[Axelrod12]

I'm setting up this 20L to breed shrimp. I haven't decided what kind yet. I'd like to keep OEBT but I think my water may be better suited for CRS, my 2nd choice.

Specs:
Lighting - 2x 8.5" shop light domes with 23w 6500k cfls
Filtration - Aquaclear 50
100w heater

Hardscape consists of two pieces of Malaysian driftwood and a few rocks, I'm not sure what type.

Flora:
Java Ferns
Philippine Java Fern
Anubias Nana
Anubias Barteri?
Anubias Stardust
Anubias Afzelli? or Congensis?
Crypt Undulata
Crypt Parva
Sagittaria Subulata
Fissidens Fontanus
Bacopa Caroliniana (gonna see how this does, I've heard mixed things about it in low tech)
Java moss
Amazon Frogbit
Water Lettuce

Hardscaped:

Initial planting:

The Dwarf Sag took a little damage in shipping. It has only been planted for a few days, it hasn't gotten any better or worse since, but I'm hopeful. The crypt parva is also doing some melting. But I suppose that should be expected, stupid touchy crypts.

 

[NeonFlux]

Tank is looking good!!

 

[Axelrod12]

Tank is looking good!!

Thanks, I'm trying to figure out what other stems would look good in there. I've got some hygrophila difformis, M. mattogrossense, and L. Repens available that I'm considering. I'm not ruling other plants out though.

Also if the dwarf sag doesn't make it, I've decided I'll trim the Blyxa from my high tech tank and see how that does. I think it will do fine since I have some growing quite well in a no tech vase right now.

I'm pulling for the dwarf sag though. My high tech tank sits directly above this one and the light doesn't go on until the afternoon so if I'm home in the morning I've been switching the co2 over and pumping it into this tank to help the plants recover.

 

[Axelrod12]

Ok so the dwarf sag = dead. I pulled the mush today and replaced it with some blyxa japonica trimmings. I also moved the Bacopa right a bit and filled in the back left with some hygrophila corymbosa. I also acquired an Anubias Hastifolia. I'm hoping it can grow nicely emersed from the tank, I'm not 100% sure I like it that way though so it may eventually move to my 28g bowfront where it can stay submersed. Oh and the Anubias Stardust melted . I think the ammonia may have spiked too high for it. On the brighter side a week later a different anubias flowered.

Here's the crypt parva, most of it is starting to look better, there's a few that have all but disappeared though. I may eventually order some more to fill it in though. It'll take a while on its own.

 

[Axelrod12]

Here's a tank update. Some plants added and grown in. I've also switched over to remineralized RO water for the benefit of the shrimp.

Shrimp added today.
10x BTOE
10x Fire Yellows

BTOE:

Fire yellow, not the best pic, most were being elusive and they need time to color up still:

 

[drewsuf82]

Lookin good!

 

[Axelrod12]

4 days in and I've been obsessively trying to count the BTOE everyday. They are easily the most expensive shrimp I've owned to date and I'm constantly worried I'm going to lose them from shipping stress or something else. And today I only counted 3. I know they can do a real good job of hiding in plants but talk about nerve wracking.