Nano Shrimp Tank Aquascape Tutorial (2.5 Gallon Jar with Red and Blue Cherry Shrimp)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- This video will show you, step by step, how to aquascape a nano tank for freshwater shrimp. No filter, no CO2, and no fertilizer is required for this shrimp tank, but a heater is recommended.
The jar used to create this nano shrimp tank is a 2.5 gallon food storage container (Anchor brand), but almost any similarly sized container or tank will work.
Like other small tank setups, the key to avoiding major algae blooms is consistent weekly water changes. Freshwater shrimp produce almost no waste compared to fish, but decaying plant matter can still create ideal conditions for algae to grow, so weekly water changes are still a good idea.
Keeping freshwater shrimp, specifically Neocaridina davidi, is much easier than many think, and no special water is needed if your pH range is between 6.5-8.
The live aquarium plants used in this shrimp tank setup are:
1) Anubias nana petite
2) Banana plant (Nymphoides aquatica)
3) Java fern windelov
4) Marimo Moss balls (Aegagropila linnaei; a type of algae)
5) Cryptocoryne wendtii brown
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This is really nice! And I like how you don't hide the mistakes you make.
Thanks Helen! I appreciate that.
This is gorgeous! And exactly what I was looking for (I've been dying to do a planted tank). May I ask- how long did the shrimp last in there?
Thank you! The shrimp are still going strong, they breed a lot. You should definitely setup your own planted tank, it is very rewarding!
Hi 👋 there! Just want to say thank you ☺️ for making this video!! I've definitely been inspired!!! I started collecting everything I need to start my own couple of nano tanks .... I'm a bit nervous to be honest but I've been watching SOOOOOOOO MANY MANY lol videos and researching all aspects of setting one up and keeping it to thrive... So yeah .. thanks and you've earned a subscriber 💯👌!!
Hi Maria,
Thank you for your kind words! Super excited to have you as a subscriber and I am glad my video offered you some inspiration. I felt the same way when I started my first nano tanks, but once you set up your first tank, things will seem so much easier. If you ever have any questions about nano tanks or shrimp, don’t hesitate to reach out: kevin@zenaquaria.com
@@stayzenaquaria OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!! ❤️
How long do you wait before putting in the shrimp?
The wait time can vary, but usually 2-3 weeks is sufficient. I like to see algae growing before adding shrimp. Also, doing a water test is a good idea.
New sub here, love it. Just the kinda content I've been looking to create my own. Any tips on how you maintain it? Can snails be added?
Thanks for the sub! Yes, Nerite Snails would work well in a small tank like this. Water changes are the most important part of maintaining a small tank like this, 2-3 water changes of 30%-50% a week is ideal.
Beautiful! I set up a couple jars like these recently, one is 1 gallon & the other is 2 gallon. It's encouraging to see your results.
Thank you! Glad to hear that, keeping shrimp is so much fun, let me know if you have any other questions as you set up your tanks!
@@stayzenaquaria Great, thank you so much! I appreciate that offer.
Glad I came across your videos. I'm thinking of having shrimps in the classroom. The kids would love watching them move and eat. Good news a filter isn't required. I am wondering if we didn't have a heater, would the shrimp be more likely to die? Thanks!
Hi Karen, great question, I love the idea of having a shrimp tank in your classroom! You don't need a filter but remember to perform consistent water changes, especially if the shrimp are being fed commercial foods. Whether you need a heater depends on the temperatures in your area. If temperature swings are severe in your area (above 85 Fahrenheit or below 55 Fahrenheit) you might have some issues with shrimp longevity. If an in-tank heater is not possible, I would consider getting a heat mat (the ones used for reptiles) for under the tank/jar and putting that on a thermostat.
Great video. How did you cycle the jar before adding the shrimp?
Thanks! I cycled the jar by letting it sit for a couple weeks. When I see algae growing it's usually safe for shrimp, but make sure you test the water just to make sure!
Just discovered this video and your channel and have subscribed. Very inspirational! A couple of questions: What did you use for the two different substrates? And how did you attach the plants to the wood? Aquarium-safe silicon?
Use gorilla glue gel. Or any other brand that is 100% cyanoacrylate.
It is perfectly safe to use. If you want to make it dry more quickly, you can put some baking soda on it. Is inert in contact with water.
For the substrates, he used aqua soil in a mesh aquarium bag covered in sand.
What the TH-camr failed to mention, is the most important aspect of creating a tank.
So the fact that he doesn’t keep this in mind is beyond a rookie mistake.
It’s always about bacteria growth.
The aqua soil has enough large areas for the beneficial nitrate eating bacteria to flourish.
In my opinion he should’ve used lava rock or something even larger below that with even more surface area for this.
And adding the heater for the shrimp is unnecessary.
If anything he should’ve added a small air stone bubbler.
He is also missing the biggest opportunity for natural filtration; either floating plants or Pothos growing out of the top.
This would certainly keep his nitrates at zero, but it doesn’t look like he tests his water or puts importance on that.
Other than my harsh critique, great video lol
Hi SpyBunny, glad you enjoyed the video! The mesh bags can be filled with almost any substrate or gravel, but I used Eco Complete substrate because I have a lot of it around. The aquarium plants were attached with super glue (cyanoacrylate gel), which is aquarium safe. Hope that helps!
Hi northstreet13, those are great suggestions. And yes, adding some extra plants, especially floating plants is a great idea. In a small tank like this jar, there is plenty of surface area for bacteria to colonize but adding lava rock is a good suggestion for those who are worried about that. Stay tuned for more videos!
I enjoy watching your set ups, I have a 6.5 rimless tank, but I have a hard time keeping the cherry shrimp alive, I'm at the point where I don't want to get anymore, I lost 5 of them only have 1 left, it's a nice natural planted tank, heater, sponge filter, spider wood which I hate because after 4 months it still makes a slight brown color, I test the water everything is good don't know why I am loosing them, I have 2 Mystery snails and 4 Ember Tetra in the tank all doing well, except the Cherry Shrimp.
In my experience, getting your cherry shrimp from someone local increases the hardiness of the shrimp because they are used to the water in your area. Don't give up!
How the hell did you manage to kill an Anubias? :)
That’s a fair question 😂, the smaller Anubias plants are a little more fragile I guess.
The shrimp walking around with their tiny legs is so cute. Can't wait to introduce some to my tank
I love watching my shrimp!
How do u maintain a 1 gallon shrimp tank? I’m setting one up but heard it’s harder keep parameters and pH stable. Advise please? Thanks!
I have the same question.
Great question, the key is frequent water changes (2-3 a week of 30%-50%). Otherwise, just make sure the heater is stable and avoid overfeeding.
What food you give to the shrimp?
Hi Theodore,
I like to feed my shrimp Fluval Shrimp Granules and blanched zucchini or spinach. My shrimp also enjoy eating the fish food that ends up at the bottom of the tank. I recommend a varied diet for them.
Hey nice video are the shrimps breeding now?
Hi Elisa, thank you! I should have done an update video a while ago, but yes, the shrimp in this jar are breeding! I have already moved some of the baby shrimp to a different tank. Their colors are nothing special so far, mostly just a dull, dark red, but maybe they will surprise us soon!
@@stayzenaquaria how long did it take for them to breed?
How often do you feed them?
Great question, I like to feed my shrimp every other day, or even every two days. In small tanks it's important not to overfeed to avoid water quality issues and algae blooms.
looks incredible! i have wanted to do this for so long and i think its finally time. do your plants take nutrients from the soil in the mesh bag? for how long did you cycle it? thanks so much for your help!
No, the mesh bag is to create an incline in the tank for aesthetic purposes
@@Aouf1 I would respectfully add:
The plants do not take nutrients from the soil because he used only epiphytic plants.
These obtain all their nutrients by taking them from the water column and are not rooted into the sand (which he kept referring to as “substrate or gravel” curiously never using the word “sand.”)
Also, the mesh bag is not only for esthetic purposes.
The aqua soil inside the bag provides a larger surface area for the beneficial bacteria to inhabit.
Setting up a tank like this is all about maintaining nitrogen eating beneficial bacteria.
This clown never even mentions it once in his video.
@@IronPsyde ah I see. Thank you 🙏
Hi lucy, @adham is correct, the bags are for creating an incline, but the substrate inside the bags also provides a home for nitrifying bacteria, which help cycle your tank and process waste. I typically let my tanks cycle for a couple weeks, but I like to see algae growing before adding any fish or shrimp.
What provides the ecosystem with Co2 and how are the shrimps getting the oxygen?
Frequent water changes replenish the tank with oxygenated water. Keeping an airstone in this tank is also an option if you want to keep the water moving and more oxygenated.
Iam researching the topic.. how do you keep up with breeding and how often do you chabge water? Is the water treated or pure tab?
Great questions, I do 2-3 water changes a week (typically 30%-50%) and I use tap water treated with aquarium conditioner.
hi! i have a 2 gallon tank for my shrimps and i can't find a filter small enough to put in there, do you know any places online i could possibly get one?
Finding tiny filters that actually work is very difficult. For a 2 gallon, I usually don't use a filter and just rely on frequent water changes. Consider adding an airstone to promote water movement and doing a couple big water changes a week. There may be a small sponge filter that could comfortably fit in a 2 gallon, but I haven't found a good one yet.
I have a question. I don't really get why substrate is in the mash bag in those kind of tanks, i think it serves as reservoir for the bacterial growth, but can the plants root in those? Why we just don't "pour" if under the gravel?
Hi, yes, the mesh bags filled with substrate (or gravel) help provide elevation in the tank. You can definitely create this aquascape without mesh bags, it's really a matter of personal preference and what looks good to you.
This looks great. I was planning to set mine up in an garage above my office which can get down to about 40c at night with room heater off. Could I set this up with a heater that could work in this setting? Are there any options for a heater that the jar could sit on top off so there are no wires going down into the jar from the top? Thanks L.
Great question! I haven't tried it myself, but using a reptile heat mat with a thermostat might work. Be careful though, it's an untested idea and might be risky.
Very nice, I'm putting the finishing touches on my hardscape and starting to think about biotics.
Nice! Glad to hear that!
is the heater really necessary in a room temperature environment
Depending on where you live, the heater is not necessary, especially if the room temperature is consistent.
It's BET TA two T's
Thanks! Must have missed that one, oops 😅
I am wanting to do this sane thing Im just wondering why you put a mesh bag with gravel under everything, what does that do?
The mesh bags help create elevation in the aquascape. They are not necessary, but I enjoy using them to create a hill/slope in the aquascape (it's more noticeable in larger tanks).
Just asking...
How much wattage (heater) did you used?
Did you turn off sometimes the heater?
How many hours if turn on
Thanks for answering my queries
Hey kimps 128, I used a 25 watt heater for this shrimp tank, but a small betta fish heater would also work well. I keep the heater on constantly, and typically replace the heater after about a year (sometimes sooner if it stops working).
Does they have a heater ?
Great question, yes there is a heater in this shrimp tank, it is hidden behind the rock.
What?
Where?
Wait...what did you put in the mesh bag?? Looked like soil to me.
Hi JoAnn, the substrate I used in the mesh bags was eco complete, it's not soil but does kinda look like soil. You can read more about which substrates I like using in my aquascapes here: zenaquaria.com/best-substrate-for-planted-tanks/
Yes it did
Thanks!
Where do you get all of the spider wood and plants . I enjoyed your video.
Hi Vicki, great question, I get my spider wood and plants from local fish stores as well as a few online retailers. I may make a video about it in the future, so stay tuned.
Hey just wanted to know your light cycle? How much per day and what’s the wattage?
Hey Tik, great question, my light cycle varies by tank, but is typically around 6-7 hours. I don't measure by wattage but I do try to get a light with decent photosynthetic active radiation. If you want to learn more about the lights I use on my planted tanks, check out my article on the LED aquarium lights: zenaquaria.com/best-led-aquarium-lights-for-plants/
Hi! Any updates? Did they interbreed?
Hi Seph, the shrimp did breed, but I've moved them to a new tank because it was getting a little crowded in the jar.
if i only use gravel and sand
should i still use fertilizer?
Hi Kevin, great question, the plants in this tank, like Anubias, will continue to grow well, even in a tank using gravel and sand as substrate, but adding a small amount of fertilizer (a tiny drop) once a month would definitely benefit them.
would a tiny pleco or algae eater fish work in this tank too?
I was thinking that too, but the issue with plecos and most fish is they don't stay tiny for long!
@jonahkubicek8887 is correct, most algae eaters like plecos get too large for a tank like this. Snails are a good option though!
hey, cool video, i was just wondering what type of water you used, did you use bottled water, tap water or put some kind of fish safe water in?
Hi AbsoluteRoblox,
Great question, for my cherry shrimp, I use regular tap water and API water conditioner. Your local tap water likely differs from mine so I can’t say that tap water will work for all shrimp tanks, but it does for my cherry shrimp. For sensitive shrimp, like Crystal shrimp, I would use reverse osmosis water and add back the necessary minerals, but that’s because my tap water is too “hard” for them. Hope that helps.
thanks!
Can I do it in a bowl without a heater? I only want 3 shrimp
Hi Allpro,
Great question. If you are planning on keeping cherry shrimp in a bowl or jar setup, it is definitely possible to keep them without a heater, but it depends on the average temperatures in your area. In my experience, cherry shrimp do well all the way down to 65 Fahrenheit, but below that they often stop breeding and seem much less active. I find my shrimp do best around 78-80 Fahrenheit, so if you can find a small betta heater for a bowl, that would be ideal.
This looks amazing! Where did you get the jar from?
Good question, I wrote an article that details all the steps and the equipment I used, including the exact jar (under "Step 1"), you can find that here: zenaquaria.com/nano-shrimp-tank/
@@stayzenaquaria thank you!
This is so cool! Love your videos!
Thank you Lauren! I appreciate that!
Nice job buddy, loved it so much.
Please make an update video. I am very interested to how it goes. I am so afraid of algae blooms. Otherwise I already bought a 20L fishbowl
Nice, looks very easy for beginner. Does the heater for the shimps?
If only with water plants, what temperature is good for plants?
Hi Sekirei,
I do provide my shrimp with a heater, it keeps them active and they seem to breed more if the water is between 76-78 Fahrenheit (at least in my experience). Most beginner friendly aquatic plants thrive in that same temperature range so having a heater is ideal.
1sekirei, it is easy and didnt cost much, but the smaller the tank is, it is also more difficult to handle with it.
@@stayzenaquaria What type of heater did you use?
What do you do when you have to many shrimp ? And have no other tank to put them in ?
Hi Michael,
That’s a great problem to have! I typically just buy another tank so I can have more shrimp haha, but many other aquarists sell their shrimp online or through Craigslist.
What about introducing a predator like a dwarf crayfish? Or would that wreak too much havoc? Lol
How long do you keep the lights on
Hi Myron,
Great question, for this jar/tank I keep the lights on for about 6 hours. The plants in this jar tolerate low light extremely well and could take less light, but 6 hours seems to make them happy.
What light are you using for this?
Great question, I actually wrote an article about this nano shrimp tank that describes the exact light I use, as well as a few other details about the build. You can find that info under the heading "Step 7: Add Low Light Aquatic Plants" at: zenaquaria.com/nano-shrimp-tank/
@@stayzenaquaria perfect, thanks for the info about lighting. That’s what brought me here 😎
What jar did you use
Hi Maddox, great question, you can find the exact jar I used in my article on this shrimp tank setup, under "Step 1: Place Nano Jar on a Flat Sturdy Surface": zenaquaria.com/nano-shrimp-tank/
Wow amazing..
Thank you, JHUN!
So cool
Thank you, Lee! I appreciate that.
Neat!
Thank you!!
what size heater are you using ?
Great question, it's a small heater I found on Amazon. I was skeptical about its quality, but the heater continues to work well in this jar aquascape. You can find the exact model of heater in my article, under "Step 8": zenaquaria.com/nano-shrimp-tank/
@@stayzenaquaria you didn't add it.
Do u have to feed them at all?
shrimps can eat the algae and dead plant bits, but if the tank doesn't get enough algae growth you can feed small pieces of vegetables (salad, cucumber, broccoli, sweet potato, carrot etc); boil them for 20-30 min and freeze the rest for later, leave the vegetable in for 24h max or it can grow mould/spoil the water and that's it, you don't even need store bought food for them, they will also eat their old skin after they shed and it can cover part of their nutrition too.
@@bonelessbonsai6997 Thanks for the info
Great question! @boneless bonsai is correct, shrimp will eat algae and dead plant matter as well as their old exoskeletons after shedding them. I also feed my shrimp Fluval Shrimp Granules and blanched vegetables.
How long did you let it cycle before adding the shrimp
Hi Melissa, great question, I let this jar cycle for about 3 weeks before adding shrimp. Typically, when you see algae start to grow the water is safe for inhabitants.
@@stayzenaquaria amazing I have an old beta tank that I have been cycling for about a month with some drift wood with java moss maple rock, Anubias petite , crypt wendtii and red ludwigia. It has a nerite snail in it right now along with a green puffer that I’m transferring to a 50 gallon octagon tank that is currently cycling. I want to try my hand at cherry shrimp but I am a little nervous. It has a thermometer, air stone and the built in filtration that I put mesh over so the shrimp wouldn’t get sucked up.
Your betta tank setup sounds perfect for keeping cherry shrimp! I like your selection of plants and it is definitely smart to cover the filter intake with mesh. If you run into issues with your current filter, consider getting a small sponge filter for the tank; they take the place of your air stone and will oxygenate the water as well as provide low flow filtration. Shrimp seem like they would be harder to keep than fish, but really they require about the same parameters, so no need to be nervous. Finding someone in your area that sells cherry shrimp is a good way to go, as these shrimp will be accustomed to your area’s tap water. I am looking forward to hearing how it goes!
@@stayzenaquaria thanks for the advice about the small sponge filter I’m going to buy one now. I have a Big Al in my neighbourhood that I basically live at. Spoke to one of the guys there and will be buying my shrimp soon ☺️. Super excited to see how it goes
That’s exciting! I know what you mean, I’m at my local fish store just about every weekend 😂. One more tip, get a container of Fluval Bug Bites (either bottom feeder formula or betta formula), the granules sink and shrimp love them. You can also supplement their diet with algae wafers or blanched spinach or zucchini.
Hi! what water conditioner can I use for the cherry shrimp if i want to make a tank like this one?
Hi Belen,
Great question, I use API tap water conditioner most of the time, but most commercial brands seem to do a good job. The key thing with shrimp is not to add anything to the tank that has copper, which is toxic for them. Otherwise, you should be fine, cherry shrimp are very hardy.
@@stayzenaquaria thank you so much! keep up the great work! :)