Sophie and Mom

Hey all,

I want to start a low-tech, filterless small tank (5 gallons?) for shrimp. What are the minimum requirements to get something like this going?

Thanks!

vicky

Tank, dirt, gravel or sand, plants, water, shrimp, maybe a light.

RCS (red cherry shrimp) are hardy at normal household temps. I have unheated, unfiltered shrimp tanks that are very low maintenance. I top of the water about once a week, and usually go a few months between water changes, as long as everything looks OK. In the beginning I did frequent water changes, sometimes daily. But after a few weeks, they settled in beautifully. RCS are charming and have a low bioload. I feed fish food to the plants, not the shrimp. See this for an example of a low maintenance shrimp bowl: http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/00388Shrimp.pdf If you want to be extra safe, don't add the shrimp until the ammonia cycle is complete.

Sophie and Mom

Thank you, Vicky.

How big is your tank/bowl?

carolhu

It's always good add a sponge filter in shrimp tank.

Sophie and Mom

Why do you recommend having a filter?

vicky

The only one that is shrimp only right now is a four gallon baby biorb that I got for $8 at a Salvation Army thrift store. I plugged off the airline, replaced the original substrate with dirt and gravel, and put a small clamp light with a cfl bulb directly on the top. Very carefree. I have a five gallon acrylic mini bow, with a small heater and an air driven sponge filter, that currently hold white clouds, Endlers, and RCS. I also have a 7 gallon glass mini bow with a small heater, no filter and baby plecos in addition to shrimp. I have a 2.5 gallon plastic animal cookie jar that previously held rcs and java moss with no heat, filter or light, other than window light. And I have several larger tanks, up to 55 gallon, with a variety of community fish. Most were purchased 2nd hand, and I think two came from petco's buck a gallon sale. I could afford pricier tanks, but these give me just as much joy and the critters don't seem to care.

Here are some quick snaps, taken a year or two ago, of the four and seven gallon tanks.

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Sophie and Mom

Those both look great. It's so funny to see regular sized aquarium plants in there...they look massive! I'm hoping to get one set up over the weekend, or during next week. Also hoping that craigslist will come through for me for a small tank. I hate to spend a small fortune on something so little!

vicky

I do have to prune the swords regularly, but they seem to be growing smaller leaves now. I just threw in extras from my other tanks. I like the wild jungle look. Well, truthfully I like the low maintenance, but I don't mind the wild jungle look, either. I prune them a bit more when I have free swimming fish in there, but otos, plecos and shrimp don't mind it crowded with plants. Endlers and white clouds need a bit more open space. I used to have aquatic frogs in the 7 gal, but moved them into a 30 with my dojo loaches. The shrimp act differently when there are no predatory fish in the tank. They hide less and so are much more visible. Again, when I get too many shrimp I might put in a pair of Endlers or white clouds for a while to fatten them up a bit. With no fish, the copepods become more numerous, but they are great food for fish fry. Have you tried a wanted ad on craigslist? Someone might have one they intend to get rid of, but haven't posted yet.

aquaman555

I have a 2.5 glass aquarium(cheap at petsmart) with sand, sponge filter, small heater & CFL light. Some easy to keep plants and that's it. No ferts or anything, just feed the shrimp every 1-3 days. I house blue pearls, much the same as RCS. Easy shrimp either one.

Sophie and Mom

Okay, I've got my --urp--shrimp tank...Does anybody want any pickles??