them on amazon. I happened to purchase these.

Here is the mobile version of your link

https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life-Reverse-Osmosis-50-Gallon/dp/B00DOG63OY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500572872&sr=8-1&keywords=RO+buddie

Little to tall, found this one looking at that one though. Pricey, but thin and short.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AGHH8Y/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DTRCARG?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

I have a Tetra 40 running 2 single sponge filters. Set on a towel, can't hear it run at all. $9.39 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009YF4FI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon?

Yeah, I'm using Fluval substrate for my 10 gallon. My tank itself should be fine since I bought it new and I've never medicated it. I think it's something wrong with my tap water

I’d move them back to the tank ASAP and pick up a filter sponge for your filter intake. I use the “fluval edge” prefilters on my aquaclear HOB filters with no issues. LTWHOME Pre-Filter Sponge/Foam Set For Fluval Edge Aquarium (Pack Of 12) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5Z44OE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FMJACbBKN82TE