Thinking Of Getting Shrimp - Ferts And Carbon A Problem?

[SlyT]

Hello peeps.

Ive got a 300ltr tank which is fairly heavily planted. I use TPN+ and AE Liquid Carbon.

My stocking is as follows

3 baby angels,
8 zebra danios
8 black widow tetra
6 corys
5 mollies
4 three spot gouramis
4 dwarf gouramis
4 Odessea Barbs

I was planning on getting 6-10 cherry shrimp.

My concerns are as follows;

Copper - my understanding is that shrimps dont like copper. TPN+ has copper in - will this be a problem ? If not what is an advisable dosing routine - ie how much and how often.

Breeding - I dont want my tank to run riot with shrimp. Ideally keeping numbers relativley low. - Will they become an infestation in my tank ?

Mess - I understand that shrimp shed their casing, however will this become an unsighly mess, or will they degrade / get eaten quite quickly ?

Kind regards

SlyT + Fishes

 

[keenonfish]

I don't think will stand a chance with 3 spot gouramis angels and not sure about odessa barbs! You will lots and lots of hiding places ideally thickets of java moss etc...

I have shrimp happily breeding with Platies, Neons, corries and dwarf gourami but the tank is heavily planted so loads of hiding spots! Definitely not overrun so some are being predated, others making it to adult hood - They also tend to eat their skins so no probs there and I don't think the TPN+ will be a problem at all!

 

[three-fingers]

Copper - my understanding is that shrimps dont like copper. TPN+ has copper in - will this be a problem ? If not what is an advisable dosing routine - ie how much and how often.

Don't worry about the copper . See this thread: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=2435663

The liquid carbon may be an issue, IME, I've had trouble using it with shrimp, but many others haven't, and the cherry shrimp were the least affected in my tank. Dont worry about it too much, just (if you can) keep an eye on the shrimp after dosing.

Breeding - I dont want my tank to run riot with shrimp. Ideally keeping numbers relativley low. - Will they become an infestation in my tank ?

Not in your tank. In a 300l tank with those fish, you will basically never see the 10 cherry shrimp. There's a good chance the barbs, gouramis, tetras and angels (depending on how big the angels are atm) will eat them before they even get a chance to breed.

Mess - I understand that shrimp shed their casing, however will this become an unsighly mess, or will they degrade / get eaten quite quickly ?

They will degrade/be eaten quite quickly, and in a 300l planted tank, is not worth worrying about in the slightest! They are very small .

 

[SlyT]

Cool - thanks guys.

I think I will give it a go - Im getting some moss on bogwood this week, and the tank is getting more and more heavily planted as time goes on - I replant all of my cuttings and they all seem to flourish too so now there are tons of hiding places !

Im thinking of going pressurised - but that is a decision for another day... ! I will keep the dosing light and see if all goes well.

I got all my fish as babies (well as small as practical from a LFS) as I didnt see the point of paying more and getting them much bigger and missing out of the fun of them maturing.

Now would be the time to "try" as I agree once the rest of the fish get big then there may be no chance to let them start off.

Thanks again

SlyT