Using shrimp to clean UGF?

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Matak

Matak

Out of the blue!
Jun 18, 2002
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Near Toronto
I have a 40 watt idea. What if I released a couple of Amano shrimp under the plate of my RFUGF?

Would it:
1) Be humane (too dark, enough food etc?)
2) Be effective? Would they eat whatever builds up under a UGF plate? Would what they excrete be just as much a problem?
 
T

Tim Bo

Does fuzzy logic tickle?
Apr 11, 1999
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Copenhagen, Denmark
hjem.get2net.dk
I do not consider that to be very humane since it seems a shame to me to hide them from sight and deprive them of 'free' movement. I also don't think they would be more effective than manually cleaning it once a year...
 
R

RTR

AC Members
Oct 5, 1998
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Braddock Heights, MD
Amanos eat more or less what fish eat, if you include alage eaters in fish. What makes you think they will eat any of the humus/compost under the filter plate? I don't think they would have any effect.
 
Matak

Matak

Out of the blue!
Jun 18, 2002
1,133
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36
64
Near Toronto
As far a movement is concerned, I think they would have a fair amount of room to move in a 12" X 12" X 3/4" area, but I am concerned about treating them humanely. As far as what they eat, I thought they ate algae, decomposed food and decomposed vegetative matter.

It was really just an idea and I was hoping for knowledgable responses like yours.
 
R

RTR

AC Members
Oct 5, 1998
5,806
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Braddock Heights, MD
OK, there is the misunderstanding - the shrimp will eat algae, leftover fish food (for which they will compete with the fish, so 'left-over" may not apply), and any dying plant parts. The decomposed food or plant materials is food only for a few bacteria and fungi.
 
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