Another Small Setup

[MaloK]

Well. With my somewhat controlled MTS...

I'm already up to 4 Tanks in a little more than a year returning to the hobby. (not too bad, all are small and I resisted 3 months between each)

Another revamping of a good old vintage kit. This will be my "Commercial" shrimp breeding tank and going to use a completely different approach that I did in my Small Planted Setup.

This time I'm going to use an air driven filter only and some more active substrate in key area, completed with inert stuff to even the bottom. I will also try to green out all the walls and bottom with a thick layer of green algae during cycling by blasting the tank 12 hours a day with the light at 107% and a good overdose of fertilizer.

I might have some good litter that I consider, maybe wood too and a clump of green string algae that does extremely well at digesting waste and for some reason helps keeping the PH Low, I proven myself it was a pretty beneficial algae in a shrimp tank in the last 8 months. And it's free, loll. It's still in the work but all the material will be here next week.

Atm my culling choice from the first tank gives me the options of trying very nice Bloodymarys, Pumpkins and literally Black Roses. I have some so black they have only a little white left in their legs and a light blue reflection. These would be a good contender to be able to raise my price.

The greenish smudge is on the glass. It's like the Batmobile. I have enough good specimens of each to start colonies, but have to decide...

 

[BigDog]

Very nice looking shrimp

I understand what you mean when you say you are up
To 4 aquariums

At one point I had 15 aquariums up and running

All at the same time

I had mostly different kinds of plecos and shrimp

 

[MaloK]

Setup been running for 3 days And have been technically seeded thoroughly on the 3 biological levels I could think of... For an attempted screeching startup. I started with 1 ppm ammonia... After 24-36 there was already a slight bacterial bloom that dissipated in 12 hours. I immediately raised ammonia to 2 ppm.

Even pressed and soaked in Bacterial enhancer, the air as still not completely vented from the filter sponges. These are incredibly fine and should keep the bio media sparkling clean.

The Fluval Q2 pump should be more than sufficient, the filter blows like a jet when I crank it up

After checking as much as my brain could on the "Properties" of the Eco-Complete substrate, I concluded that 2 pounds for 5 gallons is "rich" enough. I seeded it with bacter AE and placed it in the middle of the tank. Filled it slowly without disturbance.

And oh yes, it's already showing 0.25 ppm of nitrite I hope it rolls and the same happens with my "specially" prepared denitrification ceramics.

I made a major error in my enthusiasm and brainlessly introduced a clump of algae in the system, without even thinking a second that the donor tank is ridden with trumpet snails But I might have on my side that they hate it, are going to have a really bad time with water chemistry. At least it's not bladder snails and they can't hide in there...

I have not tested hardness yet, but it should be close to what I expect, since I use the same recipe as the main tank.

Looks a little less blueish now.

I knew this setup would be sparkling water all over the canopy, but it's not too bad after a couple days, the light seem to be mostly safe.

But it spits it your face when opening the hood.

 

[BigDog]

Very good start on your aquarium

I really like the big leaf and where’s it’s located at

 

[MaloK]

Since this whole thing will end, as an another test anyway.

And the nitrogen cycle has already kicked in... I thought why not instead of adding ammonia on regular basis and maintaining a regular level.

Why not put all the ammonia required at once. I know from experience that these tanks will require 3 ml of 10% ammonium to complete a cycle over a long time. like up to 2 months in worst cases. Lets see if that stalls.

So I dropped 2 ml in the tank, that brought me from a little under 2 up to 8-10... API certified.

Since I'm going to try Murphy's law to a reasonable extent, while at it... why not add.

A complete sides and background aluminum foil cover with one of my best algae growing light in front of the tank.

I can see Biofilm already building up on the substrate.

Hope I haven't poisoned everything with the ammonia spike.

But atm even the algae clump looks like it's not going to make it.

Everything is going well. Nature is taking care of it.

 

[MaloK]

I may have been talking too fast about the Algae clump not making it... Lolll.

This thing has a mind of it's own... After been tucked in a corner (the green spot on the bottom right in last pic.), couple days later it already moved itself to the center of the tank and trowing strings in the light. It took advantage of water movement and placed itself in the center of nutrients path and is aiming directly to it's easiest path to what it wants. At first I thought the diffuse whitish strings was melting... No, it's expanding. In over 8 ppm of ammonia and will probably blow off the chart in nitrite next week. It thrives.

Since the cholla was in it's path, I tried to remove the leads keeping it down and it was already sunk. I moved it to the corner. And let go.

As I can see, the tank has no invertebrates occurrence as far and wide possible. if it remains that way in a couple months. I will QT selected shrimps to make sure that absolutely no hitch hikers makes it in.

Only Algae, biofilm and shrimps.

I'll try to post a pic every 7 days, or close.

I also Added a Nice piece of cuttle bone to try help cutting back on chemical calcium supplements.

While I'm trying as much as possible to not clutter this too much... I'm already toying to add something I could make from an old coconut I used to breed plecos.

Many of them cracked in storage, but I have a few survivors that could be shrimpifyed.

 

[MaloK]

Surprisingly... Tuesday there was no more ammonia and nitrite was going to get off chart soon. I still added a ml of ammonia to keep it running... Thursday, there was 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. Darn... The tank is already cycled...

I saw seed shrimps in the beginning of the week but they all died. It was perfect... But... Nooooooo detritus worms are there and starting to eat my biofilm...

I reluctantly made my way to realize that they have to go. So with all I could read from the med pro here. I used a little praziquantel to stun the infestation and bring them to the bottom with a turkey baster, then sprayed them with Fenbendazole. It seems to have worked, because they are part of the biofilm now. I Might have to redo it once again but it was really effective. Anyway the tank is already reaching really noxious levels of nitrate. I will have to change some water soon. It's getting greener and the glasses are starting to grow air.

Here's the pic of week.

 

[MaloK]

Another week when away...

The invading algae took 2 more days to completely obscure the tank from light, loll. What an aggressive species. It feeds on nitrogen at every stage of the process and drinks nitrate like nothing. I would love to make a freshwater refugium with that stuff, filled with seed shrimps and 18 hours of light per day.

The last 1ml of ammonia I put in was already consumed. I thought I might try to punish it a little for making me waste good ammonium like that. So I took a chop stick and winded it until it looks like a cactus in the middle of the tank. And let it go from there... I anticipated that the center of the packed algae should start to rot an create free ammonia at some point. But not like that. 2-3 days later, that bring us to Friday. Ammonia was spiking way off chart like if, all the ammonia I dosed since the start was released at once. Nitrite was still 0 and Nitrate where still going down.

This is how it looked Saturday, the "thing" was already springing out:

I did a windshield cleanup, remove the clump of algae, added the rest of the substrate. Made a 50% water change, for some reason water was getting really dark... Installed a garbage bag in the back. Botched the rest in... And dropped the coco shell.

While it's very good news for CaribSea Eco-Complete... It's not for me in that setup. It's starting to build a little biofilm and such... But it doesn't promote algae the slightest. I might have to add something to convince it some more. The cholla wood and Catappa leaves are building a clean thick layer of biofilm and that is great. Especially the cholla, this thing is a real must for biofilm eaters.

In a couple weeks, I must finish plants / decor / all... I Have to come up with a creative way to have everything 100% removable, without cataclysm.

This is how it looks now:

 

[MaloK]

In the days following the removal of the string algae the cycle looked like it stalled, at least got impeded. today's test indicates that it's slowly keeping up and ammonia was nearly gone and nitrite is dropping.

Sadly the seed shrimps came back they are still in low number, but I can see molts flowing in the water... Will have to live with them from this point. The biofilm layer greatly improved.

Next week no matter what, I'm moving on with plants and adjust the lightning to closer emulate daylight. The cycle should be in good shape and getting closer to be able to add the Cherry Shrimps.

 

[MaloK]

After looking around, and being really deceived... For the price. Coconut Shells are still a solid winner in aquarium decor. For 4$, I nearly made 4 plants pots. One cracked and will find a way to repurpose it... I simmered them a couple hours on the oven and changed the water 3 times.

My LPS doesn't even bother to know what they are selling and I bought 3 unknown plants... Can't make that up ! They where in such bad shape, I cut a deal for a bunch that where going to trash soon. and surprise Marimo Balls are in display, so I got 3.

I QT the Marimos under close observation. I unwrapped the 3 aliens, their root system was turned to mush... And in addition. Peroxided them until their leaves starts to foam. And brutally rinsed them... So, there wasn't much left to plant... But enough for hope.

I added a couple more scholla and catappa to gain more biofilm surface. Some sand, trying to keep a slope from the front to the back in direction of the filter... Sprinkled with a little shrimp poop from my lucky tank.

The cycle is still struggling at the nitrite stage, with the... Insane amount of ammonia I'm putting in. But... Nitrate is lowering, last reading was not off chart and getting down, keeping account of the presence of nitrite in the water... This was taken before the addition of plants.

Speaking of, looks like fast growers that wants a lots of light.... I hope at least 2 makes it... I have space to move the 3rd, if it becomes too much... Atm they have 16 hours daytime emulation with 100% at noon and very nutrient rich water.

Next weeks will show how shrimp friendly this will become. All pictures from the start have been taken with 100% light.

 

[MaloK]

Next weeks will show how shrimp friendly this will become.

Really fast... Nitrate fell well under crustacean threshold and since the water is perfect for them... Seed Shrimps taken over and are eating everything, loll...

They are going to clean the glasses like new in a couple weeks and steal all I have done for the cherries...It is what it is...

But a freakabunch of observations are coming together to establish a invertebrates only environment where I can take advantage of snails and seed shrimps at the same time... And together promote a healthyer environment for Cherry Shrimps.

Foremost proeminent problem is snails... In large quantity common undesirable ones simply poison the whole environment until only them can survive and while many fishes are able to thrive in these conditions... 0 other crustacean will. While I have no multiple iterations of the phenomena, I have enough proof with seed and cherry shrimps to act on it. If seed shrimps are not making it so will Cherries.. But seed shrimps represents a really challenging food competitor.

So the idea is to have just enough snails to control seed shrimps. But they somehow in large number prevent even cherries from multiplying.

I relentingly looking at assasin snails... Since I want to remain with crustacean only. But they might tilt the thing back toward seed shrimps.

They are literally eating the cuttle bone.

 

[MaloK]

Annotation post:

Regarding the nitrogen cycle, latest readings shows an incredible ammonia processing speed. With a somewhat slower nitrite and nitrate contending... But, they are both lowering at the same pace and have a cherry shrimp ready environment in a couple weeks.

Already the the plant I installed as semi floating, is trowing down long roots all along their stems. I will probably have to remove one of the 3 soon, before they get entangled too much. And will probably compared to the other, invest the whole tank at record pace.

Another precision I'm not following adequately is plant fertilizer, I stopped adding as soon as nitrate blown of chart and added only trace mineral since.

I'm expecting complete nitrogen cycle with denitrification accomplished really soon...

With only one 50% water change done since inauguration ! I'm hoping for a near maintenance free setup.

Filter is going strong, no signs of clogging and water flow is divine for shrimps.

I'm starting to think how I can trick the shrimps I want in... I'm going with the batman black. They occupy the lower part of the diversity tank and are the most elusive and straight cut beast of the place.

They are not as gullible to take in custody as many others... But I can manage a dozen and more to start up with.

As a curiosity... They are also the only ladies not berried atm and there is a lots of big boys "patrolling" the place.

 

[MaloK]

Spoken too soon once again...

The seed shrimps have eaten everything... The glasses are looking like brand new... Some can grow algae, others nope... Not me. Invaded to exhaustion.

But the water chemistry is going in the right direction for sure and will buckle up a complete nitrogen cycle soon. The place is so swarmed with seed shrimps, I have difficulty to find snails... That gets instant firing squad assigned upon sight. And 2 where dispatched in the last days...

So with the absolute explosion I got, I tried to seed, seed shrimps back into snails ridden tanks with them once more... And this time it seems that I insisted enough for a good start. Can wait for no maintenance glass... At this point I got to get in the flow.

Pic will be up as soon as light reaches next 100% level.

 

[MaloK]

Water tests revealed that the ammonia was 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate <5 ppm. So I added more ammonia up to 2 ppm.

Plants are looking like they are going to make it. I moved one to the left and there was already roots coming under the coconut. the floating one developed long string of roots.

The tank is ridden with seed shrimps and detritus worms. Note the side glasses, the cuttle bone and the cholla in the center are completely cleaned up.

Also there's a little intruder that I can see zipping trough the tank when the light comes on in the morning and it also appear a little before they close. It looks like an amphipod, it's quite large, I thought it was a small shrimp at first.

 

[MaloK]

Another week completed.

On the chemistry level. I didn't add any ammonia since last time but there is still some left and that is special.. Nitrite are 0 and nitrate is still under 10 close 5...

I believe the seed shrimps that are absolutely eating everything (did I mention it) are contributing to production of ammonia. There's some in the test tubes. They resisted the reactant and where still swimming when I cleaned them.

Since this is supposed to be my professional cherry shrimp breeding tank... I went deeper the shrimp shaft. And finally grasp a vital hint... That the master never explains... No where... But they all let this 2 little phrases escape from their mouths: "This is a breeding tank." and "This is a grow tank."...

By jove !!! Are you kidding me ! There's the same ratio of male and female in grow tanks... but they are not reproducing at all. They are growing... Incidentally if I would have checked them first I could've discover that faster.

But I'm even happier that I understood on my own. Breeding tanks and grow tanks have a pretty different water chemistry. Now I don't really understand at 100% the acute difference. I have still managed to make both. And one tank is ridden with babies and the other has no birth. But the shrimps will live and grow a lot longer... Many months.

It's my first complete turnover, the second is already around 2 months old and the results are aiming in bullseye. The shrimps in grow tank that are younger are already bigger...

Another enforcing observation: There was a female with a "ready saddle" that molted and when back with no eggs... There's is 4 males ready and patrolling all over the tank. It's basically impossible she could hide in this setup.

Soooooooo... If what I'm thinking is right... I need another tank soon. to make sure I can reproduce the chemistry.

There's more than one amphypod. I seen them. That might bring another facet to the equation further. Plants are doing good. But I might have to start to cut back on fertilizer because they are going about 10x faster than my normal tanks. loll.

Here's the cleaning crew taking care of an unfortunate snail.