shimp tank advice...

**matthew.shelly** · 04-06-2009, 02:49 AM

so i want to set up my 2.5 gallon tank as a shrimp tank. I was going to use some regular gravel and some larger rocks for decor. I would use java moss both for decoration and as a filter (since I don't know of many filters that will fit well in a 2.5 gallon). I can get one of those small heater pads, but I read somewhere that Amano Shrimp can live comfortably in tanks without heater (like room temp water, 59-80ºF). I was wondering if this was true?
I was looking for some suggestions concerning basically anything in the tank. the shrimp, the decor, the equipment (or lack thereof)...

**PUNISHER VETTE** · 04-06-2009, 02:55 AM

well i have a 2.5g shrimp tank...

It's got normal gravel, lots of obsidian rocks, and a ton of java moss temporarily right now.

Amano shrimp are big... much bigger then cherry shrimp. You might be happier if you had more smaller shrimp then Amano ,which are usually used to eliminate algae. although they still looks nice just not very colorful.

Mine however does have a small filter. Without it the water doesn't have any movement and a thin layer of yuck grows on top.

**invadertoast** · 04-06-2009, 03:02 AM

I don't have a shrimp tank yet but I do have three 2.5 gallon betta tanks up and running with heaters and filtration. I use an Elite mini in one that works great but the current is kind of strong. In the other two tanks I use Tom's mini submersible filters, they come with alot of attachments for outflow so in my crowntail betta's tank I use a spraybar pointed to the rear of the tank so he doesn't have trouble swimming in the current. I know some people just use an air pump and a simple sponge filter too. I can't really help with your temperature questions. sorry!

http://www.petdiscounters.com/c213/D...ter-p7171.html

EDIT: I also wanted to add that I've heard those heater pads can be very unreliable, I've been using mini tetra heats that I found at Wal Mart in my small tanks and so far they've been great and kept the temp constant.

**matthew.shelly** · 04-06-2009, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by PUNISHER VETTE

Amano shrimp are big... much bigger then cherry shrimp. You might be happier if you had more smaller shrimp then Amano ,which are usually used to eliminate algae. although they still looks nice just not very colorful.

Mine however does have a small filter. Without it the water doesn't have any movement and a thin layer of yuck grows on top.

cherry shrimp would be awesome too. what kind of filter is it?

**PUNISHER VETTE** · 04-06-2009, 03:44 AM

Originally Posted by mattshelly88

cherry shrimp would be awesome too. what kind of filter is it?

It's just a tiny Aquaclear.
I've got a piece of netting on the intake to keep the shrimp from getting sucked in.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...r30powerfilter

**matthew.shelly** · 04-06-2009, 04:28 AM

neat. do you do water changes very often? is there anything special you feed them? other than algea wafers?

**Gemini** · 04-06-2009, 06:08 AM

I keep cherry shrimp and I feed them algae rocks, and once/twice per week they get a tiny bit of crushed up Hikari Crab Cuisine. Otherwise they are eating dead plants and the algae on the glass (well keeping algae off the glass really...)
Algae rocks - rocks from the community tank that get covered in algae!

Shrimp need an established tank - as for water changes my tank is quite heavily planted especially for the bioload so I monitored nitrates for awhile to see what they were doing and they don't show. So I just take out about 25% every fortnight and top it up with water that has sat with dechlor for over 12 hours.