Upgrading My Shrimp Tank

[Mamashack]

Thanks, Zik, they are so sweet especially the little Atom!
Have emailed the guy I got them from to find out what he does in this situation
I was thinking more in line of topping up I guess - I don't fancy doing daily water changes at all.
After yesterdays acclimation process X 2 I really really don't want to be doing any more of those for a few days if I can help it! lol

 

[fm1978]

Looking very nice and healthy in there now, that's really good! 
 
I'm sure a bit over 260ppm will be tolerated but if you want to bring it down a bit just take a cup or 2 out and replace it will normal de-chlorinated water. Unless you've got loads of evaporation going on you won't need to do all these adjustments each time you water change. The hardest part is getting the initial level you want and then after it's just a case of matching the change water TDS to the tank TDS. Easy peasy.
 
I don't think you've mentioned anything about it but are you going to be dosing with anything for plants?

 

[Mamashack]

Thanks fm, have heard back from AJ and he's said pretty much the same just to aim for getting it back to around 250 ppm with each water change so if it's gone up to 270 to do a 50% w/c with replacement water at 230 ppm.
 
Not dosing anything for plants as there's only a couple of marimo moss balls and the frogbit in there now. I know that copper and other metals are problematic in too high a quantity, but I have one that is supposed to be safe for shrimp and other inverts even tho I'm not using it in this tank. Easy Life Profito with no nitrogen or phosphates. It is brown so there must be some iron in there I'd have thought. Contacted Easy Life in Holland and they say it's safe to use with shrimp. Have used it in the tanks where I have amano shrimp tho and they've been fine.
 
The moss balls and the cholla log seem to be providing them with the sustenance they need for now. Tried an algae wafer in the little glass dish and only 1 shrimp ate some of it so there must be plenty for them to eat elsewhere. I'll take it out after a couple of hours.
There's been one moult already this morning.

 

[daizeUK]

Nice looking tank Mama!  Sorry you had so much trouble with your shrimp.  I don't know, all this faffing around with TDS, I thought cherries were supposed to be easy?
 
I got back from holiday to find my tanks infested with BBA so I'm on the verge of calling quits and pulling the 35L down.  Will see if I can salvage it.

 

[Mamashack]

Thanks, daize! It's certainly more aesthetically pleasing that the micro tank set-up was!
What a nightmare coming back to BBA! You probably know better than I how to shift it if you can. Hope you can get rid without having to strip it all down.
I think we're getting to the stage where things are stable in the shrimp tank now. Just having to top up any evaporated water - maybe every other day atm. Nitrates are stable now I've removed the vallis.
Temperature is in the 23-24 mark most days now I've found some plug-in fans at Morrisons (2 for £7 and no more batteries! 

) They need a USB adapter but I'd already got a couple of those for the phone charger. By no means as powerful as the battery fan I have but it does mean I can leave it on all the time instead of switching it on and off according to the temperature - so that's the cooling system sorted - for the moment anyway. Wish I could afford one of those thermostatically controlled fans, but they are far too expensive for me. Great idea tho if cost isn't an issue.
Food-wise they seem happy with the moss-balls with the odd half wafer every other day or so which some occasionally nibble on, but only 2 or 3 and nowhere near all of them so there must be plenty on the moss. Think invisible algae is starting to grow around the tank too as they seem to be nibbling at something on the filter and the substrate. Seeing moults every day too so I'm happy at the moment (fingers crossed)

 

[Mamashack]

Managed to get a picture of quite a few shrimp on or near one of the moss-balls.
There were more when I spotted them, but by the time I got back with my phone some of them had moved on - most inconsiderate of them!!

 

[TallTree01]

Wow, the look great against the green ball and dark substrate mama.

 

[Mamashack]

They are much easier to spot in this tank, TT!
Still find myself compulsively doing head-counts tho! lol

 

[fm1978]

Dark substrate is so much better. It apparently makes them feel more comfy too and is supposed to encourage more vivid colouring!

 

[Mamashack]

Dark substrate is so much better. It apparently makes them feel more comfy too and is supposed to encourage more vivid colouring!

That's certainly true with my blue pearl who was quite agitated on introduction to the micro tank with standard gravel. However there was no agitation on transfer to this tank.
There may have been other issues then though like TDS and nitrate levels. It's been a steep learning curve - I always thought that cherries were supposed to be easy to care for, but it seems they have quite specific needs (which I am hopefully now providing!)
Temperature is running between 20 - 21.7.
Have noticed some algae growing on one of the pebbles so that's a free meal for them soon! lol

 

[fm1978]

I agree!
 
They're much more difficult to keep than their apparently wide range of 'water specs' suggests. A very mature tank with plenty established bio-film helps a huge amount. I've noticed in my new 19L that even although there's mature substrate and cholla logs, they're just not munching as constantly as the guys in my 60L established tank. It's constant in there.
 
Your temp seems perfect right there and in time that film will grow and grow and you'll have a happy tank and hopefully some tiny and very cute additions. Have you been able to sex any of them? Do any females have egg laden saddles yet or are they even berried?

 

[Mamashack]

Most of them are still quite small so probably inaccurate at this stage but they all look to be male with flattish underbellies, but that could change I guess as they mature or is it always apparent from the get-go? Of the 2 bigger ones I'd say there's one of each, but no saddle apparent yet. I haven't had them a week yet so they are perhaps still settling in or not as mature as they look?
Have seen Atom just now so that's a relief! I'll bet he's been inside the cholla log munching away and growing!

 

[Mamashack]

Can anyone say if these next 2 pictures show developing egg-sacks? I can't see eggs as such but the colouration seems to be where the saddle would be.

Marvel with yellow area
 
White pearl with iridescent blue area ( doesn't really show the colour well, but does show where it is.

 

[Dandyman3]

Not too sure about your eggs question. It is really hard to spot them and take a good picture of them too isn't it! 
 
Can you post a picture of the full tank? Would love to see how you have laid it out for the shrimp. I have one of these 19l tanks from Pets at Home which I bought as a quarantine a while back. Would be great to see how you have scaped it. 
 
Hope all the new additions are doing well though. Seem to be thriving from your pics. 

 

[Mamashack]

Thanks Dandyman I think they are doing ok so far! (Fingers crossed)
Here's a picture of how it stands at the present. Have removed all flora but the moss-balls as there don't seem to be enough nutrients to support anything else.
Everything I've tried in there starts to melt and affect the nitrate level. I'm still nervous about adding anything like ferts etc at this stage - maybe down the line when they are well established....