Hello! Help please!

Cleaners are remarkably undemanding. I have had them breed in tanks with nothing more than an undergravel filter. Some say they are sensitive to change, but they have been as hardy as mongrel dogs in my tanks.

The basic needs are:
Stable temperature
Stable salinity: accomplished by topping off to make up for evaporation.
Shelter: a big rock pile is good, but you might want to get creative with plastic plants or something to be able to observe these guys.
Biological filtration: live rock is great, but a wet/dry filter or even a UG filter will do the trick.
Food: they will eat almost anything, including flakes, pellets, frozen food; just be sure they are for marine fish.
Consistent light cycle: any old fluorescent fixture will do, but put it on a timer, because they molt, mate, and release larvae at specific times of night.

A skimmer would be a big help in keeping the water clean and oxygenated. Regular water changes are also important.
 
Brilliant. I like the fact that they're undemanding :D

Are the lighting timers expensive? I've seen them in shops (I think they were arcadia ones) and they always looked like they might be.

Also, is there any way I could get one of something and it would work across three tanks? Or would I need three skimmers, three filters, three lighting timer things? Obviously I'd need three heaters and lights etc.
I just ask because when my project's over I'd like to have one big tank and obviously I don't want to have to buy loads more equipment!

I heard that a big marine tank is easier to keep than a small one, so maybe I could have the water going from one tank to the next etc, gradually upping the aeration as the water gets to the last tank?
I'm going to stop now because I'm confusing myself :confused:

Thanks again!

Sarah :dance2:
 
You should be able to get a decent timer for about $12 (US). Doesn't have to be an 'aquarium' timer--any heavy, outdoor timer will work.

I think you may want to have the tanks completely separate, or at least filtered with carbon in between setups--otherwise, the hormones from one shrimp could be controlling the behavior of all of them, messing up your results.
 
Hi again, :hi:

I'm abit confused as to how I should set the lighting up for this project - Mogurnda said that it's really important as cleaners mate, molt etc at specific times of night, which makes sense! But I asked a few other people/read a few books and they've all said that it's not very important, and that I might not even need any lighting?!?

Confused! :(

Sarah :dive2:
 
Here's my point of view. I have been keeping experimental animals for about 20 years, and they are always maintained on a relatively precise photoperiod. It doesn't have to be fancy light, it can even light the area rather than individual tanks, and you should be able to assemble a striplight and appliance timer for a minimal cost.

Check the literature in the specific discipline. In the methods section of every paper I've written, I've had to give the photoperiod, even though it's unlikely to affect my results. I find it a little hard to believe that people who study crustacean reproduction would be more lax, but that's not my area.
 
Something to consider: Maybe you LFS has some equipment they would let you borrow for your expirement, in return you could thank them with some publicity. The only problem with this is, how do you know from a scientific standpoint that all pumps/filters are functioning at the same levels. One filter might be more efficient than another. Ideally you would want 3 set ups exactly the same, and the chances of your LFS having three identical setups lying around is pretty slim. But it never hurts to check, especially when you are a student on an limited income. (I've been there!!)
Good luck! Keep us posted! Also if you take some pictures of the set ups I would love to see them!
~d
 
Hi again, :hi:

The time has come for me to start getting equipment for this project, I went to a special aquatic place today to gather a few prices and things and I realised that I missing one quite important bit of info! Basically, what sizes of tank should I get? I'm planning to have a set up as follows:

Tank 1: Containing two shrimp
Tank 2: Containing three shrimp
Tank 3: Containig six shrimp

The shop I went to had about ten shrimp in a massive aquarium, but I don't have the space for three of those, let alone the funds :sad:
I've tried to look up how much space each shrimp will need on the internet but i can't really find much information.

Help me please!!! :bowing:

Thank you again!

Sarah :)

P.S. I'll definately be taking some photos! I'll post them up on here if I can
 
Ten gallon tanks would be fine for a few shrimp. Because they are mass produced, they are also pretty cheap.

What kind of filtration did you decide to go with?
 
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