Is a shrimp only tank easier to maintain?

[Raws69]

Hi

really struggling with maintaining two tanks and working weekends. Looking to sell one, but another option is to just keep shrimp for now, but will this cut down on maintenance?

 

[thatblokeoverthere]

Absolutely. I have three tanks and maintenance is really only tidying up the plants and keeping on top of the water. Between the shrimps and a few nerites I have barely any algae so there is very little to do.

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[Raws69]

Why water change scheme do you do, is it still 50% weekly?

 

[thatblokeoverthere]

I don't. After the tanks are properly established I just top up with RO water as and when. Obviously I still monitor parameters but they stay very stable, Shrimp produce very little waste.

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[Raws69]

Ok, so other than topping up evaporatio, there is no need to change the water assuming I just keep an eye on the plants and shrimp for issues. Cheers

 

[thatblokeoverthere]

Other people will have other opinions, that's just what I do, but I can't see the harm if you regularly monitor parameters.

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[Driftless]

I have a UNS 60u that is shrimp only, we do weekly WCs along with the other tanks but that is because we have a system to do all the tanks at once. I think that a shrimp and snail tank is really easy to maintain particularly if you don't have any stem plants. Moss, carpet, crypts, Java Fern, etc., all work really well in a low-maintenance tank.

FWIW - we do about a 30% WC on the shrimp tank.

 

[Raws69]

I’ve put my 2nd tank up for sale on here but as a fall back I can clear the fish and go shrimp only but want almost no maintenance jobs on the tank.

 

[Driftless]

I’ve put my 2nd tank up for sale on here but as a fall back I can clear the fish and go shrimp only but want almost no maintenance jobs on the tank.

Everything that lives requires care and maintenance.

 

[SudhirR]

IMO shrimp only tanks still need periodic water changes. It will certainly not be drastic as requiring 50% or more water changes every week.

My shrimp only tank was low tech with only some easy plants and I used to do about 20% water change every 2 weeks. Some times more than 20% but the two week duration was to ensure that shrimps have enough time before their molts.


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[aec34]

I do about 30% weekly change on my no CO2 shrimp tank, and quick look over + glass rub with toothbrush as needed. Filter clean about every 6 weeks. It’s easy mostly because it’s small I guess and well established - only 20 litres.