Shrimp tank q's

[rrogan]

I'm thinking of downgrading my tank at school from a 55g to a 30g. I have a planted tank with fish now but I'm thinking I want to do a planted tank with shrimp in a 30g. I have red cherry shrimp now and I'll probably get some crystal reds to go with them. My plan for the 30g now is to use my filter from the 55g, an eheim 2217. Do you think that'll be too much circulation? I'd also use the lights from the 55g which is a 2x55w ah supply light. I'm not sure if I should just use one or both. I will be using injected co2 as well, and dosing PO4, and possibly NO3 in low doses. I'm not sure of the plants I'll be growing yet so I don't know if I'll need all the light or not. I'll probably pick us some ADA aquasoil too, but should I use the normal or powder type? Thanks for any input

[Yadokari]

No one responded to this? I feel sorry for you, so here we go!

The filter should be fine to use. Though you should monitor it still, because if it's pushing shrimp around then change it to a slightly lower power filter.

Keeping Cherries and Crystals together is kind of risky, mainly for the crystals. Crystals like acidic water, around 6.5-7.2 (Although 6.8 is generally the good number). Cherries on the other hand like it harder in the 7.4-.7.6 range. While although they can survive in 6.8, I think that's bare minimum, so they may not exactly be happy little shrimp. If you still insist on combining though, favor the Crystals' needs over cherries. Crystals are A LOT more fragile while cherries are a bit more forgiving.
I currently keep my crystals and cherries together because I don't have a choice at the moment. My PH is at 7.6... which is amazingly hard for crystals. I started out with 15 or so, left with 4-5 within 3 weeks. So be warned! My cherries are doing great in this tank though. (I'm building a 40G shrimp tank too by the way! ^^ Specifically for my crystals)

Lights should be fine, that should enable you to grow high light plants and basically increase your choices in plants. Although if you just want low light plants or something, then removing a bulb can be done.

Ferts/Co2 dosing should be monitored as well, as I stated before, crystals can be sensitive.

ADA soil... normal type only is fine. Powder type is kinda like adding a cherry on top for overkill. Not to mention it's pretty expensive. If you have the money, go wild, if you wanna try and save some money while still be as effective, just stick to normal type. You'll need about two 9 liter bags of normal type for a 30G. 1 bag = approx. 15lb

Hope this helps, if you even check this thread still =x

[msjinkzd]

Actually, lots of people keep crystals and cherries together. The cherries do fine in a broad range of ph's. The crystals are the picky ones. The aquasoil should keep your ph in an ideal range for the crystals. The filtration and lights should be fine.

[rrogan]

alright thanks for the input. I kind of knew the two had different living conditions and I was gonna try keeping the conditions more towards the crystals as well.