Hello all my first post here , so please be gentle...

About 6 months ago i bought a 5 gallon aquarium kit at a local pet store. It came with gravel, a filter that hangs over the side and 2 plastic plants and a 9 watt florescent bulb. Now since then a couple fish have come and gone and my water has been cloudy at times... after some trial and error and googling i have learned how to properly fed my inhabitants. and the water is rarely cloudy anymore, but mind you i do get algae sometimes on the glass....

I have 2 guppies(both same sex i think) and 2 Amano shrimp( i think they are amano) and one Pleco, not sure which type. Water temp is according to thermometer, is always between 75 and 80. Since i got this tank together i have really enjoyed the shrimp more than the fish. I went and bought a couple red cherry shrimp, and 3 days after there were no where to be found, a guy at the store told me that its possible my Pleco ate them?

Anyways to make a long story short i want to "renovate" my tank, i would like to have more shrimp and get rid of my Pleco, put it in my daughter's tank along with her two guppies... so i will have nothing around to scare or eat any new shrimp i might put in.

Now i read that 10 gallon should be a min, but my desk size at work prohibits anything bigger than 5 gallon. So my thoughts we to buy some very fine white or light color gravel or sand, as it looks nicer, get a couple java ferns and put the shrimp and 2 guppies back in and add a few more shrimp.

Now with this in mind can someone maybe help me out on what is the proper way to go about this? I do not have a spare tank, so any substrate conditioning would be done in a pale of sorts...

Plus, if i have Amano shrimp now , what other kind of shrimp will live happily with the Amano?

Thanks to all in advance and i apologize if my post irritates anyone

Have a great day!

Rob
Montreal, Canada

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

Ok, so after some thinking, i decided to buy a 10 gallon tank and build up from there.. So i found a 10 gallon tank for 10 bucks on Kijiji, but with no hood... so my next question is do i need a special hood if i want to use a T5 light so that my plants in the tank can grow better... or can any hood accomodate a T5 bulb?

My thoughts, so far, are to use very fine light colored substrate, and in a couple or 3 places on the bottom attache some Riccia with fish line to a piece of wood or something to create some grassy affects in contrast to the light colored gravel... not sure what kind of other plants to put in yet, maybe java fern as i heard they go good with shrimp, as this will be a shrimp tank, but will have 2 guppies in it too


Thanks

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

You can purchase an all glass top for pretty cheap which can be used with any light fixture.

I don't see why you didn't stay with the 5G, 2 guppies and some shrimp with plants would have been a pretty nice setup.

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

I mean i still have, but i read that 5 gallon was not as good as a 10 gallon for shrimp...

I have a Pleco(that i am going to get rid of) 2 guppies and 2 Amano shrimp.... i want to add more shrimp... after a some reading online it would seem people recommended a 10 gallon...

Unless there is a way i can renovate my current 5 gallon, by buying a florescent hood so i can put a T5 in it for the plants i want to add...??

i wanted to change up the look, what would i do with my current fishies and shrimp if i renovate this tank, put them in a bowl fro a couple days or a day while i fix up this one? is that possible, is so , i can try it for sure...

How many shrimp can i have in a 5 gallon? with 2 guppies in there already?
I guess there is a rule of thumb like 2 shrimp per gallon or something?

What do you think?
Thanks for the quick reply!

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

1-2 shrimps per gallon sounds about right. 2 guppies (preferably male so they don't spawn), and plants would perfect. you can find other lighting that works as well if not better than T5 FL, and for a 5G it would most likely be less expensive.

And yes just move the shrimps and guppies to a bowl or bucket which ever while you renovate the 5G.

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

Ok, i will try that first.

I will take pic of current tank and renovated and post when i am finished.

Currently i have a 9 watt bulb in there now.. looks like a florescent one. I hope they sell replacement bulbs in a T5 that i can pop in?

Thanks for the suggestions....

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

What type bulb does your current fixture use?

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

I am not sure what its called , so here is a pic of it



Thanks...

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

Yeah that's a compact FL light, you could look to increase the wats with a different type of compact FL. That's what I would do, you can find a fairly cheap plant grow bulb at homedepot / lowes.

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

Great i have a Home Depot across the street where i work as well as a Canadian Tire and Reno Depot

Thanks again my friend, i am sure i will be picking your brain again...

Have a super day!

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

Not much to pick here but you are more than welcome anytime. Have a great afternoon.

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

Ok while i was writing down a list of stuff to buy, i figure i would get some test kits, but they are so many and i am not sure which are most important to buy for a beginner, so i figured a Ph kit, Nitrate kit and what else... ??

Thanks..

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

Best bet is to just purchase a "Master Test Kit" around 30$ at LFS, which should include all the needed tests for starting out. And they will be the more accurate liquid tests, if money isn't there you can buy the API 5-in-1 dip strip test which also covers the 5 most important tests. But it's less accurate cause the colors don't always match up, the best you get from these tests is that it's not bad or harmful.

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

ok, sounds like a plan, except I have no clue what LFS is ???

Sorry for being a pain...

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

LFS = Local Fish Store

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

Hahaha, ok, thanks for clearing that up..

If it's too expensive, as i checked Big Als a Canadian online store its 50 bucks... as a last case choice which 2 or 3 kits should i get, as i see the Nitrate and PH for $5 each kit, so i figure if i but 2 or 3 it will be less expensive for me to start out...

Thanks....

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

to start out I would say spend 5$ or whatever it is on the 5-in-1 Dip Strip tests. this will give you a basic understading of where your water parameters are to start. As you get more involved you can work on the liquid tests.

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100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

ok, will do, i promise i won't bother you anymore today...

Have a good one, again!

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.

I got my API master test kit for $25 on Amazon I'm not sure if it's different because you are in canada, though!

Right now I'm setting up a shrimp tank, too! Good luck! :P

Ya for some reason its $39.99 for Canadians & $25 for Americans?? Since our Canadian dollar has been higher than the American dollar for the last 8 months you figure ti would be equal?? Unless there are some other odd reasons for the price diff... so i guess i shall buy from my LFS

Thanks for that info, i will keep you advised of my tank renovation...

Have a good one!

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Rob Morin
Montreal, Canada
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2Guppies, 2 Amano Shrimp, 2 Cherry Shrimp 1 Cherry Shrimp and one unknown orange shrimp in a 5 gallon tank, sitting on my desk at work.