Getting Back into the hobby need advice on setup

[inFERNal_inFERNo]

Hello!

I am new to the forum but not to the hobby necessarily. I had a Fluval spec V perhaps five years ago that had some java moss and some red cherry shrimp in it. I enjoyed the hobby for the brief time I was in it, but the pump randomly overheated and killed all the remaining shrimp. Up until that point, however, I was struggling to keep the shrimp alive in the first place, so I decided to not replace them and turned my full attention to my community planted tank. However, I now realize that my failure was probably due to a combination of extremely alkaline (8.8 pH) and hard water combined with Fluval Stratum active substrate. I realized this after having some difficulty with soft water fish in my other tank. I thought the substrate would lower the pH enough to keep more softwater species which it did, but it was inconsistent and with every water change, the pH would spike. This time I want to do it right with remineralized RO water. I also have a lot more experience in aquatics in general from my first foray into the hobby.

 

Anyone enough blabbering and onto the setup. I was planning on starting with a 10 gallon cube tank with a neocaridina variation that I have not yet decided on (suggestions welcome). After a good deal of research, I have written this preliminary list.

Innovative Marine 10 cube black

Eheim 2213 (w/ Lily Pipe inflow/outflow covered in mesh)

Glass Lid (I've heard shrimp like to do some terrestrial exploring without one)

Finnex FugeRay Planted+ Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights, Cliplight

Fluval Submersible Glass Aquarium Heater, 50-watt

Eco-complete inert substrate (I like it in my other tank)

food dish

food (have not decided. I have looked up some videos but it all seems highly subjective)

RODI system (haven't decided on specific model)

Water storage tank/mixing drum

Salty Shrimp GH KH plus

python water change system

DIY stand

tds meter

Test kits (master, gh, and kh)

Shrimp Net

 

As for plants and decor. I plan on just growing various types of mosses attached to some interesting driftwood along with some anubias and perhaps some unique floaters. I will also be adding plenty of almond leaves.

 

I was hoping to just get some feedback on how I am doing so far in the planning process and to see if anyone has some more specific tips to keep in mind when starting a new tank. Did I forget or misjudge anything? Please let me know. Also as I mentioned I could use some neo variation suggestions.

 

Thanks,

A novice shrimp keeper

 

 

 

[aotf]

Sounds good to me, a couple things come to mind when reading your list:

- the mesh on your inflow will have to be really fine since shrimplets are small. A decent looking alternative would be something like this http://www.hanaquatics.com/ss-filter-guard/ although it does fudge the glass aesthetic.

- a lot of shrimpers will tell you that heaters are unnecessary and risky at best. If the room the tank will be in is kept within normal conditions year-round, you should be fine without one. If you want faster breeding (with the added slight risk of a faulty thermostat + bacterial infections), throw it in.

- glass lids are not necessary, I think it's the exception rather than the rule for neos to go exploring. They might if your water is horrible. Larger shrimp and snails are probably more susceptible to carpet-surfing (bamboo, vampire).

- this is minor but the Planted+ has a very warm presentation, red shrimp will pop while blues will look more subdued. Depending on your personal lighting tastes and the colors of the shrimp you'll be keeping, keep your mind open to the lights that are out there.

 

Otherwise, you're all set!
Make sure you're familiar with the right parameters for neos and it sounds like you're setting yourself up for success.

Don't hesitate to ask around when you actually want to buy your livestock, homebred tends to be healthier and cheaper than imported (and there's quite a nice selection of friendly people on this forum who stock great shrimp).

[inFERNal_inFERNo]

Thanks for the helpful advice! My house stays usually around 70-74 year round which would probably be ok, I was just concerned about the fluctuation. Also, thanks for the filter mesh suggestion I will look into it. And I really appreciated your interesting note on what the light would do to different colors, that definitely will be a consideration.

 

PS: I hear a lot about bacterial boosters that you sprinkle into the substrate. Do these really work and are they worth it?

 

Thanks again

[aotf]

I have not used bacterial boosters in my substrate, I suspect they probably help get the tank to a "mature" state a bit faster but aren't necessary to be successful.

70-74F is totally fine, I wouldn't worry about a heater unless you were in the low sixties.

As far as the lights go, I figured I might as well show you since I can. On the left, Asta 20. On the right, Planted+. The Asta tank has more algae in it because it's older but you can easily see the difference in color between them (same substrate, same wood, same plants, same rocks). The Asta is not significantly dimmer in reality, that tank has more frogbit on top blocking the light and I think my phone's camera is more sensitive to warm light.

 

[OblongShrimp]

I totally agree about skipping the heater, fluctuations that happen in a house are totally fine and don't bother them at all. 

 

eco complete isnt completely inert, it will increase your tds over time but works well for neos (i have it in a bunch of tanks).

 

A top will cut your evaporation significantly but neos usually aren't able to get out of the water to explore (amanos and larger shrimp will though).