What Do I Need To Start Up?

[azzaknight]

what size filter?
what size heater
what low light plants?

for a 20L shrimp tank. i want it too be well planted and i only want these shrimp in there. i was thinking moss balls, normall moss, anubais, corkscrew valls, any other plants that will be good for a low light tank?

 

[saltynay]

Fluval 1+ or you could do this
25W heater
Tank thermometer
Elodea promotes infusoria growth which will help feed the shrimp, One moss ball can be split up into smaller ones easily and personally think that would look better rather then dwarfing the shrimp with one large one.

 

[azzaknight]

thanks i will split it up into maybe 3 or four smaller ones. i was also thinking meybe some camboda but start off with some small cuttings so thy wil take abit longer to grow.
how many crs should i sstart with and also where online should i get them from and how do i tell male from female. i think ki will go with a sponge filter, a 25W heater and a thermometer. i will look for some elodia.

also this is going to be a low cost setup as in i dont want to pay too much for the equipment. i will be more focusing on the planting and shrimp than the equipment. i will be going to get a filter, heater and maybe a thermometer today.

 

[saltynay]

Aquarist classified or ebay would be best bet but I have heard aqua essentials sometimes sell higher quality ones at a good price if you contact them direct. You need the filter to be quite mature so take some media from your current tank and allow it 2-3 weeks adding ammonia to get the levels 100% rock solid. I would start off with 4 S grade shrimp which will be a high initial cost (around £100) but should get you very good genetic stock to start with and I believe their are very few breeders in the UK that can give that kind of quality, within a month you should have 30+ shrimp. The key is to be cruel to maximise profits so try and sell or cull poorer grade shrimp rapidly so that they do not inbreed and lower the overall quality of your stock. info

Shows the grading of colouration:
Its a Hong kong translated page your unlikely to get anywhere near the variety or colouration in the UK but its a good guide to see what is possible through selective breeding.

 

[azzaknight]

IS THIS HOW MUCH THEY COST?!? THAT IS BLOODY EXPENSIVE. IM ONLY 14 AND HAVENT GOT ALOT OF MONEY AT THE MOMENT SO I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO GO WITH A OR B GRADES FOR NOW BECAUSE I DONT THINK I CAN AFFORD AN S GRADE COSTING £100 CONSIDERING ALL I HAVE AT THE MOMENT TILL I GET SOME MORE MONEY OS ABOUT £40!!

 

[saltynay]

A grades then a pair is around £25 and will put you on par with the rest of what other people sell. You have to invest to make big profits but A grade should definitely make you a tidy sum.

 

[azzaknight]

I THINK I WILL START WITH A PAIR OR A GRADES AND SEE HOW I GET ON. JUST NEED TO ET IT AL LSET UP AND CYCLED BEFORE I DO ANYTHING.

 

[azzaknight]

just had a look on ebay and there is 3x a+grade crystal red shrimp for £0.99!!! plus £5.40 p+p. i think i might get these and put them in my 30L with my 3 corries and 4 glowlights till i get there tank sorted out as it seems abit stupid to let them go.

 

[saltynay]

I would ask for more pics from the seller and ID them yourself that sounds to cheap for A grades even at the best prices I would expect £4 per shrimp

 

[Nick16]

yeah, they are not cheap and often are not hardy and you can lose some in the first few days.

oh and PLEASE TURN THE CAPS LOCK OFF IT IS ANNYOING WHEN TRYING TO READ THE POST

 

[azzaknight]

yeah sorry about the caps lock, i didnt mean to write it like that. i dont think i will get them as you say, they do sound abit cheap. i will look somewere else.

 

[azzaknight]

where is a good place to get A+grade crs from?? i really dont want to pay too much for them. i am willing to pay maybe £15 for a male and female crs A+ grade. anyone know were i can get them from??

 

[~T~]

You dont need a heater to keep CRS.

 

[azzaknight]

but my room is not that warm so the water temp will change and in the winter i will so i think i wil go for a heater anyway. rather be safe than sorry.

edit: also now i am going with a pair of S grades.

 

[~T~]

but my room is not that warm so the water temp will change and in the winter i will so i think i wil go for a heater anyway. rather be safe than sorry.

edit: also now i am going with a pair of S grades.

They are coldawater shrimp so im sure your room wont get too cold for them. They actually dont breed sucessfully in higher temps and this also shortens their lifespan. They do best at 70°F-74°F / 21- 23°C.