Jake's 45-F - High-Tech Guy Goes Low-Tech

[somewhatshocked]

All right. We all know I suffer from a serious case of Multiple Tank Syndrome. But who doesn't need another shrimp tank?!

Have decided to shut down my high-tech Ebi within the next month and replace it with an ADA 45-F. I plan to house BTOE (Black Tiger Orange Eye shrimp) and some sort of Neo - possibly Orange/Pumpkin. Thought it'd be a good idea to start a new thread-journal to document my process.

The equipment I've already got on-hand:

• Eheim 2213 that's already running on my Ebi
• Pool Filter Sand and Turface (have to decide what to use)
• Tons of Aquasoil, UP Aqua Shrimp Sand, Azoo Plant Grower Bed, et al. Just don't want to use them because they buffer so much. If only I could get my hands on some Hirose Volcamia G!
• Manzanita
• Plenty of moss

What I plan to purchase:

• ADA 45-F
• Maybe an ADA Garden Mat so I can take advantage of the warranty
• Archea 45cm LED fixture, as my tank will be low-light
• Flame Moss
• Mini Pellia/Riccardia chamedryfolia (Coral moss)
• Hydrocotyle tripartita - I've got a great stump this will look great behind

I'd like to have it ready for shrimp by early September and think that's a realistic time frame. Gives me a couple weeks of prep time to make my mind up.

I'm open to any and all suggestions, though.

Will update with photos throughout the process.

Note: it's really tempting for me to get some Pygmy Cories or even Habrosus. Which maybe wouldn't be so great for shrimplets. I have a spare 20L and two 5.5s that may or may not become a Cory tank… so who knows?

I'm just excited to add a new ADA tank to the mix soon.

[chjo]

I am not one of the many shrimp experts here but I heard that a shrimp tank typically needs a thick layer of substrate. Does 45F sound to shallow?

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

All right. We all know I suffer from a serious case of Multiple Tank Syndrome. But who doesn't need another shrimp tank?!

Have decided to shut down my high-tech Ebi within the next month and replace it with an ADA 45-F. I plan to house BTOE (Black Tiger Orange Eye shrimp) and some sort of Neo - possibly Orange/Pumpkin. Thought it'd be a good idea to start a new thread-journal to document my process.

The equipment I've already got on-hand:

• Eheim 2213 that's already running on my Ebi
• Pool Filter Sand and Turface (have to decide what to use)
• Tons of Aquasoil, UP Aqua Shrimp Sand, Azoo Plant Grower Bed, et al. Just don't want to use them because they buffer so much. If only I could get my hands on some Hirose Volcamia G!
• Manzanita
• Plenty of moss

What I plan to purchase:

• ADA 45-F
• Maybe an ADA Garden Mat so I can take advantage of the warranty
• Archea 45cm LED fixture, as my tank will be low-light
• Flame Moss
• Mini Pellia
• Hydrocotyle tripartita - I've got a great stump this will look great behind
• Riccardia chamedryfolia (Coral moss)

I'd like to have it ready for shrimp by early September and think that's a realistic time frame. Gives me a couple weeks of prep time to make my mind up.

I'm open to any and all suggestions, though.

Will update with photos throughout the process.

Note: it's really tempting for me to get some Pygmy Cories or even Habrosus. Which maybe wouldn't be so great for shrimplets. I have a spare 20L and two 5.5s that may or may not become a Cory tank… so who knows?

I'm just excited to add a new ADA tank to the mix soon.

[Michiba54]

I would nix the cory fish, but sounds cool! can't for some photos

[somewhatshocked]

Not so much interested in Cories in a shrimp tank but it's really tempting not to skip the shrimp entirely in favor of them. Love observing them in shallow tanks.

To appease on the photo front, here are a few from other threads.

This is the pool filter sand I plan on using (as of now):



Some of my leftover moss to be used:



Some of the wood I've got:



Can't wait to get this started.

[somewhatshocked]

That's... not entirely accurate, to say the least.

Feel free to take a look at some of my other journals for details or check out some of the hundreds of shrimp tank journals here on the site.

Originally Posted by chjo

I am not one of the many shrimp experts here but I heard that a shrimp tank typically needs a thick layer of substrate. Does 45F sound to shallow?

[SomeCanuck]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

What I plan to purchase:

• ADA 45-F
• Maybe an ADA Garden Mat so I can take advantage of the warranty
• Archea 45cm LED fixture, as my tank will be low-light
• Flame Moss
• Mini Pellia
• Hydrocotyle tripartita - I've got a great stump this will look great behind
• Riccardia chamedryfolia (Coral moss)

Just for curiosity's sake, but aren't coral moss and mini pellia the same thing? I ask because I was looking at buying some mini pellia and both names seem to keep being used interchangeably.

[somewhatshocked]

They are. I forgot to remove the scientific name from my list before pasting it into the thread. Good catch!

Update: I put them on the same line. Honestly, I probably should move it to the list of things I already have, as I have a tiny portion I could grow out.

[SomeCanuck]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

They are. I forgot to remove the scientific name from my list before pasting it into the thread. Good catch!

Update: I put them on the same line. Honestly, I probably should move it to the list of things I already have, as I have a tiny portion I could grow out.

No worries. Was just curious. Can't wait to see the new tank!

[chjo]

As I said, I am not a shrimp expert. I don't really understand the reason behind that. But apparently shrimp tanks in those shrimp-only LFSs have exceptionally thick layers of substrate. I doubt if that's gonna affect anything greatly or not...

Just a little observation...

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

That's... not entirely accurate, to say the least.

Feel free to take a look at some of my other journals for details or check out some of the hundreds of shrimp tank journals here on the site.

[somewhatshocked]

Yeah, substrate isn't an issue.

On another note: Washed all my pool filter sand and prepared everything. So maybe my new tank will happen sooner rather than later.

[Michiba54]

Is that quikrete pool filter sand?

I used some once, but I think I got a bag at the start or end of the production line because the grain size are all over the place. Yours look much more uniform.

[somewhatshocked]

It's AquaQuartz - High Rate Grade.

[Geniusdudekiran]

Originally Posted by chjo

I am not one of the many shrimp experts here but I heard that a shrimp tank typically needs a thick layer of substrate. Does 45F sound to shallow?

Not really, as many professional breeders as well as hobbyists sometime use bare-bottom tanks. On the contrary, the shallowness and wide surface area of the 45-F allow for plenty of space for shrimp to spread out and more surface area for gas exchange, making it a good choice for a shrimp tank. shallow tanks, in general, are regarded generally as good tanks for keeping shrimp.

Jake, I can't wait to see this! I think that the orange bodies of the Pumpkins will work well in contrast with the orange eyes of the BTOE, and vice versa with the black eyes of the Pumpkins.

[somewhatshocked]

Similar to my thoughts, as well. I think they'll make a nice mix.

Though, I'm not so sure orange shrimp are going to look so hot on substrate that's light in color. Lots of dark moss and wood should help them look better.

It was a toss-up between the 60-F and the 45-F. 45 wins for reasons of space, I think.

Originally Posted by Geniusdudekiran

Jake, I can't wait to see this! I think that the orange bodies of the Pumpkins will work well in contrast with the orange eyes of the BTOE, and vice versa with the black eyes of the Pumpkins.

[Geniusdudekiran]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Similar to my thoughts, as well. I think they'll make a nice mix.

Though, I'm not so sure orange shrimp are going to look so hot on substrate that's light in color. Lots of dark moss and wood should help them look better.

It was a toss-up between the 60-F and the 45-F. 45 wins for reasons of space, I think.

That hadn't occurred to me... Fissidens is nice and dark, a really rich green.

I have a spot that's begging for either a Mr. Aqua 12G long or a 45-F. What's the price tag on the 45-F currently?