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To shrimp, or not to shrimp?

Smackbat

Smackbat

Member
Joined
27 Jan 2022
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36
Location
West Sussex
Low tech tank nearing the end of its 2nd week. Currently doing 50% water change every other day, about to move to twice a week.
Everything except the anubias petite (which melted) is growing well, Helanthium tenellum is going crazy!
I've noticed some green algae on the sand in the open part of the tank and I'm putting that down to light levels as there is no shade.
Question is, is it too early for a dozen or so cherry shrimp? Should I be testing my water first?
My PH is a stable 7-7.5 according to the tests. Should I be testing for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates before I consider adding live stock?
I've read they don't like frequent large water changes, but then I've read that some people don't experience an issue.
Thanks
 
Smackbat said:
I've read they don't like frequent large water changes, but then I've read that some people don't experience an issue.
Click to expand...
Hi @Smackbat It really depends... The key is to keep the WC water parameters close to the tank water parameters. You don't want too abrupt changes to water parameters - shrimps don't like that and fish don't like that either. So for instance if your tank TDS is say 200 ppm, and you change 40% you don't want to make your WC water outside the 160-240 range (which will result in a TDS of 184-216 ppm in the tank after the 40% WC) as that might induce a TDS shock, same goes for temperature, pH, GH etc. Small gradual changes are fine.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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Don't rush if the shrimp arrive a bit early put them in a plastic tub, the type sold in hardware stores for storage are ideal. Just add a sponge filter or similar and add some aged water even 50% from your new existing tank and 50% new water as long as its been left for a bit 24 hours or so. Not an ideal situation but OK in an emergency. They are tough little critters and adjust quickly.
 
Just saw your note about the ammonia test - probably best to wait for that to go to zero if you can.

Last week I went with an end-of-two-week new low tech tank equilibration run-in then adding shrimp for the first time (Shrimp in the Haus! - Fireplace aquarium). No fish or other livestock and a Tropica Aquarium Soil base. I had been going with pretty heavy Dennerle Nano Bacto Elixier for those lead-in two weeks. The shrimp had no difficulties with the new tank. I did a 50% water change two days ago (3 days after adding the shrimp) which did cause me some anticipatory worry but which also turned out to be totally fine. I drip acclimatised the shrimp prior to adding them to their new home when they first arrived and I would recommend you also go with drip acclimatisation at whatever point you move the shrimp from the water they arrived in when they got to you - it's not worth trying to skimp on this step and then wind up with a lot of could-have-been-avoided trauma. Picture of the new residents enjoying some treats taken earlier today below (can't help showing them off) - these are Bloody Mary shrimp sourced from Pro Shrimp.

20220214_190911.jpg
 
Smackbat said:
Low tech tank nearing the end of its 2nd week.
I've read they don't like frequent large water changes, but then I've read that some people don't experience an issue
Click to expand...
I would leave it a bit longer myself, but then I’m very patient! My weekly water changes are about 30%, in heavily planted tanks - I only have neos which are pretty resilient.
 
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