What would you do?

[01n3on]

I have a 5 gallon aquarium. Its open top and has a 50/50 compact florescent for lighting and an AC 20 for filtration. All that's in there is a small piece of driftwood and a white sand bottom. What would you put in it for livestock?

 

[Gboy66]

Shrimp, get some RC's and they will reproduce lile mad. Make it densly planted and there ya go. The best and coolest thing for a small tank IMO

 

[LyndaB]

+1

My red cherry shrimp are among the most fascinating of my species to watch.

 

[nedge85]

agreed

shrimp rock

 

[01n3on]

Well...I hate to say it but ghost shrimp are the only shrimp available in my area...

 

[nedge85]

still a great variety, i have 3 at the moment

 

[Gboy66]

Well...I hate to say it but ghost shrimp are the only shrimp available in my area...

Tons of people on here sell them, jetajockey and Severum Mama are two people right off the bat

 

[01n3on]

Ok. Is maintenance any different on a shrimp tank than any other freshwater?

 

[nedge85]

Ok. Is maintenance any different on a shrimp tank than any other freshwater?

no. exactly the same. just be careful with ur syphon

 

[NoMoreGoldFish]

You don't have too many options with a 5 gallon tank. Your best bet is a low tech, planted tank with shrimp.

Do you fancy something like this?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4902356473_0828f5bfa2_b.jpg

or

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7540/pict0137yc.jpg

(the pictures aren't mind)

 

[01n3on]

Oooo I really like the first one...

Should I change my substrate to fluval shrimp stratum?

 

[NoMoreGoldFish]

You could use gravel or sand if you like, but if you use a mud substrate then you don't have to dose it. Most mud substrates also have the advantage of lowering the ph a bit, and that's what most shrimp prefer.

 

[01n3on]

Mud substrate?

 

[NoMoreGoldFish]

Yeah, like the Fluval stratum or Aqua Design Amano aqua soil, they come in the shapes of tiny little mud balls. After a while, it'll smooth itself out and form a layer of mud on the bottom.

 

[Gboy66]

Wow ya, thatd be a great shrimp tank..

 

[01n3on]

And do I vacuum the mud when doing water changes? If not, wouldn't anaerobic bacteria build up?