Temporary Tank For Shrimp.

[jeanine]

Hi, I am going to be setting up a 12 gallon planted tank to keep some shrimp in. I'm new to keeping shrimp and this is what I was wondering. The town that I live in only has one pet store (Petland). Right now they have some cherry shrimp and I would really like to start up a small tank for these cuties. They don't get them in very often. I bought 3 cherries and 2 amano's and put them in my 50 gal community tank in which the cherries disappeared (the clown loaches are looking guilty). So, I was wondering if I could set up a small 1-2 gallon tank using gravel, water and maybe some plants from my larger tank as a temporary home for a few shrimp while I set up the 12 gallon and it cycles. Any advice about this would really be appreciated.

 

[Smoothy]

People say "well established tank for Shrimp" saying that I've put 5 Cherries into my freshly fully cyled tank and they're doing great

But it at least needs to be cycled as they can't tolerate any Ammonia or Nitrite

 

[saltynay]

Cherries and amano's are some of the hardiest shrimp with hawaiin red shrimp being the all time king of hardiness. I wouldn't get a temporary home for them just ask LFS to hold them for you and pay the little extra they charge or you could setup a breeding net/ plastic bowl with small holes, in your current community tank and keep them in. I would start with 5-6 in the 12gallon with 4 females and 2 males give it 3-4 weeks and you will have loads of little shrimplets whizzing around.

 

[pippoodle]

why dont you remove some of the sponge from your current filter and cut it to fit the filter you want in the shrimp tank
then the tank will have a cycled filter in it
just keep an eye on the stats and do weekyl water changes unless stats show otherwise

 

[Honeythorn]

If you have or can get a small enough internal cannister filter, you can set up a 2-3 gallon tank for a holding tank until you have the main one sorted. A big Plastic critter keeper is also fine, or a plastic storage tub about 12 inches long, and just as deep ( food grade ) .

When you get a new or spare filter and need an instant cycle, here's what to do.

Take some sponge or ceramics , or whatever media is used, out of the filter that's running your 50 gallon ( do not wash them! )

Take enough to equal however much sponge ect is used in the spare filter.Cut some sponge the same size or whatever.

Remove the new sponge or any other media from the new/spare filter for your small tank, and fill the compartments with the used/dirty media you just removed from the big one.

Plug in the filter and add the shrimp.

EDIT- Pipoodle beat me to it!

 

[jeanine]

This morning I took the sponge for the filter that I will be using in the shrimp tank and put it in the back of the filter that is running in the 50 gallon tank. I thought that might give it a bit of a kick start. Any advice on what sort of soil or substrate that I could put under the gravel to plant the plants in? I was wondering if a aquatic pond soil would be ok to put on the bottom layer. Also what about peat granuals? I'm thinking of how it would affect the shrimp. Or should I just stick with gravel. The only pet store here doesn't have much supplies for the planted aquarium, and I was thinking the local garden center may have pond stuff that might work.

 

[Honeythorn]

Aquatic pond soil is fine. I have it in my 30 gallon under the sand. I also have shrimp in that tank and they have no problem with it. My Amanos are about 4-5 years old now, and I added 4 cherries a few weeks ago , they are also fine so no worries for that substrate.