New Shrimp Tank

[attibones]

Hey everyone! So today I dug out a 1.7 gallon tank I used ages ago as a betta tank (I'm ashamed). It had an under gravel filter, but now that I know what I'm doing, I realized this particular model really can't be cycled, so I just built my own. I took a soda bottle, filled it with ceramic rings, topped it off with an air pump and sponge, and now I'm starting to cycle the tank.

I'd love to keep cherry shrimp. I have a suitable heater which goes to 76 or 78 degrees but this room is around 74 degrees without a heater. Would this do well?

Also, I'm going to use some fresh play sand. Amazon sword is going to make up most of the tank. If I can find a small enough piece of wood, I'll attach some java fern to it too. I'm going to use java moss as a sort of carpet, since the tank is so small. Does this sound suitable?

 

[Baccus]

I am sorry that I am clueless when it comes to dF or Gallons but I am guessing the tank is around 10-12L and temp will be around 24 degrees Cel. If so then it should be ok as a cherry shrimp tank, they are rather forgiving souls, just watch out that they may quickly out breed their space. Also they are addictive

 

  and one shrimp tank is never enough.
Plant wise I would stick to something slow like an Anubis and mosses like Willow,  Christmas, Flame or fissiden. The shrimp will really appreciate the finer growth habits and chances of finding food in the fine leaves of mosses.

 

[attibones]

The tank is about 6.5 liters. I was thinking maybe six to ten shrimp. Too many?

The Anubis I can get easily. I wanted to use java moss because my LFS does not carry Christmas or flame, but they would probably take an order for me. I wasn't planning on using a lid because I would have a very difficult time finding one that would fit the tank with the sponge filter fitted in. If I put the tank near a window, but not in direct sunlight, would this keep my plants alive?

Oh, in regards to having the shrimp out breed the tank, if they do reproduce, I can always move some to my other tanks. I just wanted a separate shrimp tank.

 

[Baccus]

6 - 10 will be  a good start to a colony. It took my 13 a good six months to get out of control in a 4ft tank. And I can tell you that was a LOT of shrimp I ended up with.
 
Mosses and Anubis should be fine in a well lit but not necessarily lighted tank. I have seen some really good slim line clip on adjustable LED lights for Nano tanks available too which would work with out a hood/ lid on the tank.
 
I know some people report their shrimp wondering out of tanks without lids but to date my shrimp have all been well behaved and stayed in their tanks with no lids.
 
For the other mosses you can always try the sales section of this forum or other online classifieds. You should be able to get them a lot cheaper then what a shop will ask for.
 
Oh and I would also look at giving them one of those shrimp prymids if you cant find a piece of timber small enough to fit in the tank.

 

[attibones]

A shrimp pyramid? I'll have to look into that. My PFS sells a large container of the moss for five dollars, as opposed to the six dollars I recently paid for an amount equal to the size of two quarters. They are extremely cost efficient. But, like I said, they would probably order in some other moss for me. I'll also check into the clip on lighting just to see if I can't find something extra.

 

[Baccus]

Just to give you an idea of what a shrimp pryamid looks like

 
You can get these in both clay like the above one or in black plastic. If you have some polly pipe or small diameter PVC laying about you can even make your own.

 

[Ellieabbott4]

I made my own one of these, I cut a bamboo stick into equal size bits and tied them together with some moss on top. My shrimps love it

 

[attibones]

Oh neat. Thanks guys. I will probably end up making my own, depending on the price. I'm stopping by my LFS today after work (2 hours, sheesh, I want to go home now. Tired) to see if they won't order some flame moss for me. I think it will look really nice in the tank. I may be able to even get some growing around the filter so it looks decent. It's kind of an eye-sore now. I would have to be careful about that though. Is there anything else I should be considering as I look around the store? I have to reduce the amount of sand I have. Hopefully it won't be detrimental to the shrimp.

 

[Baccus]

Nothing I can think of straight away springs to mind.
Have fun at the shop.

 

[Wildbetta]

Sounds like a good start for your shrimp tank.    I have some of the bamboo "logs" although I just scattered mine around a section of the tank.  I also have a clay "wafer" that resembles an ant hill that is for my shrimp.  They love going in and out of the holes.  I bought it from www.bamaplants.com which is not too far from you.  He is great to deal with and I buy plants and wood from him all the time.  My cherry shrimp have never acted like they wanted to "escape" my tank through any holes so I think you will be fine.