Setting Up New Shrimp Tank

[VL1990]

Hi everyone,
 
I am wanting to set up a new tank purely for my shrimps. I set it up today and included water from my mature fish tank in and also added some safestart live bacteria into it. What I wanted to know is how long should I wait before adding my shrimp into the new tank? I have ordered some cherry shrimps which shall be arriving Thursday should I add them to my fishtank first or just pop them straight into the new shrimp tank?
 
Also what temperature would you recommend? I plan to have bamboo shrimp, cherry shrimp, malayan shrimp, and hopefully some bee shrimp if i can get hold of some.
 
I already have 4 amano shrimp should i keep them with my fish or move them to the shrimp tank as ive heard they can eat the nano shrimp and my nano shrimp keep mysterierisly dissapearing?
 
Thanks for advice

 

[Baccus]

While it is true that shrimp produce a small bioload (provided they are not in huge numbers), there is no way that shrimp tolerate the fluxuations of a new tank. Shrimp especially bee or crystal shrimp need very stable water parameters and this is not achievable with a totally new tank.
The range of shrimp that you are wanting to keep all together makes it hard to give a good temp range for the tank. Bee shrimp generally do better with cool temps in the low 20's (degrees cel) while cherry shrimp can tolerate a wider range of temps. But always keep in mind stressing a shrimp through temp, can just allow secondary diseases/ infections to take over. So at a real guess ( considering I don't really know the needs of bamboo or Malayan shrimp) then a  good tank temp would be 22-24 degrees.
 
Personally I would put your new shrimp into hold nets in your established fish tank, and leave them there until the shrimp tank has cycled.
 
And if you already suspect the amano shrimp of eating your other shrimp then I would definantly not put them in the new shrimp tank.

 

[bigcheed]

 i wouldnt add your shrimp until the tank is properly cycled. shrimp are very sensitive to changing water conditions. a cycling tank is no place for them. especially bee shrimp. they just wont survive unless your tank is mature. mixing amano's with smaller shrimp is also not recomended unless its a big tank. i tryed it in a 28ltr. and the cherry shrimp just wouldent breed. wasent till i moved the amano's that i got any babys. i would also add some bog wood to your set up if you dont already have it. mine did so much better after i added it and they love indian almond leaves as well.

 

[VL1990]

Thanks for replies. How will I know when my tank is fully cycled?

 

[lrhodes]

They said they added water from the mature tank, right?would that not make the new tank be like the mature tank with a good water change?

 

[betta fish]

Mature tank water will not cycle a tank, only mature filter media will, this will take some time unless you can source some mature filter media from somewhere.

 

[VL1990]

Can i use mature filter media from my current mature tank? If so how is best to do this? I have already added some decorations and 2 moss balls to the new tank.

 

[bigcheed]

you can cut a piece off your filter foam and replace it with a new piece about a quater would be best. put it in your new tanks filter as well as its own. this will introduce a starter colony of bacteria to it and speed up the process. you could also add a small pouch of gravel from your mature tank. cut the end off an old pair of tights (ladys stockings) fill it with about a tea cup off gravel from your mature tank. this will also introcuce bacteria into your tank. ive used this method myself and can vouch for it.

 

[Baccus]

Most people get some of the sponge/ wool material out of their mature tank and put that into a new filter in order to establish the good bacteria in the new tank. The bacteria will also need feeding which can be done using ammonia or small amounts of fish food. The live plants in the tank will also use the any ammonia and convert it to nitrogen for their own growth.
The only way to be sure that a tank is fully cycled is to test for ammonia and then nitrites and then nitrates. In a cycled tank the readings for tests should be Ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates fairly high (the nitrates will be affected by your live plants) but around 20 of less will be good for both your shrimp and plants.

 

[VL1990]

Hi i actually swapped my filters completely round so my new tank has my old filter and my old tank has the new filter. Is this okay? I swapped bits of the sponge round also so both filters had bacteria on it. I tested the new tank and everything was 0 except for nitrate which was 40 i believe? Does this mean my new tank is ready?
 
Thanks!

 

[bigcheed]

I wouldent like to say. Not something I would have done personally. Certainly putting some of your old filter sponge in the new filter is ok but it still wouldent fully cycle your tank right away. How much sponge we talking here. If you just stripped half your mature sponge from your old filter is say your risking a tank crash. So you now potentially have two cycling tanks not one.

 

[VL1990]

Hi, well i swapped filters completely as it was sucking my shrimp up and it is better suited to the new tank. What do you suggest i do? Put the filter sponges in their original places and just swap the filters?

 

[DerpPH]

I suggest sponge filters. they are better for shrimps

 

[bigcheed]

how much sponge have you taken out of the old filter. it shouldn't be more than 30%. if you have taken more the remaining bacteria may struggle to cope and start a mini cycle which could cause you to lose fish. all im saying is by doing this you increase the risk of upsetting the balance of your tank. it may work but most of the members on here would probably disagree. in your new tank even the introduction of mature filter media wont guarantee an instant cycle. there is nothing that will. it will speed up the process. which normally takes about a month. now you have switched them round I would leave them and hope for the best. monitor the water closely. fingers crossed it will be ok. all depends on how much sponge you swapped around. please let us know how you get on. all and any info can help the next person who has a question. that's what its all about. good luck.

 

[VL1990]

Thanks for the advice, I kept 80% of the sponge in the old tank and put 20% of it in the new tank, baring in mind i also completely swapped the filters themselves round. (This is getting complicated) lol. Anyway ive left it all alone now because i didnt want to make it worse by constantly faffing with it. I dont know if it makes a difference but I also added live bacteria from a bottle into both tanks also. If i keep testing the new tank water every few days and they all read fine can i add the shrimps in then? Thanks