Those shrimp - see all, know all
Those shrimp are derpy and creepy and so funny. Honestly can't even understand why I have them.
But I like them BECAUSE they are so funny.
They do the normal shrimp antics like hang upside down on the top of the water, ballet swim around to go get some food, dart quickly to steal a pellet from the coming mouth of a fish (or other shrimp).
But darn it anyway, they are basically invisible - with big eyes, and a visible stomach after they eat!!!
I thought they would be gone after a few months or so, as in die off since they were feeder shrimp...
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They seem to be gentle enough with the fish and not the same as the sometimes discussed online, as in aggressive Indian Whisker Shrimp monsters attacking and eating your fish.
They stay larger side size of dwarf shrimp, more similar in size to an Amano shrimp. Females being larger as usual with shrimp.
Most have no color excepting the digestive tract.
And the tiny red cuffs, though not all have the reddish color. Maybe they aren't mature enough?
Funny googly eyes set above the head.
Anyway just a fun update for the little invisible shrimp with giant eyes.
Thank you very much.
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Reflection on keeping this tank
Funny that over time I really love this tank. I figured I would get rid of it or pass it on to someone else locally.
It popped into my life when I was solidly resolved to get rid of more tanks to better focus on less quantity and have more quality.
Then it was ideal for the Iwagami Seiryu stones which I figured I wouldn't end up using since I was getting rid of tanks not making more.
Summary
And so as this is running now around a year and a half, it is the easiest tank.
I use water from the wine glass to water plants on the table next to it and after evaporation and using water to water plants I will add water about a half gallon once a week and then a gallon at water change time.
The inset sponge filter sits in back and frequently get plants and moss rooting into it. It is cleaned when the bubbles coming up from the filter seem about half what they should be. Maybe every 6-12 weeks. Once in awhile I just clean it if I feel like I have been feeding a lot.
Every few months I do a round of water parameter tank checks when the test kit is out. Never had an issue.
PH stays around 7.2 sometimes around 7.5 or 7.6 was the highest.
Sometimes I will add a bit of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) water for the plants, if I made it up for my other tanks.
Sometimes I add a little API Natural Trace which has a nice assortment of minerals which I add for the benefit of the shrimp.
Our city water comes from a reservoir sometimes in the year which is 7.2 to 7.5 pH and other time in the year it is from snow melt and has low pH 6.5 or less often and 0 / Zero kH. It then actually needs the boost of minerals for maintaining a stable tank.
The Galaxy Koi Betta Mae West really perked up the activity and added color.
Over the year and a half I have lost a few Guppies in the tank. Planning on a couple more (males only) to round out the rainbow colors. The few Habrosus dwarf Cories I added to keep the one loner company seemed to dwindle. I got 6 if I remember Pygmy Cories and they seemed to be doing just fine and swim all around the tank and also come to the top to eat, maybe to get away from the food gobbling shrimp zone lol.
My little National Geographic touch light for nano tanks had become very dim, I bought a clearance duplicate since I knew it Just barely fit on the rim.
Didn't open it up though.
After moving another container had a half LED's burned out older style Finnex Stingray clip light and added it to get some extra light on the tank.
Unknown why my Vesivius Sword died maybe from too much light/or the change. It was one of my favorite plants in there so that was a bummer. Helanthium 'Vesuvius' (previously called Echínodorus 'Vesuvius') says Tropic Aquarium Plants.
In removing one container and then the 20G Long, moved a water living roots in the water, foliage out top, Anthurium to the top of the Wine Glass nearest the french door/sunlight. Even though it is protected in the corner and doesn't get direct sunlight.
A couple months ago I removed the old National Geographic clamp light. I am having very nice growth in the tank and basically not any problems with algae.
Scraped off a brownish patch and a greenish one several months ago when both lights were on it.
Just added a cuttlebone which was visible floating on top in that last tank shot, hadn't sunk yet.
I wipe off the glass with a microfiber cloth every once in awhile and a paper towel swoop around the inside of the rim once in awhile.
About 5 min of maintenance per week.
One thing I may try is adding some flexible strip light made by Current USA around the lower back just to see inside the bottom better. This is because I already own/have the strip appx 4' of it, just need to think of how to add it and if I have the AC plug and the remote.
Also my favorite substrate fert caps (Stemma and Rosetta by Ferka) have been unavailable for over a year and I have exhausted my stock up supply and will need to find a new option.
Planning on just maintaining the thing until it ends up broken - that long wine glass stem quivers around and I get nervous frequently.
Pretty clumsy...