View Full Version : New 10g Shrimp Tank Question
CDickes1988
12-17-2008, 1:08 PM
Ok, i just got done setting up my new 10g shrimp tank. I have a few concerns though. I'm having a very hard time finding ammonia without surfactants in it to do the fishless cycle. Would it be safe to introduce 10-20 cherry red shrimp into the tank uncycled if i place a small media bag of established gravel from my 20H in it?:help:
TwoHobbies
12-17-2008, 2:04 PM
Any ammonia in the tank will likely slowly kill your shrimp.
The media bag will help speed the cycle along, as would any plants, decorations, and or filter media from the established 20H.
CDickes1988
12-17-2008, 2:11 PM
Any ammonia in the tank will likely slowly kill your shrimp.
The media bag will help speed the cycle along, as would any plants, decorations, and or filter media from the established 20H.
I can add a couple decorations, and if need be, a whisper 30 (might be a bit too powerful for a 10?) filter that is currently on the 20 and is well seeded. My main problem is not being able to find ammonia without surfactants, so I was wondering if a low number of shrimp (10-20) would be alright since they are such a low bioload. Was hoping the BB from the decorations/media bag would be enough to handle it till the rest of the tank was seeded. :lipssealedsmilie:
Does this tank have any kind of plants in it?
CDickes1988
12-17-2008, 2:16 PM
No live plants yet, was going to purchase those with the shrimp.
I'm not suggesting you do this, but some established media and some live plants would help greatly.
CDickes1988
12-17-2008, 2:25 PM
I'm not suggesting you do this, but some established media and some live plants would help greatly.
Now ya got me all nervous. :D I'm going to try and hunt down the right type of ammonia a bit longer as i really don't want a shrimp graveyard in my tank. Thanks for your help.
TwoHobbies
12-17-2008, 2:28 PM
You can put a prefilter on the wisper to cut down on the flow. Just cut a hole in a sponge and slide it over the intake.
The bioload isn't the issue here, any ammonia nitrite is!
I think the filter may do it for you, but it is still a bit of a risk.
msjinkzd
12-17-2008, 2:33 PM
Why don't you run the filter for the new shrimp tank on your established 20g for a few weeks then move it over and add shrimp. I have done this countless times to start new invert tanks. If you do this, and add the shrimp at the same time while monitoring carefully I think it should work out fine.
Damodred
12-17-2008, 2:37 PM
Why don't you run the filter for the new shrimp tank on your established 20g for a few weeks then move it over and add shrimp. I have done this countless times to start new invert tanks. If you do this, and add the shrimp at the same time while monitoring carefully I think it should work out fine.
That's pretty much exactly what I did with my last tank, and it worked fine for me.
CDickes1988
12-17-2008, 2:51 PM
Why don't you run the filter for the new shrimp tank on your established 20g for a few weeks then move it over and add shrimp. I have done this countless times to start new invert tanks. If you do this, and add the shrimp at the same time while monitoring carefully I think it should work out fine.
That's actually what I've started to do. I have a sponge filter currently running in my 20 that will be the primary filter for my shrimp tank. (btw that makes 3 filters currently on my 20H:nilly: a whisper 30, an oversized sponge filter, and a rapids mini canister filter lol.) About how many weeks do you think i should let it seed before moving it over?
Also thinking about getting some plants and putting them in the 20 as well till I'm ready to switch everything over. However, i don't trust my LFS supply and would rather order them with the shrimp to save on shipping.
TwoHobbies
12-17-2008, 4:13 PM
Why don't you run the filter for the new shrimp tank on your established 20g for a few weeks then move it over and add shrimp.
Two would be great!
CDickes1988
12-17-2008, 6:25 PM
Ok, so I'm thinking of adding the seeded fake plant(s), media bag full of seeded gravel, and the rapids mini canister filter (seeded) so i can get the tank started now, and let the sponge filter run in my 20H for a couple weeks, then swap the filters (letting them run simultaneously for a week or so first). Hopefully that works out. Thanks for the help. :D