Alex at fishtory is one of my favorite TH-camrs in the hobby, fun to see a video link to him! Part of what I love about the hobby is how much we learn from eachother. Very helpful video, right now I’m attempting a low maintenance walstad tank and despite already knowing a lot of this information it was still helpful and fun to watch.
I think Alex's scientific approach makes him one of the best resources for the aquarium hobby! I've learned a lot from him as well and want to support his channel with the small reach I have. Are there any other TH-camrs in the aquarium space (ideally smaller ones) that you really enjoy watching? I'd love to learn and support them as well! It's a difficult thing to find the right balance of information in these videos. On one hand we may have you, who has a bunch of experience and has done a lot of research on aquariums, and on the other we might have a viewer who is just learning the basics of the cycling process. I'm glad there was still some useful stuff in here for you :) Happy shrimpin'!
This is such a high quality video with such organized information. I had to watch like 50 other videos to gather this same amount of info elsewhere. Loved the funny intro too!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind comment - It means a lot! Looking forward to providing you with even more information in the future. If there's anything about this video or another subject you'd like to learn about, lmk and I'll do some research! Happy shrimpin' :D
We really appreciate the kind words! It's definitely encouraging us to make more fun content for y'all. There's so much more interesting stuff to explore :D
Looking to setup a natural, planted shrimp & snail tank sometime this summer. Glad to see the plug for Fishstory and Father Fish. Was wondering of what your thoughts are regarding a product like Bacter AE
Hey @Bradley-sl2uv Thanks for the kind words in your other comment, along with your question! We've actually written an article that goes in-depth into BacterAE that you can check out here: www.shrimplyexplained.com/2022/09/29/what-is-bacter-ae/ In short, it's a good product when used conservatively. We can't say that BacterAE, in particular, is better than any of the other powders that promote beneficial bacteria but it works well and is widely available.
Thanks for the video. I like how you add your own humor to them :). It's interested that you also don't mention using any products like most others on TH-camrs.
Thanks for the kind words! I think education should also always have at least some entertaining aspects :D As for products, I want to be completely transparent here - it depends on what the goal is. This video was discussing more general approaches as opposed to any specific thing so products aren't as appropriate. In future videos on, say, biofilm formation, BacterAE is probably going to be mentioned because it's a good and widely available product. I'd still have to decide whether to add an affiliate link or not, and I was thinking of polling subscribers to see how you feel about them. So I'd love to hear your opinion! What do you think about TH-camrs mentioning (or effectively selling) products in their videos and providing affiliate links? Do you think it can be done responsibly and, if so, do you have any examples of channels you think do so well?
@@shrimplyexplained i think as long as it benefits the hobby I’m all for it. It’s all about how to make things better imo. I use BacterAE in my shrimp tanks. I know a very little goes a long way. I also heard there’s a shrimp baby version as well. I haven’t tried myself. I watched a vid the other day where a guy put a white sweet potato in a tank and let it grow biofilm and used it to feed his shrimp. When I tried it, it just created a big mess. I probably did something wrong. I think polling or creating a short is great idea.
great videos! me and my girlfriend love the content. I want to upcycle an 8 litre cocktail glass jar with a tap to a shrimp tank using the tap hole for the pump if needed. maybe you could give some advise as we are obviously short on space for this one. we were thinking lots of plant in aqua soil with snails then the recommended 6-8 weeks cycle time. do you think this would work with such little water and if so how many shrimp would you say is the right amount. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words! As for your setup, there are plenty of examples of something that small working. I'm guessing you're aware that the low water volume can make parameters less stable so you may want to do more frequent testing to make sure parameters stay in range. With regard to the number of shrimp - I'd suggest keeping it low and doing just 3-4 neocaridina. That number gives you enough that you'll likely get at least one male and female to breed if the tank is healthy, although you may have to start selling some shrimp after that! Good luck and lmk if you have any other questions!
@3173kiki Thank you so much for the kind words :) The only reason you HAVE TO gravel vacuum is if you notice a huge buildup of mulm/detritus or nitrates that are difficult to control. We recently wrote an article that includes a section about how we approach "good" vs "bad" amounts of mulm., which you can take a look at here: www.shrimplyexplained.com/2023/12/21/improving-water-quality-in-shrimp-tanks/ If you're looking for a natural tank with a strong ecosystem, then letting that poop sit and be broken down in the substrate for plant roots is really beneficial. It takes time and isn't always pretty but can help establish a great tank. If you don't like the look, or if you're opting for tank with little to no substrate and few rooted plants, then gravel vacuuming makes more sense. We basically never gravel vac our tanks unless we've just done a rescape and unearthed a bunch of debris from the substrate. Lmk if you have any other questions!
Hey, Nice video! You mentioned using a deep substrate, but does it work for long term projects, like 4-5 years? I thought about it but using it but i'm afraid of nutrient depletion from the soil or wathever you put underneath. Anyways, nice and informative video again!
Hi, I got some 3 inch sand substrate in my tank, and the trumpet snails are digging in the poop and debris. I have high hopes that this replenishes nutrients needed by the plants. The tank is heavily planted, like 15 different species, has a lot of shrimp and snails, and was started with some pond water for micro organisms. Runs fine without any water changes, I just make sure I add as little food as possible, few leaves here and there, water top off, nothing more.
What are good companions that can go with shrimp? Currently, i have snails and crawfish Also im not using a filter at all and my shrimp seem to be very happy
@accalt6519 Snails are great! If you're okay with some baby shrimp possibly being eaten, then smaller fish like ember tetras or pygmy corydoras often work well, too. Personally, I like kuhli loaches since they're a very fun and weird fish that doesn't seem interested in the shrimp in your tanks in the least. Bettas are a bit hit or miss. If you choose to add fish, then more plant cover is always a good idea to protect the baby shrimp as much as possible. Crawfish are an interesting companion. I've heard a lot of people find that crawfish and freshwater lobsters eventually try to eat shrimp. If it's working for you though, then great! Ostracods are tough so they often survive plant treatment and get introduced that way. They can also be found in the water shrimp are shipped in. If you know any local hobbyists who have them in parasite-free tanks then you might be able to get some from them. Lastly, there are a bunch of ways to keep shrimp. If you've done your research and set up a balanced tank with enough plants to support the bioload in your tank, then a filterless setup can definitely work. It's just unlikely that you'll have as high of dissolved oxygen levels in the tank, which can become a problem if there's a lot of decomposing food or a death in the tank, OR if you have such high plant growth that plants deplete the oxygen excessively at night. Personally, I like having the insurance of a filter but whatever works for you!
@@shrimplyexplained thank you very much for all of your advice! Crawfish definitely try to eat shrimp but they're always just too fast. I've only seen one that was caught and eaten
A big bioload means you need to do change water frequently. However you should keep a minimum waste for everything to work, or else the plants, bacteria and organisms may starve
@@shrimplyexplained He probably just said that because he gives lots of different types of advice, and plenty of it is more applicable to ponds, but I'm not sure. Some people really disagree with his methods and suggestions such as adding random detritus from outdoor water sources to increase good bacteria in the tank, but we'll have to see if the other commenter elaborates. I think he's a wealth of knowledge though, and his methods work for plenty of people and come down to subjective taste in tank styles.
he encourages unsafe husbandry, and never goes into the diseases and parasites his keeping style can introduce to fish. he's encouraged betta keepers to keep bettas in 2 gallon bowls, and to introduce a female to the male so they dont get bored. He encourages new keepers to not test their perams, and to set up low/no filter setups. he's called things like ferts poison, but also encourages keepers to bury fish bodies into the substrate as a fert instead, which is an uncontrolled amount of ammonia. Majority of his knowledge is outdated, with a few good bits sprinkled in. Overall, only knowledgeable in his niche, and its a pretty narrow niche. @@shrimplyexplained
Alex at fishtory is one of my favorite TH-camrs in the hobby, fun to see a video link to him! Part of what I love about the hobby is how much we learn from eachother. Very helpful video, right now I’m attempting a low maintenance walstad tank and despite already knowing a lot of this information it was still helpful and fun to watch.
I think Alex's scientific approach makes him one of the best resources for the aquarium hobby! I've learned a lot from him as well and want to support his channel with the small reach I have. Are there any other TH-camrs in the aquarium space (ideally smaller ones) that you really enjoy watching? I'd love to learn and support them as well!
It's a difficult thing to find the right balance of information in these videos. On one hand we may have you, who has a bunch of experience and has done a lot of research on aquariums, and on the other we might have a viewer who is just learning the basics of the cycling process. I'm glad there was still some useful stuff in here for you :)
Happy shrimpin'!
Dude. Your videos are smart, educational & funny. Subbed!
@emmagatewood3898 Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind word and support the channel! It means a lot :D
Happy shrimpin'!
Wonderful!!!!
This is such a high quality video with such organized information. I had to watch like 50 other videos to gather this same amount of info elsewhere. Loved the funny intro too!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind comment - It means a lot! Looking forward to providing you with even more information in the future. If there's anything about this video or another subject you'd like to learn about, lmk and I'll do some research!
Happy shrimpin' :D
Great informative video, along with some creative and entertaining editing and animation. Well done!
@Mrs.M-Aquatics Thank you so much for the kind words of support. Glad you liked it!
You’re making some great videos here! I love the editing, entertainment value, and scientific articles. Keep it up!
We really appreciate the kind words! It's definitely encouraging us to make more fun content for y'all. There's so much more interesting stuff to explore :D
Another great video
I love your shrimptastic art in the background!
Looking to setup a natural, planted shrimp & snail tank sometime this summer. Glad to see the plug for Fishstory and Father Fish. Was wondering of what your thoughts are regarding a product like Bacter AE
Hey @Bradley-sl2uv Thanks for the kind words in your other comment, along with your question! We've actually written an article that goes in-depth into BacterAE that you can check out here: www.shrimplyexplained.com/2022/09/29/what-is-bacter-ae/
In short, it's a good product when used conservatively. We can't say that BacterAE, in particular, is better than any of the other powders that promote beneficial bacteria but it works well and is widely available.
Great article my friend. Very useful
Thanks for the video. I like how you add your own humor to them :). It's interested that you also don't mention using any products like most others on TH-camrs.
Thanks for the kind words! I think education should also always have at least some entertaining aspects :D
As for products, I want to be completely transparent here - it depends on what the goal is. This video was discussing more general approaches as opposed to any specific thing so products aren't as appropriate. In future videos on, say, biofilm formation, BacterAE is probably going to be mentioned because it's a good and widely available product. I'd still have to decide whether to add an affiliate link or not, and I was thinking of polling subscribers to see how you feel about them. So I'd love to hear your opinion!
What do you think about TH-camrs mentioning (or effectively selling) products in their videos and providing affiliate links? Do you think it can be done responsibly and, if so, do you have any examples of channels you think do so well?
@@shrimplyexplained i think as long as it benefits the hobby I’m all for it. It’s all about how to make things better imo. I use BacterAE in my shrimp tanks. I know a very little goes a long way. I also heard there’s a shrimp baby version as well. I haven’t tried myself. I watched a vid the other day where a guy put a white sweet potato in a tank and let it grow biofilm and used it to feed his shrimp. When I tried it, it just created a big mess. I probably did something wrong. I think polling or creating a short is great idea.
Happy 1 k subscribers 💖
Thanks! It's awesome to spread information and chat with so many other shrimp keepers. Lmk if you ever have any questions
great videos! me and my girlfriend love the content. I want to upcycle an 8 litre cocktail glass jar with a tap to a shrimp tank using the tap hole for the pump if needed. maybe you could give some advise as we are obviously short on space for this one. we were thinking lots of plant in aqua soil with snails then the recommended 6-8 weeks cycle time. do you think this would work with such little water and if so how many shrimp would you say is the right amount. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words!
As for your setup, there are plenty of examples of something that small working. I'm guessing you're aware that the low water volume can make parameters less stable so you may want to do more frequent testing to make sure parameters stay in range. With regard to the number of shrimp - I'd suggest keeping it low and doing just 3-4 neocaridina. That number gives you enough that you'll likely get at least one male and female to breed if the tank is healthy, although you may have to start selling some shrimp after that!
Good luck and lmk if you have any other questions!
Your videos are always so informative! What are your thoughts on gravel vacuuming? Yay or nay? Snails poop a lot too!
@3173kiki Thank you so much for the kind words :)
The only reason you HAVE TO gravel vacuum is if you notice a huge buildup of mulm/detritus or nitrates that are difficult to control. We recently wrote an article that includes a section about how we approach "good" vs "bad" amounts of mulm., which you can take a look at here: www.shrimplyexplained.com/2023/12/21/improving-water-quality-in-shrimp-tanks/
If you're looking for a natural tank with a strong ecosystem, then letting that poop sit and be broken down in the substrate for plant roots is really beneficial. It takes time and isn't always pretty but can help establish a great tank. If you don't like the look, or if you're opting for tank with little to no substrate and few rooted plants, then gravel vacuuming makes more sense.
We basically never gravel vac our tanks unless we've just done a rescape and unearthed a bunch of debris from the substrate.
Lmk if you have any other questions!
Hi and a lot of thank for this information
First comment❤️❤️❤️
We're glad you liked the video! Thanks for commenting to support it!
Nice ty
Hey, Nice video!
You mentioned using a deep substrate, but does it work for long term projects, like 4-5 years?
I thought about it but using it but i'm afraid of nutrient depletion from the soil or wathever you put underneath.
Anyways, nice and informative video again!
Bro do u have shrimps
Father Fish has videos on this, go check him out.
Hi, I got some 3 inch sand substrate in my tank, and the trumpet snails are digging in the poop and debris. I have high hopes that this replenishes nutrients needed by the plants. The tank is heavily planted, like 15 different species, has a lot of shrimp and snails, and was started with some pond water for micro organisms. Runs fine without any water changes, I just make sure I add as little food as possible, few leaves here and there, water top off, nothing more.
wow
What are good companions that can go with shrimp?
Currently, i have snails and crawfish
Also im not using a filter at all and my shrimp seem to be very happy
Also where can I find ostracods?
@accalt6519 Snails are great! If you're okay with some baby shrimp possibly being eaten, then smaller fish like ember tetras or pygmy corydoras often work well, too. Personally, I like kuhli loaches since they're a very fun and weird fish that doesn't seem interested in the shrimp in your tanks in the least. Bettas are a bit hit or miss. If you choose to add fish, then more plant cover is always a good idea to protect the baby shrimp as much as possible.
Crawfish are an interesting companion. I've heard a lot of people find that crawfish and freshwater lobsters eventually try to eat shrimp. If it's working for you though, then great!
Ostracods are tough so they often survive plant treatment and get introduced that way. They can also be found in the water shrimp are shipped in. If you know any local hobbyists who have them in parasite-free tanks then you might be able to get some from them.
Lastly, there are a bunch of ways to keep shrimp. If you've done your research and set up a balanced tank with enough plants to support the bioload in your tank, then a filterless setup can definitely work. It's just unlikely that you'll have as high of dissolved oxygen levels in the tank, which can become a problem if there's a lot of decomposing food or a death in the tank, OR if you have such high plant growth that plants deplete the oxygen excessively at night. Personally, I like having the insurance of a filter but whatever works for you!
@accalt6519 How long has the tank been set up for?
@@shrimplyexplained probably about 9 months I think
@@shrimplyexplained thank you very much for all of your advice!
Crawfish definitely try to eat shrimp but they're always just too fast. I've only seen one that was caught and eaten
Sorry what's the bio load?I am not sure I wrote it correctly or not😅
The bioload is the ammount of waste (mainly animal poop and dead plants) that the aquarium recieves
@@PATTOGXD so increase of that is good or bad??
A big bioload means you need to do change water frequently. However you should keep a minimum waste for everything to work, or else the plants, bacteria and organisms may starve
@@PATTOGXD Thanks bro
Father fish has a few good tips, but overall is a joke
I appreciate your comment. Would you be open to elaborating about what you like/dislike about him?
@@shrimplyexplained He probably just said that because he gives lots of different types of advice, and plenty of it is more applicable to ponds, but I'm not sure. Some people really disagree with his methods and suggestions such as adding random detritus from outdoor water sources to increase good bacteria in the tank, but we'll have to see if the other commenter elaborates. I think he's a wealth of knowledge though, and his methods work for plenty of people and come down to subjective taste in tank styles.
he encourages unsafe husbandry, and never goes into the diseases and parasites his keeping style can introduce to fish. he's encouraged betta keepers to keep bettas in 2 gallon bowls, and to introduce a female to the male so they dont get bored. He encourages new keepers to not test their perams, and to set up low/no filter setups. he's called things like ferts poison, but also encourages keepers to bury fish bodies into the substrate as a fert instead, which is an uncontrolled amount of ammonia. Majority of his knowledge is outdated, with a few good bits sprinkled in. Overall, only knowledgeable in his niche, and its a pretty narrow niche. @@shrimplyexplained