RCS on the way! any tips on which tank to put them in?

964 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by fishsandwitch, Oct 18, 2010

angelsword

Discussion Starter · Oct 17, 2010

I ordered 20 RCS from Epicfish and since he shipped them minutes after I ordered them I figure I better start getting ready for them J I’ve never had shrimp before. I’m reading up on them but would love to know what you guys think.
I’m trying to decide where I should put them. I have plenty of media in all of my filters so if I decide to set up a tank just for them I can do an instant cycle. I have a 10 gallon hex I am leaning towards putting them in. So here are the options:
55 gallon Eco Complete, lots of java moss, driftwood and sail fin Molly fry and millions of MTS
55 gallon Eco Complete, heavily planted with driftwood and 5 BN plecos that I’m hoping will breed and millions of MTS
Set up the 10 gallon hex with some Eco Complete, Driftwood, Java Moss and other plants.
Both of the 55s have canisters but I could switch one out for a sponge filter. For the 10 hex I could use a Penguin 110, sponge filter or Fluval 105. (or is it 104… the tiny one)
From what I’ve read I should put some crushed coral in the filter and carbon to absorb any copper that might be present. I want to get them breeding so please let me know what you think.
Also, do the MTS pose any threat?

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Eden Marel

· #2 · Oct 17, 2010

You cna put them in any of your tanks, though if and when the Molly grows up it will probably eat your shrimps.

Also would you want millions of MTS? Unless you have a snail eating predator, but most snail eating predator eat shrimps too.

You do not need to put crushed coral unless you water is ridiculously acidic or soft.

MTS if you mean trumpet snail pose no threat, but only contribute to your bioload. Do not eat any snail-eating predator, that is all.

angelsword

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 17, 2010

I don't want a million MTS it just works out that way

It might be 1.5 million, I haven't counted lately.

So the MTS won't eat the baby shrimp?

Eden Marel

· #4 · Oct 17, 2010

No MTS will be fine, they only eat dead stuff and extra food. If you have a lot of MTS, you probably are overfeeding!

epicfish

· #5 · Oct 17, 2010

10 gallon hex with a sponge filter gets my vote. They'll be in a tank small enough where you'll get to see them all the time and no predators.

GitMoe

· #6 · Oct 17, 2010

I enjoy my RCS in a 2.5g tank I setup just for them and also in my 36g tank. Small solo tank is fun cause you can watch them interact with each other more easily and the 36g is fun cause its like a surprise when you see one. Its great to walk by and see a huge bright red RCS hanging out on the end of a large Amazon Sword leaf. Put them in all your tanks...

DANIELSON

· #7 · Oct 17, 2010

Ya 10 gallon gets my vote too. A sponge filter would work fine in there also. I like my shrimps in smaller tanks so I can watch them all the time.

angelsword

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 17, 2010

I'm setting up the 10 hex right now. I definitely want to see them rather than just get excited when I catch a glimpse of one in the 55 gallon. Hopefully they will start breeding and then I can add them to all of my tanks.

I pulled some Eco complete from one of the 55s and an currently rinsing it in hot water to kill the MTS before I pick out as many as I can find. And, no, I don't really think that rinsing and soaking them in hot water will actually kill them but I'm still going to try

Would the Fluval 104 be too much current for the RCS in the 10 hex? It would be less conspicuous and quieter than the Penguin 110 or the sponge filter.

fishsandwitch

· #9 · Oct 17, 2010

I would put them in the 55g with the plecos if you want to start a breeding colony, If dont care about breeding 100's then the 10g

angelsword

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 17, 2010

Interesting. Why would they be more likely to breed on the 55? Because its bigger? Maybe I'll put a few in with theBNs that way if I do something wrong in the hex I'll still have some on the 55.

Lil' Swimz$

· #11 · Oct 17, 2010

I personally would put them in the 55, once you get them breeding imagine how many you could have! A ton!! I had cherries in a 5 gallon and they never breed

But that was probably just me.

Glad you chose Epic's shrimp, they are AWESOME shrimp.

angelsword

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 17, 2010

I have the hex set up now so most are going in there after all that work. I'll put some in the 55 too.

Lil' Swimz$

· #13 · Oct 17, 2010

I USED to have a Hex too! Just don't use a toothbrush to clean it, it scratches badly.

Option

· #14 · Oct 18, 2010

My advice: get a pot of water boiling!

epicfish

· #15 · Oct 18, 2010

fishsandwitch said:
I would put them in the 55g with the plecos if you want to start a breeding colony, If dont care about breeding 100's then the 10g

The only tanks I breed shrimp in are 10 gallon tanks. One time I tried to count how many I had, including shrimplets...I got lost at over 350. My rationale to a smaller tank is that the males are going to find the females much more quickly since there's less volume and then pretty soon, you'll get some bow chicka bow wow goin' on.

fishsandwitch

· #16 · Oct 18, 2010

epicfish said:
The only tanks I breed shrimp in are 10 gallon tanks. One time I tried to count how many I had, including shrimplets...I got lost at over 350. My rationale to a smaller tank is that the males are going to find the females much more quickly since there's less volume and then pretty soon, you'll get some bow chicka bow wow goin' on.

10 gallon tanks can work well for breeding shrimp, but my 55g shrimp tank is really nice because I don't need to do waterchanges. I have only once ever done a waterchange, but it has thousands of super red cherrys that are just as nice as the imported sakuras, a few plecos, and a few threadfin rainbows (that completly ignore the shrimp)

This tank needs nothing but the correct amount of good & well vaired foods to maintain a perfect ecosystem. I have 0 nitrates at all times and my parameters are really good all around. I love this tank because all I do is clean the canister every 6 months (it is behind thick poret), scape, and watch my shrimp and fish. It also happens to produce HUGE numbers of shrimp, I can just pull as many as I can sell at all times and there is no noticeable dent on the population.

For me at least, it is hard balance a tank like that in somthing as small as a 10 gallon and there is a much higher chance of having a tank wiped out even if you are an expert shrimp keeper, It can happen.

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