[Shrimp_Pimp]

End goal with 55 gallon is to be a aquascaped breeding tank for shrimp. I have my eye on cardinal sulawesi, but open to other species. Other tank mates will include hillstream loaches, and possibly a small schooling fish that wont eat the fry. Fish tank budget $350

-Day 1 Cleaned tank, stand, and filter thoroughly. Threw out old sponge filters, motor gasket, and hoses. Replaced the motor gasket and hoses on Fluval 206. Boiled bio media it came with, just to kill anything that was living in it. Rinsed substrate till clear, filled tank with substrate, and water. Canister filter (Fluval 206) is running with just a pack of carbon and dechlorinate solution. By this weekend hope to get other filter parts in along with plant and shrimp stratum. Possibly drain the tank and plant this weekend. All depending on if I can find some hardscape, on my afternoon hikes by the rivers and creeks.


To do list (not in any particular order *possibly add more):
-Get new lights
-Apply black background
-Replace filter intake tube and add sponge filter
-Establish bio filter and sponge filters
-Hardscape (rocks and driftwood)
-Drain tank, add stratum, and aquascape
-Add the ladies of the night

Expenses to date:
$150-Tank, stand, Fluval 206, and accessories *see pics 2 and 3 (used bought off craigslist)
$12- Substrate (tractor supply medium blasting media 50lbs)
$20- Fluval hose
$8- Fluval motor gasket
$4- Carbon filter bag (x3)

 

[Shrimp_Pimp]

I would pull the carbon out while establishing your biofilter. I'm not sure what their reason is, but my LFSs all agreed on that when I was asking them about cycling a tank.

I filled up the tank to test the tank seals, noise and water tightness of the filter. Rather than draining the tank i just decided to run an empty filter with a few packs of carbon. I live in southern California, i have the carbon in the filter to help filter out anything that they treat the tap water. I agree with cycling the tank with foam filters and media not carbon. Only problem, bio foam wont be delivered for another week. My game plan let the water run threw carbon for a week, drain into a new 40 gallon trash can. Remove substrate, add stratum, replace substrate, add hardscape and plants, fill tank back with carbon ran water, put all bio media and foam into filter, add seachem stability, run for 2 weeks minimum till water parameters are suitable for the shrimp.

If you aren't including stocking in a the budget, you have plenty left for a nice light. I have the Aqueon Optibright + on my 75 and I love it for it's programmability and the overall way it makes my tank look, but it isn't perfect and there are much brighter lights. What kinds of plants are you looking to keep?

I haven't yet picked out a light, still looking around. As for plants open to ideas, the tank i have pictured in my mind. Is a few small or one large bonsai driftwood tree's covered in a moss (possibly java), or root ball/ stump that can give the similar effect. Small grass patch and some anacharis or similar plant. I've never done a designated breeding tank, so i'm doing research what will be the best for the shrimp.

 

[Shrimp_Pimp]

Update 1

To do list (not in any particular order *possibly add more):
-Get new lights
-Apply black background
-Add the ladies of the night

Expenses to date:
$150-Tank, stand, Fluval 206, and accessories *see pics 2 and 3 (used bought off craigslist)
$24- Substrate (tractor supply medium blasting media 50lbs) $12x 2
$20- Fluval hose
$8- Fluval motor gasket
$4- Carbon filter bag (x3)
$8- New suction cups for heater and intake
$50- Plants (monte carlo, lagenandra meeboldii green, callicostella prabaktiana)
$17- Fluval plant and shrimp stratum
$0- Hard scape (found in the rivers and creeks on my hikes

Water perameters
Ammonia- 0
PH- 7.2
Temp- 72 F
Nitrate- Med

Tank has been cycling for 1 week now with stratum. Got a new 50lb bag of blasting media for substrate, wasnt as deep as i wanted. Stratum was placed about 1 inch below top layer of substrate. My guestamaent is water is about 1 week away from new tank mates being introduced. Cut the monte carlo into small nickle size pieces to allow for spreading. Moss was placed on driftwood in small pieces to allow for a natural tree canopy to develop. Once the drift fully sink the zip ties will be cut. Wanting for LFS to get new ferns in for background plant.

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