They don't breed as prolifically as RCS do but they will breed. As far as keeping goes it really depends on the grade. A higher grade usually means it been exposed to more in breeding for better color/markings. Which is why SSS+ is a lot harder to keep then A/S quality. Using distilled water is a great start as is covering up your intake. I recommend the Fluval Edge pre-filter for an intake cover. It's just a black sponge that slips over the intake. Gets the job done. Your going to want to keep the water really soft (I try and keep my tanks at a GH/KH of 2-3) at all times. They prefer temps of 72-74 which can be hard to maintain in the summer time but it's not the end of the world if it rises a few degrees. I would definitely try my hand at the lower grades before venturing into the higher grades. As a former reef keeper I'm sure you'll be fine but it's better to use caution at first then wasting a lot of $$$ up front. I'd recommend switching to a canister filter when you get the chance. Eheim 2211 would be perfect for a 10g. They just out perform the HoB's in every aspect. Plus you can use lily pipes and get an in-line heater to keep all of your equipment out of the tank and out of view. It's really worth it. Now if your going to be keeping live plants and using C02 just make sure to keep levels low enough so you don't gas your shrimp. Copper is a huge no no and will kill off your population so avoid it at all costs. Hope this helps.
Will this setup work for CRS
ok so im new to freshwater shrimp. I have been keeping reef tanks for years but want to change to something more sustainable.
I know everyone tells noobs to start with cherry shrimp, but I really like the look of Crystal red shrimp.
I have a 10 gallon cube tank, hang on back filter(going to cover intake when shrimp arrive), heater, 26w pc lighting.
I got the Fluval shrimp Stratum substrate, driftwood and plants.
I have been using distilled water for everything.
Basically I want to see my colony grow and reproduce. Will this tank setup work?
Will I have problems breeding in this size of a tank?
Are CRS really that much harder to keep and breed then cherrys?
Any other pointers you could give me?
Thanks
I know everyone tells noobs to start with cherry shrimp, but I really like the look of Crystal red shrimp.
I have a 10 gallon cube tank, hang on back filter(going to cover intake when shrimp arrive), heater, 26w pc lighting.
I got the Fluval shrimp Stratum substrate, driftwood and plants.
I have been using distilled water for everything.
Basically I want to see my colony grow and reproduce. Will this tank setup work?
Will I have problems breeding in this size of a tank?
Are CRS really that much harder to keep and breed then cherrys?
Any other pointers you could give me?
Thanks
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
If you can keep a reef tank going, keeping CRS should be a cakewalk. 10 gallons is plenty big for CRS. I suggest going low tech and not fertilizing or using CO2. And have lots of plants and moss.
Ill have to take a look at the Eheim 2211 filter.
Yeah I was just going to go low tech with no ferts or CO2 just to be safe.
Anything else I should know?
how long should i let the tank mature before adding them? or does it just need to be cycled?
If i decide to add RCS will this in anyway lower the probability of reproduction in CRS?
Do i need to add anything to the distilled water to remineralize it?
What about mineral rocks?
As for food is it best to just give them boiled veggies?
Thanks you guys, want to get a full grasp of things before i make the plunge
Yeah I was just going to go low tech with no ferts or CO2 just to be safe.
Anything else I should know?
how long should i let the tank mature before adding them? or does it just need to be cycled?
If i decide to add RCS will this in anyway lower the probability of reproduction in CRS?
Do i need to add anything to the distilled water to remineralize it?
What about mineral rocks?
As for food is it best to just give them boiled veggies?
Thanks you guys, want to get a full grasp of things before i make the plunge
remineralize distilled water with mosura mineral plus and get some mosura foods. Boiled veggies are fine, but their diet should be supplemented with higher protein foods.Ill have to take a look at the Eheim 2211 filter.
Yeah I was just going to go low tech with no ferts or CO2 just to be safe.
Anything else I should know?
how long should i let the tank mature before adding them? or does it just need to be cycled?
If i decide to add RCS will this in anyway lower the probability of reproduction in CRS?
Do i need to add anything to the distilled water to remineralize it?
What about mineral rocks?
As for food is it best to just give them boiled veggies?
Thanks you guys, want to get a full grasp of things before i make the plunge
Don't bother with mineral rocks. Save your money for the mosura products.
Mosura Mineral Plus, Mineral Rocks, supplemental diets, these all in combination, help with successfully keeping CRS. Not that you can't successfully keep them without using any of these things.
Their are a multitude of ways to reconstitute water, and using Mosura Mineral Plus is not the only way to do it. You can use cichlid water conditioner as well. Same theory as Mineral Plus, but 1/4th the price in comparison to quantity.
Mineral Rocks aren't the end all be all either. It is just another additive that you can place in your tank to give the shrimp access to calcium and other beneficial minerals that help with their shell production, at all times. You don't NEED it, but it is beneficial.
As for protein, CRS don't need high amounts of protein but once every 1-2 weeks, if that. You should refrain from feeding them a high protein diet, as it will cause them to mature A LOT faster then need be. I do use Mosura foods, however, I only feed them it once a week, then the rest of the time, I feed them blanched veggies (organic spinach), then another day I will give them Ken's Sticks w/ calcium. The CRS specialty food doesn't do much in my opinion, however, the Excel is worth it. I also feed my CRS blood worms once every 2 weeks.
The problem with CRS isn't so much breeding, but keeping the babies alive past 2 weeks. I suggest you find foods specifically targeting the feeding of the babies itself to help with survival rates.
Just make sure your tank is well cycled. Everything you listed sounds fine.
RCS will breed like roaches, so you have to make sure that the RCS don't overpopulate the tank. Once a tank reaches capacity of shrimp, they will breed slower. So the more RCS you have, the fewer the CRS you will have. Or vice versa.
All in all, CRS aren't as complicated as many think. You just have to be more aware of your water parameters.
Their are a multitude of ways to reconstitute water, and using Mosura Mineral Plus is not the only way to do it. You can use cichlid water conditioner as well. Same theory as Mineral Plus, but 1/4th the price in comparison to quantity.
Mineral Rocks aren't the end all be all either. It is just another additive that you can place in your tank to give the shrimp access to calcium and other beneficial minerals that help with their shell production, at all times. You don't NEED it, but it is beneficial.
As for protein, CRS don't need high amounts of protein but once every 1-2 weeks, if that. You should refrain from feeding them a high protein diet, as it will cause them to mature A LOT faster then need be. I do use Mosura foods, however, I only feed them it once a week, then the rest of the time, I feed them blanched veggies (organic spinach), then another day I will give them Ken's Sticks w/ calcium. The CRS specialty food doesn't do much in my opinion, however, the Excel is worth it. I also feed my CRS blood worms once every 2 weeks.
The problem with CRS isn't so much breeding, but keeping the babies alive past 2 weeks. I suggest you find foods specifically targeting the feeding of the babies itself to help with survival rates.
Just make sure your tank is well cycled. Everything you listed sounds fine.
RCS will breed like roaches, so you have to make sure that the RCS don't overpopulate the tank. Once a tank reaches capacity of shrimp, they will breed slower. So the more RCS you have, the fewer the CRS you will have. Or vice versa.
All in all, CRS aren't as complicated as many think. You just have to be more aware of your water parameters.
Allow the tank to cycle for approximately one month.
All and all just take the plunge. Waters always warmer then you think. You have all the information you need right here and if you need any help feel free to send myself or Nikki a PM, I'm sure she wouldn't mind as I bug her all the time. Good luck to ya. If you do get the high grade early like a lot of us do. Be sure to send some one a PM. It can get a tad complicated keeping parameters stable and getting the other requirements perfect. Don't want to see you waste lots of $$$ needlessly.
There are three main accomplishments in keeping CRS,
1, keeping them alive! some people have this problem
2, getting the CRS to breed!! just because you can keep them alive doesn't mean they will breed for you, the water parameters must be in precise.
3, being able to raise baby CRS to adulthood
There is a TON of good info on this site! read, read ,read! LOL
Good Luck in your CRS adventures
1, keeping them alive! some people have this problem
2, getting the CRS to breed!! just because you can keep them alive doesn't mean they will breed for you, the water parameters must be in precise.
3, being able to raise baby CRS to adulthood
There is a TON of good info on this site! read, read ,read! LOL
Good Luck in your CRS adventures
HOB filter is fine for a 10 gallon tank. You don't have to go spend a ton of money.
Take out the carbon and make way for ceramics.
-Gordon
Take out the carbon and make way for ceramics.
-Gordon
I am actually curious if you can explain why not? I've been hearing good things about mineral rocks for CRS in general and wondering why you think they are a waste of money? Just trying to do some research. I hope you don't mind my piggybacking, OP.Don't bother with mineral rocks. Save your money for the mosura products.
I think they're a waste of money since they are essentially just pressed and kiln fired lumps of bentonite clay. You can purchase bentonite clay on ebay for $5/lb and one pound will probably last you a life time. Furthermore, bentonite clay has more uses: you can sprinkle some under your substrate to help culture beneficial bacteria, a great natural water clarifier and it's edible (for humans) too!!!I am actually curious if you can explain why not? I've been hearing good things about mineral rocks for CRS in general and wondering why you think they are a waste of money? Just trying to do some research. I hope you don't mind my piggybacking, OP.
All mineral rocks are really good for is to enhance the white coloration of crs prior to selling them (which, IMO is unethical anyway, as it's totally artificial). Most shrimp foods contain calcium, so that isn't really an issue and you have to maintain some calcium in the water column anyway to ensure proper molting.
Thus, I don't think they're worth the money; just another marketing gimmick.
So, they are basically bentonite clay in a lump, huh? Then it should be just as beneficial as bentonite claims to be, just a little more expensive? So, if someone provided a CRS with a mineral rock to whiten them to sell, couldn't I buy the rock and get the same results? That would make me happy.
It sounds like it works, it's just more costly. Thanks for the information.
It sounds like it works, it's just more costly. Thanks for the information.
I am unsure how one would "artificially" whiten CRS with using Mineral Rock, which as you stated is bentonite clay. Although there are several types of bentonite, and several different grades of it. Some having more montmorillonite clay, some having less with more minerals.
Now for the conundrum you just placed yourself in...
"MOSURA Mineral Plus improves the color of Crystal Red Shrimps and Red Bee Shrimps, in particular it intensifies the whiteness of the shrimps"
Now using your same logic, since mineral rock is an artificial whitener in your eyes, what would Mineral Plus be? Since it's use is also helping to improve the white coloration of CRS. Guess anyone using that would also be unethical in their use of it. Since it does exactly what Mineral Plus does.
I am not saying because I sell mineral rock, that it should or shouldn't be used. Heck, I could care less if people bought my "marketing gimmick" or not.
However, I find it interesting that in one sentence one would recommend what is basically a product that does exactly what the other product does, but one is not worth it, while the one is.
Please advise.
Now for the conundrum you just placed yourself in...
"MOSURA Mineral Plus improves the color of Crystal Red Shrimps and Red Bee Shrimps, in particular it intensifies the whiteness of the shrimps"
Now using your same logic, since mineral rock is an artificial whitener in your eyes, what would Mineral Plus be? Since it's use is also helping to improve the white coloration of CRS. Guess anyone using that would also be unethical in their use of it. Since it does exactly what Mineral Plus does.
I am not saying because I sell mineral rock, that it should or shouldn't be used. Heck, I could care less if people bought my "marketing gimmick" or not.
However, I find it interesting that in one sentence one would recommend what is basically a product that does exactly what the other product does, but one is not worth it, while the one is.
Please advise.
I've had this debate with someone once before. Can you prove your claim that mineral rock is just bentonite or are you just assuming this. Please do your research first before assuming something.I think they're a waste of money since they are essentially just pressed and kiln fired lumps of bentonite clay. You can purchase bentonite clay on ebay for $5/lb and one pound will probably last you a life time. Furthermore, bentonite clay has more uses: you can sprinkle some under your substrate to help culture beneficial bacteria, a great natural water clarifier and it's edible (for humans) too!!!
All mineral rocks are really good for is to enhance the white coloration of crs prior to selling them (which, IMO is unethical anyway, as it's totally artificial). Most shrimp foods contain calcium, so that isn't really an issue and you have to maintain some calcium in the water column anyway to ensure proper molting.
Thus, I don't think they're worth the money; just another marketing gimmick.
My use of the term 'marketing gimmick' has nothing to do with you selling them on the this forum. There are a lot of people on the net who have been selling crs mineral rocks for quite a while. Please do not view this as a an attack against you.I am unsure how one would "artificially" whiten CRS with using Mineral Rock, which as you stated is bentonite clay. Although there are several types of bentonite, and several different grades of it. Some having more montmorillonite clay, some having less with more minerals.
Now for the conundrum you just placed yourself in...
"MOSURA Mineral Plus improves the color of Crystal Red Shrimps and Red Bee Shrimps, in particular it intensifies the whiteness of the shrimps"
Now using your same logic, since mineral rock is an artificial whitener in your eyes, what would Mineral Plus be? Since it's use is also helping to improve the white coloration of CRS. Guess anyone using that would also be unethical in their use of it. Since it does exactly what Mineral Plus does.
I am not saying because I sell mineral rock, that it should or shouldn't be used. Heck, I could care less if people bought my "marketing gimmick" or not.
However, I find it interesting that in one sentence one would recommend what is basically a product that does exactly what the other product does, but one is not worth it, while the one is.
Please advise.
I do not believe that Mosura mineral plus enhances color either. I simply use it to boost gH and I find that it is the most reliable and best means to do so in a shrimp tank. IMO, maintaining gH is about health and breeding. Color is primarily genetic.
I believe you claimed in your crs pics thread that mineral rock is composed of bentonite clay.I've had this debate with someone once before. Can you prove your claim that mineral rock is just bentonite or are you just assuming this. Please do your research first before assuming something.
Mineral rock is surely not a naturally occurring rock in the geological sense. Otherwise it would not be called 'mineral rock,' because that term makes no sense. It's like calling bottled water 'hydrogen and oxygen water.' If it is not "essentially bentonite clay," then what is it?
I did not view that as an attack on me. I just stated that so that it didn't look as if I was arguing on behalf of my sales thread.
You are right, GH and KH directly effects the health overall of shrimp, and maintaining a proper TDS does help with coloration. However, coloration is not only genetics. There are a wide assortment of things that help with the coloration of shrimp.
Mineral Plus does boost GH. However, if that is your primary goal, then why not just use a GH booster to do so? It is 10X cheaper to do so, and achieves the same goal.
And you may not believe that it does not help with coloration, but Mosura specifically markets it to claim that it does. If it does not, then why not experiment and not use Mosura Mineral Plus, but a gh booster instead, and see if it specifically your shrimps genetics that keep it white?
What I am trying to get at is, their are things that are factual, and some things that are opinion. There are a whole host of things that one could say does or doesn't work, but without researching, how would one really know?
We all give advice on things from our own experiences. That's what makes our forum so great. Which is why I am picking at your brain. I would like to just know why you come to the conclusions you have.
You are right, GH and KH directly effects the health overall of shrimp, and maintaining a proper TDS does help with coloration. However, coloration is not only genetics. There are a wide assortment of things that help with the coloration of shrimp.
Mineral Plus does boost GH. However, if that is your primary goal, then why not just use a GH booster to do so? It is 10X cheaper to do so, and achieves the same goal.
And you may not believe that it does not help with coloration, but Mosura specifically markets it to claim that it does. If it does not, then why not experiment and not use Mosura Mineral Plus, but a gh booster instead, and see if it specifically your shrimps genetics that keep it white?
What I am trying to get at is, their are things that are factual, and some things that are opinion. There are a whole host of things that one could say does or doesn't work, but without researching, how would one really know?
We all give advice on things from our own experiences. That's what makes our forum so great. Which is why I am picking at your brain. I would like to just know why you come to the conclusions you have.
Thats incorrect, go check again. Theres another word before that. Which is a key word which is why mineral rock, which would be the same as calling H2O water and not the otherway around since H2O is comprising of 2 elements and being sold as water. Whereas mineral rock is a single term that comprises many different minerals.
I believe you claimed in your crs pics thread that mineral rock is composed of bentonite clay.
Mineral rock is surely not a naturally occurring rock in the geological sense. Otherwise it would not be called 'mineral rock,' because that term makes no sense. It's like calling bottled water 'hydrogen and oxygen water.' If it is not "essentially bentonite clay," then what is it?
I use mineral plus because it is very easy to dose it precisely in a small volume of water. It also doesn't raise TDS as much as planted tank gH boosters because it doesn't contain any fertilizers. I tried to use equilibrium, but I found that all the potassium (0-0-23) raises TDS way more than mineral plus.I did not view that as an attack on me. I just stated that so that it didn't look as if I was arguing on behalf of my sales thread.
You are right, GH and KH directly effects the health overall of shrimp, and maintaining a proper TDS does help with coloration. However, coloration is not only genetics. There are a wide assortment of things that help with the coloration of shrimp.
Mineral Plus does boost GH. However, if that is your primary goal, then why not just use a GH booster to do so? It is 10X cheaper to do so, and achieves the same goal.
And you may not believe that it does not help with coloration, but Mosura specifically markets it to claim that it does. If it does not, then why
not experiment and not use Mosura Mineral Plus, but a gh booster instead, and see if it specifically your shrimps genetics that keep it white?
What I am trying to get at is, their are things that are factual, and some things that are opinion. There are a whole host of things that one could say does or doesn't work, but without researching, how would one really know?
We all give advice on things from our own experiences. That's what makes our forum so great. Which is why I am picking at your brain. I would like to just know why you come to the conclusions you have.
Mosura also claims that their water conditioner is a 'shrimp safe' conditioner, which is obviously pure bull. They're all shrimp safe. Why do they market it like this? To make money; they're a well respected company and they can get away with stuff like that. Why do they market mineral plus as a color enhancer? To make money; it's easier to slap 'color enhancer' on a bottle than, 'this product does not raise tds as much as other gH boosters'.
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
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