RCS in unheated, unfiltered tank?

[Redeyeben]

I have a 12litre unheated, unfiltered (and mostly unfed) tank on my window ledge. It currently houses some pest snails and is densely packed with actively growing plants.

I am thinking of adding some shrimp to the tank to liven it up but I don’t want to change the tank set up, I am okay with feeding more regularly instead of relying on algae.

Would this be humane and possible? I want the shrimp to be happy and I am only willing to proceed if that’s possible.

 

[veerserif]

I had a 5gal unheated shrimp tank that was technically filtered, except the cheapo pump in the sump crapped out so much I eventually gave up on it and just turned it off, and the RCS I had in there were completely fine - they'd give me little shrimp babies, the whole deal. By the time I had to break it down it was basically a mass of hornwort, java moss and pearlweed which probably helped!
All that is to say - yes, completely possible, provided the location of the tank isn't subject to huge temperature swings and you acclimate the shrimp initially they should be fine. They're really hardy animals.

 

[mort]

Hi, welcome.

Red cherry shrimp can certainly survive in those kind of tanks but I think the temperature swings, mentioned above, are the main thing to think of. 12 litres isn't a very large volume and by a window is where it will suffer the widest temperature swings in the average house. I'd suggest monitoring the water temperature for a little while to see where the extremes will be, if it's only the odd degree then that should be fine but you will have more to consider in the summer if it's a bright window (12l should be easy to move to a shadier place if need be).

 

[Guest]

This winter some blue cherries in my garage unheated survived -11, with 6inch of ice. They’re in a 140l tub. I suspect they went down to about -6, same as neighbours greenhouse.

I think they’re bomb proof.

 

[Redeyeben]

I'd suggest monitoring the water temperature for a little while to see where the extremes will be

I’ve been trying to do that but lately it’s too cold to even show on the sticker thermometer. At least it’s consistent I suppose. I did have this tank during the summer and I think that was pretty steady around 18C during the day, but I’m unsure what it reached at night.

By the time I had to break it down it was basically a mass of hornwort, java moss and pearlweed which probably helped!

That honestly sounds a lot like my tank currently it must be 60% plant right now. My tape grass started out as 3 plants now I have 15.

This winter some blue cherries in my garage unheated survived -11, with 6inch of ice.

That’s reassuring, were they under the ice?

I think I’ll give it a shot, any tips of acclimation?

 

[MichaelJ]

Would this be humane and possible? I want the shrimp to be happy and I am only willing to proceed if that’s possible.

If you can avoid gross temperature fluctuations which may be difficult on a window ledge, keeping them at say no lower than 16-17 C is OK - the ideal temp is more like 21-25 C - they are actually somewhat more sensitive to very high temperatures rather than very low temperatures. Personally, I would say 12 liters is too small for anything but plants and snails, but if you do add some cherry shrimps just don't add more than a few IMO.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Blacksheep1]

I feel if you acclimated them well enough and chose younger shrimp as they adapt better ( think teenage shrimp not brand new new babies ) then it’s possible with the above advice. Just watch for population explosions and remove as necessary. An underfed tank will only support a certain population. Watch for kh depletion too in such a small tank, a gradual population boom without noticing can crash a tank that small over night.

 

[FISHnLAB]

I feel if you acclimated them well enough and chose younger shrimp as they adapt better ( think teenage shrimp not brand new new babies ) then it’s possible with the above advice. Just watch for population explosions and remove as necessary. An underfed tank will only support a certain population. Watch for kh depletion too in such a small tank, a gradual population boom without noticing can crash a tank that small over night.

KH depletion... Tell me more please😁...