Vacuming Substract with Cherry Shrimp.

[desertgoldhound]

OK I am having difficulty with my cherry shrimp. I try to not overfeed and keep as much of their food on a small plate so that I can remove as much as posible after feedings. I have been scared to vacume the substract becouse of the posibility of sucking one of the LITTLE ones up. I have 0 amonia, 0 nitrite, getting pritty high on nitrate almost at 50. I have been doing slow (airline tubbing) water changes at least 2 times a week and have a couple of plants in their cage. I plan on adding alot more to help with the problem. I feel that I need to vacume the gravel yet I said I was affraid as these guys are now my friends.

Oh yea when I got my shrimp I recieved 12 or 13 now I have like 20 and non have had eggs yet. Is it posible there was some flooting in the bag? Becouse I did the no no being that this is the first and only things I added to the tank and dumped it in. I know they are spoced to hold on to the eggs.

Any sugestions would be helpfull. I thought about somehow making a vac with a sponge attachment and valve to controll the water but don't know if this would work and havent had the time for that DIY.


JOHN YOU THERE?

[Milky]

just keep an eye on what your picking up and pinch the hose whenever you see one of them getting sucked up this will stop the flow of the water allowing your shrimpy a chance to drop back down

[beviking]

Yep, pinching the hose works.
Another way is just vaccum away but use buckets. I know, ugh buckets! Let the water sit a few minutes or until the silt settles and slowly pour the water out. Have a net handy and watch for them. They're easy to pick out because the dirt will be flowing one way and the shrimp will be moving the other.
Yes, it's possible you had more shrimp in the bag originally. They may have been small or stressed without much color, or both and you may not have seen them initially. Of course, if there are any hiding places at all in your tank, one may have had eggs and hatched without you seeing?

-be

[desertgoldhound]

I only use buckets right now. I don't like using anything else becouse this gives me a chance to watch for any worms and also gives me a good idea of how clean my gravel is. I guess I will have to get a smaller vacume and go for it. I cant have them living in high nitrates. They seem realy heathy though but still I would rather them be safe.