Giant Ecosphere

[davrx]

Originally Posted by Rob in Puyallup

Looking very cool! Love the scifi mountain landscape sort of thing going on!

Cardinals are my next adventure. A store not far from me sells them, not cheap, though, at $12.00 each.

Thanks. $12 is actually pretty reasonable especially since you don't have to pay for overnight shipping with is pretty high.

[Rob in Puyallup]

Good point... and you know they're alive when you get them locally.

Still have to get a tank and all the goodies before that purchase will be made!

They're so small, at least at the local shop, (I don't know how old they are), they almost make Opae Ula look big. I would like to start with at least ten Cardinals, which equals a fair bit of dough!

[davrx]

Originally Posted by Rob in Puyallup

Good point... and you know they're alive when you get them locally.

Still have to get a tank and all the goodies before that purchase will be made!

They're so small, at least at the local shop, (I don't know how old they are), they almost make Opae Ula look big. I would like to start with at least ten Cardinals, which equals a fair bit of dough!

They're babies then. They are a lot more sensitive than any other shrimp I've kept. I have white orchids aka starry nights in with them and they're reproducing like crazy. They come from the same habitat but seem to be much more robust than the cardinals.

[Rob in Puyallup]

I've seen pictures of White Orchids, which is a great name since my other hobby is orchid growing.

Guess I need to see some of those. They don't seem to be as attractive as the cardinals.

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[davrx]

Originally Posted by Rob in Puyallup

I've seen pictures of White Orchids, which is a great name since my other hobby is orchid growing.

Guess I need to see some of those. They don't seem to be as attractive as the cardinals.

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I agree, they certainly eat better than my cardinals which is why they're probably reproducing more. They blend so well with the rocks in their tank that they can be hard to see. In contrast, the cardinals stick out like a sore thumb.

[Rob in Puyallup]

The cardinals at the lfs are constantly picking with their brilliant white legs, they never seem to stop.

They have yellow rabbit snails as roommates. Heard they're much more content in their presence.

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[davrx]

Originally Posted by Rob in Puyallup

The cardinals at the lfs are constantly picking with their brilliant white legs, they never seem to stop.

They have yellow rabbit snails as roommates. Heard they're much more content in their presence.

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These are what I have with mine.

[Rob in Puyallup]

Cool. You'll have to post a picture of all of them somewhere, sometime soon!

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[davrx]

Originally Posted by Rob in Puyallup

Cool. You'll have to post a picture of all of them somewhere, sometime soon!

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Already on my "Jewel of a Tank" post in this same planted nano tank forum.

[Rob in Puyallup]

Okay! I'll go look for em there!

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[davrx]

Originally Posted by Koi Kameon

To me, it sounded like NO plants could live with them at all and I wanted to correct that. I have also kept them at higher salinities--all the way up to pure seawater. What is your spec. gravity??

I mention the hit or miss part bc Jason Patterson, whom I highly respect on his background research, etc., is really into them and seems to do everything right as suggested by the handful of seeming HRS "experts" and struggles, the guy I bought mine from had no place to hide for them and had about 30 in a 60 oz. bowl with temps in the 50's at night in the winter--outside the recommended parameters. That's the point I was trying to make. I have no interest in breeding them and actually kept them in the suggested range for that and nothing.
I personally have no opinion on the topping off the water or water change thing.
I sincerely hope you wind up enjoying them as much as I have. They are amazing creatures.

One question for you--where did you get your amazing "mountiain" looking rocks? I would love one as a focal point in my container. Thanks.

Sorry, I never replied to your question about my specific gravity. It is 1.011 or 15 ppt.

[Xerobull]

I absolutely love this setup and may emulate it down the road. I wouldn't call it a true ecosphere in the sense that the name was coined by the commercial product, since you do feed the shrimp. Have you considered not feeding them for a couple of weeks to see if it's self-sustaining?

[davrx]

Originally Posted by Xerobull

I absolutely love this setup and may emulate it down the road. I wouldn't call it a true ecosphere in the sense that the name was coined by the commercial product, since you do feed the shrimp. Have you considered not feeding them for a couple of weeks to see if it's self-sustaining?

Thanks! Yea, I just thought it looked like a giant ecosphere without being closed at the top. They can go for a long time without me feeding them but I want them to breed so was hoping that occasional feeding would help. It wouldn't be self sustaining unless I sealed the top since I have to top the water off about every week or so.

[Rob in Puyallup]

I have a couple hundred opae ula in my 6.6 gallon bookshelf tank. I feed them a couple flakes of food daily. I also give them other types of food throughout the week.

Like man and "bread alone", I am not certain any shrimp can live on scum alone.

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[davrx]

Originally Posted by Rob in Puyallup

I have a couple hundred opae ula in my 6.6 gallon bookshelf tank. I feed them a couple flakes of food daily. I also give them other types of food throughout the week.

Like man and "bread alone", I am not certain any shrimp can live on scum alone.

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I agree but am wary of raising the ammonia levels and killing them all off so I'm sticking with once or twice a week right now. I'm using earthworm flakes and New Life Spectrum Crustacean Formula.