New tank decisions

[82nd_Airborne]

So, I got my new tank in and its cycling nicely. Who new that bacteria in a bottle plus some driftwood from my other tank would get it going so fast? Anyway, I need some help in deciding what to do with this tank. I currently have only one other tank, a 5.5 chi that I finally have running trouble free with 10 RCS in it (1 berried, I'm nervous). So, I am still new to this hobby. Anyway, on to this tank. I will be taking this tank to work with me, so the lower the maintenance the better.

Tank: 3 gallon Picotype
Lighting: stock 9 watt 50/50 compact flourescent 7100k blue, 10k white
Filter: Aqua Clear 20
Heater: None (office is kept at 75 degrees)
Substrate: Eco-Complete

Water parameters of cycled tank
PH: 8
KH: 15
GH: 9

Current "Residents"
Crypt Parva
Java Fern
Duckweed
Java Moss

Basically I need ideas for stocking, should I stick with more RCS and just try and get that down? What additional plants should I add if any? Any ideas about scape are also welcome. Like I said I am still new, so please edumacate me (yes I intentionally misspelled that).

The rock on the left is just a pagoda stone and the wood is manzanite.

[Mike Hawk]

is their any way you can get that gh and kh down, its very high for most shrimp you might try cardinal shrimp those parameters look like they would go fine in.

[mordalphus]

I wouldn't try cardinal shrimp in a 3 gallon tank, they're pretty picky about temperature and fluctuation

[Jorge_Burrito]

I think with your water condition neos are about the only thing you could keep. Your kH and GH are even too high for everything else. Even then I think you will continue to find it a challenge. So go with a different color of neos: pumpkins, yellows, rilis, exc.

[FreedPenguin]

Cool looking tank! neos will be the best option for you! ^what he said

[82nd_Airborne]

I kind of figured I would end up staying with some sort of Neo, problem is, they are all cool looking and I want them all. Aquariums should be illegal, I mean everything else thats this addictive is. I am debating between red rili and yellows I think.

[diwu13]

Yea neos are very cool. Sucks that you have to create one tank for each neo species :\.

Btw.. are you shouldn't put ANY more neos into that tank. You can't mix neo species or if they breed, the offspring ends up infertile or brown colored.

[acitydweller]

If you could bring down your KH and raise the temp, you could try sulawesi shrimp... but as someone mentioned, the tank size will be restricting.

You can try the Fire red neos, or any variety of colors offered today. most are hardy and very adaptable these day... I couldnt imagine how the early days of shrimp keeping had to deal with in comparison to all the products and information on these guys today.

[82nd_Airborne]

So I have been looking around and I think I am going to drop some Yellow Neos in this tank, but I am concerned about the blue aspect of the light.

yellow + blue = green shrimp?

Maybe I am overthinking this, but the light is more blue in person than the picture shows. Anyone have any experience with blue light and yellow shrimp?

[Kunsthure]

Since its such a small tank you could try to lower your params with a 50/50 (or whatever ratio needed) mix of RO/DI and tap water. You could easily keep a gallon somewhere out of the way. You won't need a 5g jug or an RO/DI unit to keep up with WC.

Yellows are a good choice. They were my second shrimp after RCS. I think someone here sells them. Check the Shop N Swap for them.

I don't know about how the bluish light will affect their color. It definitely won't turn them green, though. I'm sure they won't look as good as they could. Why not just switch out the actinic bulb for another daylight one? It shouldn't be a huge cost since it's so small.

-Lisa

[dasob85]

get a diff color of neos! I personally like yellows or blue rilis.

[wicca27]

stick an air stone in there for a few days and check the parameters again. even when i age my water for a day or so and then add air stone it will still drop the ph. the air and surface movement make it degas faster and drop more or for me it did. i had a ph of 8 in one of my tanks for a week till i added air to it and it went down to 7 in a few hours

[Kunsthure]

I second wicca27's suggestion. That's the one I've been making almost every day but I guess I forgot to give my own advice. My 20g that has two airstones has a pH of 6.4, GH 4 and KH 0-1, compared with my 7.8 pH, 6 GH and 4 KH tap water. Perfect for CRS.

-Lisa