Cycling Your Shrimp Tank Is Not Enough

[@1885win]

Cycling is shrimply not enough.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Truer words have never been spoken

[@Wtfzipcode]

chalk board aimations deserves more than 30k views

[@shrimplyexplained]

@wtfzipcode Thanks for appreciating the effort we put in! Happy shrimpin'!

[@shrimplyexplained]

CORRECTION: As @kinglyzard kindly pointed out, we incorrectly stated that cyanophyta was green algae at 4:05. This is actually a phylum that is sometimes called blue-green algae but is actually photosynthetic bacteria. You can learn more here: ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanointro.html If you have other corrections/suggestions for improvement, please let us know in the comments! We're always looking to learn and improve :)

[@Norwegianhero1]

I just found this channel 5 minutes ago. But i allready know this is a channel we should follow! Keep up the good work!

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thanks for the encouragement! We'll do our best to put out great content for you :D

[@Rivi_Styx]

You don't have many subs so I wanted to let you know this was in my recommended. Your video is getting recommended!

[@shrimplyexplained]

Awesome, thanks for letting us know! Have a great day :D

[@Bestofanyoption]

Its always nice to see fish content creators like this

[@aliothsan]

I deeply appreciate that you provided citations!!!

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thanks for taking the time to say that! One of the most frustrating things about this hobby for me is that everyone seems to rely on anecdotal evidence to support their claims. I'm hoping to push in the other direction by providing more research. Let me know if you have any questions about shrimp you'd like to see answered in this way! Happy shrimpin' :D

[@panalakia]

@@shrimplyexplainedSo, so true, plus the anecdotal evidence just keeps getting repeated..

[@gayefanner731]

Very late to the party but so happy to have found you. This is THE best video, the ONLY one any prospective shrimpkeeper needs. So informative and encouraging, the wait is wearing after a while but will be rewarding l know. Thank you for all your research, hard work and experience. I’ve been trawling many channels n talking to lfs, it takes time and effort n still leaves heaps to learn. Needless to say I’ve subscribed! God bless your endeavours 🙏✝️. ✌️🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦✌️. 🙋‍♀️🤍🇮🇱✌️

[@lemonlizard1]

This video is really good! I honestly can't believe how few subscribers you have! Keep going I'm sure you'll get way more recognition

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you for the kind words! We're gonna try releasing more videos soon but need to figure out how to streamline the process so it doesn't take 20 hours of work for an 11 minute video lol

[@AsianAmericanGuy]

Gots to be the best explaining I've gotten

[@AquaticDomain]

I agree 100% . It’s one of the best shrimp videos I’ve ever seen

[@johnwagers8190]

I just found him, and thought, "wow, another nerd building aquariums in momma's basement", but after listening, I'd say he knows his stuff, and how to explain it in a manner that anyone can understand it. Kudos to him, and I'm definitely a subscriber now.

[@aquafreedom]

I love how detailed you were. Great video man keep it up! 🤙

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you so much for the kind words! It's a lot of work for each video but I'm gonna try to get more out!

[@savannahcatchat]

I have all of those and my tank is still cycling. I am going to add panda Corey’s once it’s cycled then wait a few more weeks before adding my shrimp. Thanks for the informative video

[@shrimplyexplained]

@savannahcatchat Great, I'm glad to hear your ecosystem is coming along! How long has it been cycling for so far?

[@savannahcatchat]

@@shrimplyexplained about 3 weeks. It just finished cycling, so going to add a school of Corey’s. And in a few more weeks I can get my shrimp! I want to make sure the tank is suited for them before I get them.

[@volkerkrotzsch4432]

Great video editing, great content. I watched various good videos on this topic from really good German channels, but your video is the best. Must have been a lot of work. Thank you for providing all this in-depth knowledge and research summary. Keep one this great quality work! I wish you the best for your channel.

[@shrimplyexplained]

These sorts of videos do take me a TON of time but it's worth getting good information out there! The fact that you took the time to leave a comment means a lot and really encourages me to make more. Good luck with your tanks and happy shrimpin!

[@maplebarsaredivine]

Awesome! 🦐👏🏼 I learned so much from this-loved how entertaining it was, too. 🤩 Never knew shrimp keeping could be so much fun! Great work. Can’t wait for the next video!

[@Neil.gh11]

I love the video!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊 what if I added beneficial bacteria would I still need to wait that long or not as long?

[@shrimplyexplained]

@Neil.gh11 Thanks for watching and for the great question! Adding beneficial bacteria (bottled nitrifying bacteria) helps make the tank habitable sooner because it can process waste (ammonia/nitrites). The tank still needs time to develop an ecosystem though if you want to have a more stable environment for shrimp. For example, algae needs time to develop, which in turn feeds microorganisms that need to breed and establish a population to help break down waste and keep the tank clean. You and your shrimp benefit from these microorganisms because it reduces the need for maintenance and feeding. That being said, you can add shrimp earlier if the nitrogen cycle is established with beneficial bacteria - maybe even within a week or so. But you also need to be aware of how much more careful you'll need to be. For example, a week-old tank won't have much food available so you have to feed frequently, which often leads to issues with overfeeding. Without a good microbial community to break down waste, you also need to do more maintenance. A newer tank is more prone to cycle disruptions from maintenance so you need to be more careful and test more frequently. All the disruptions also slow down the speed of the ecosystem developing. If you are aware of the potential issues and know how often to feed, when to take out old food, and are okay with much more frequent maintenance, then you can absolutely put shrimp in earlier! I'd just say that success is much more likely by being patient and waiting 4-6 weeks before adding shrimp (still slightly earlier with the beneficial bacteria addition than the 6-8 week recommendation without it). Again, thanks for watching and lmk if you have any other questions!

[@Neil.gh11]

@ thank you so much!!!

[@Nirabulator]

This video impressed me as it is the clearest and most concise set of recommendations and explanations for those recommendations I have yet to come across. I have recently restarted a 30 liter tank with the resolve to follow Tropica’s 90-day guide for starting an aquarium. This guide suggests adding shrimp after two weeks. I was closer to three weeks in before I added twenty shrimp. I lost several every day until I now have two or maybe three that have survived and seem not to be kicking the bucket. I wish I had seen this video sooner. I think I understand the die-off now. Poor little shrimps!

[@gayefanner731]

That’s sad, so sorry 😢 I’ve been waiting n waiting to add shrimp through fear n lack of knowledge. Just watched this vid n read your comment n in many ways feel encouraged, although sorry for you 🙏✝️

[@Nirabulator]

@gayefanner731 Thank you! My last two cherry shrimp have now also expired. Two big ones who were eating heartily, found dead in the morning. Sigh. I wish you the best with your aquarium!

[@gayefanner731]

⁠@@Nirabulator Oh dear, commiserations…Thank you for your kind good wishes, l’m still hanging fire ✌️

[@Nirabulator]

@gayefanner731 Wise, I am sure.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@Nirabulator Sorry to hear that! The early days of a tank can be tough on shrimp due to the lack of food readily available. It requires frequent feeding, which in turn comes with it's own issues. It's also important to check for other potential causes of death though, like the white ring of death to indicate molting problems, or the presence of planaria. I hope this next attempt goes well. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Happy New Year and Happy Shrimpin'!

[@biskuat]

Please keep on filming dude. The video is very enjoyable and informative. You perfectly answered the questions a newbie like me have. Keep it up! I am subscribed 😆

[@shrimplyexplained]

It's really encouraging to know the video was good enough for you to take the time out of your day to leave a comment and subscribe. Thank you so much and happy shrimping :D

[@timmythecat13]

Thanks for the great information, this video really helps me as a new shrimp keeper

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're glad you liked it :D Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or run into any issues!

[@sheila11799]

OMG thank you! You just saved me from costly impatience. Recently began cycling 2 new tanks for shrimp. I seeded the water with water taken from a few of my other fairly “new-ish” established tanks. Assuming THAT and 2-3 weeks cycling would “surely be plenty” good enough to introduce shrimp. Nope! Thanks for the info, I’ll def wait until I see these 3 signs before introducing the shrimp. Liked and subscribed!! ❤️

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're glad you found the video helpful! Patience can be incredibly difficult when you want to see cute baby shrimp ASAP but it really does pay off :D Good luck with your new tank and happy shrimpin'!

[@Thomas.Saunders]

There isn't much beneficial bacterial in the water itself, even in an established tank. It would be quite a bit better to add decorations, substate, or of course a sponge filter or other filter material from an established tank to your cycling tank.

[@discusdivana7581]

Thank you for this professional video. Thank you for helping and sharing your knowledge. May God bless your livestock richly.

[@amazebalakannan]

bro i like your enthusiasm and energetic attitude. so much information keep up best of luck to get more subscribers

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you so much! You're definitely encouraging me to make more videos :D Happy shrimpin!

[@jewel65]

I'm researching about shrimp because I want an eco tank. Thank you for all the good info!

[@shrimplyexplained]

Glad you liked it! We really appreciate that you took the time to comment and support the video. Good luck with your eco tank!

[@KerriRoach-o9o]

new tank being established, we live in TN and there are very few aquarium stores in which to purchase plants, moss, etc as well as shrimp. anyone can give recommended sites?😊

[@shrimplyexplained]

It can be difficult to find things locally in more rural areas. There are always online stores like Aquarium Co-Op where you can get plants shipped from, or you can try searching for local aquarist groups on Facebook!

[@wan2shuffle]

Leaving the light on for a week with a snail or 2 has worked pretty well for me in getting plants and algae established.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@wan2shuffle Glad to hear it! Good luck with your tank and lmk if you have any questions :)

[@stevegee8010]

That's bad for the plants as they need a rest period, i.e. day/night cycle.

[@artofmisi]

thank you for this! it's so interesting and informative, and as someone who's about to build a shrimp tank, it couldn't have landed on my feed at a better time!

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're glad you liked the video! It's really encouraging to hear. Good luck with the tank. Please reach out if you have any questions :)

[@canadashrimps]

Great info! Really appreciate this video and your channel!

[@chrisbridle6827]

I learnt so much from this video. Subscribed. Keep it up.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@chrisbridle6827 We're really glad you enjoyed the video and learned something interesting from it! Our shrimp tanks are fascinating worlds :D

[@fourby2ly390]

Excellent video full of great info 👍

[@shrimplyexplained]

I'm glad it was useful for you. Thank you so much for watching!

[@christinewalley6829]

Just happened upon you channel and found a lot of useful information. I hope that you will continue to make content.

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're really happy to hear that you learned something. The encouragement means a lot

[@lizzyanthus1]

Thank you for a very interesting and informative video. Very helpful in my research into getting and keeping shrimp. Subbed as well.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Glad you found it interesting! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a kind comment and support the channel :) Happy shrimpin'!

[@karlat7880]

I appreciate this detailed information. I was planning on waiting up to 4 weeks to get my shrimp (forever! 😂) but now I have a really good idea of what to look for and know it could be longer (infinity!). I really want my shrimp to be happy and healthy.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@karlat7880 I know the wait feels like a long time but your ecosystem is developing so you'll get to see some cool populations of microorganisms pop up if you look closely! The biggest mistake a lot of people make during this process is not putting in an ammonia source so, if you have that, then you'll see these signs within 6-8 weeks almost guaranteed. In some tanks, algae doesn't always grow in visibly during this time but it is in your ecosystem so don't worry! To answer your other comment, aquarium salts can be useful for treating certain pests/diseases but are otherwise not needed in shrimp tanks. Good luck and happy shrimpin'! Lmk if you have any other questions.

[@karlat7880]

@@shrimplyexplained Thank you!!!

[@lemonlizard1]

Probably the best thing one can do to kick-start an ecosystem, is to get some aquarium plants (not tissue cultures). It instantly introduces a bunch of microflora and microfauna that are essential for an ecosystem

[@shrimplyexplained]

Absolutely! It's a shame that so many sources have hydra, planaria, or leeches since many of the treatments aquarists use to remove them before putting plants in their tank also affect the good microorganisms on the plants. Mind if I ask what (if any) treatment method you use before putting plants in your tank? Or if you have trusted sources for plants you know don't need to be treated?

[@lemonlizard1]

@@shrimplyexplained i like using Tropical's 1-2-grow plants. They're snail free, pest free, algae free. Just pure plant. They come pretty small on the cup, but they grow insanely fast under the proper lights and nutrients

[@shrimplyexplained]

@@lemonlizard1 Those definitely seem like a safe way to go. Aren't they emersed tissue cultures though?

[@lemonlizard1]

@@shrimplyexplained yeah. The only downside with them is that you can't get the microflora/microfauna I was talking about before. Other than that they're my go-to plant seller

[@Neil.gh11]

Hello!! One more question! If I were to add a few snails with the shrimp should I wait the same amount of time or like a week before I add the shrimp?

[@shrimplyexplained]

@Neil.gh11 Keep 'em coming if you have 'em! It depends - how long has the tank been set up for and what have you been using as an ammonia source? In general, if the tank is cycled, then I'd just suggest waiting a few days to add shrimp after adding snails. It would probably be fine if you add them at the same time but the risk is that the animals add such a large bioload that it overwhelms the beneficial bacteria and causes an ammonia spike. Waiting even a few days between adding groups of animals helps the tank adapt more easily. A week between animals would be even safer. Hope that helps!

[@Neil.gh11]

@ thank you so much!

[@Neil.gh11]

@ i was thinking tommorow I would get the tank set up with substrate and sand and plants would I just leave them or should I add something to help them grow either than the light should I also change the water for the plants then a few weeks later I’ll add the shrimp and snails?

[@Neil.gh11]

Im sorry it’s my first time and I don’t wanna do anything wrong!

[@Neil.gh11]

Sorry one more question!!! I wanna add some snails with shrimp, but I don’t want them to overpopulate. So I was thinking to get 2 ramshorn snails with one assassin snail so the assassin snail could kill off the baby ramshorn snails would that work??? Or is there a better way to have the snails with the shrimp

[@obduliomoronta4820]

Great video and illustrations.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@obduliomoronta4820 Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to watch

[@DidisFINDen]

Always ready to learn more shrimpy stuff

[@shrimplyexplained]

SHRIIIIIIIIIMMMP!!!

[@Thomas.Saunders]

Even after cycling an aquarium and ghost feeding it for 8 full weeks, I didn't notice any copepods/ostracods until after I added my shrimp. But I had only added a few plants. I added a dozen shrimp to a 10 gallon tank. As you said, I didn't especially like the microcrustaceans at first, but now I do like seeing (a few) on the inside of the aquarium glass, but I don't like them building up to the point where my aquarium looks like a snow globe. If I look, I can see small numbers of them elsewhere, such as in the leaf litter in my tank. My favorite thing about copepods/ostracods is that if I've been overfeeding my shrimp-only tank, the population of microcrustaceans blooms and lets me know to cut back.

[@shrimplyexplained]

How (if at all) did you treat your plants before putting them in the tank?

[@tetraguytx1705]

Great video in both content and production.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you so much for the positive feedback! That's really encouraging to hear :) Happy shrimpin!

[@ellaaqua]

Great job on this video, thanks for sharing!

[@shrimplyexplained]

@ellaaqua Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind comment! Happy shrimpin' :D

[@ellaaqua]

@shrimplyexplained Of course, keep up the shrimperrific work! 😊

[@gregwilson5910]

Great video and content. I found it extremely informative, thank you.

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're glad you found it helpful :D Thanks for leaving a comment and taking the time to support the video! Happy shrimpin'!

[@beatricetreadwell5785]

Excellent discussion! New subscriber because of it! 😃👍🦐

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're glad you liked it! Thank you so much for the support

[@Im_not.purple]

This was really helpful I set up a tank a week ago however I used a pressed filter and tank with algae growth and a strong light so I’m all ready for my shrimp

[@shrimplyexplained]

@Im_not.purple Awesome, I'm so glad it was helpful! Good luck and happy shrimpin'!

[@RampartPh]

great tips. my little shrimp tank containing yellow golden back dwarf shrimps recently crashed and i'm at a loss as to why. anyhow, very informative vlog. helpful to peeps like us. btw, you sound like jon cryer. even looks like him a bit too

[@shrimplyexplained]

@RampartPh Hey, I'm glad you found the video helpful but am sorry to hear about your loss! I'd be happy to try to help with your tank issue. Do you mean the tank crashed or the population crashed? Could you share parameters, how long the tank was set up for, and how long you had the shrimp?

[@rafferon3439]

I wonder how much this changes with planted, dirted tanks. I saw algae growth and a biofilm growing by day 4.

[@shrimplyexplained]

The higher nutrient levels in aquasoil typically increase growth rate of algae and bacteria that rely on those nutrients, so you may see some of these signs sooner. That being said, the populations of different microorganisms still take time to settle into their respective niches so waiting 6-8 weeks is still a good idea. In addition, there's also the concern about ammonia leaching from aquasoils for that timeframe or even longer. Are there people who put shrimp in earlier and have success? Absolutely - We'd just argue that waiting 6-8 weeks significantly improves the chance of success.

[@madmax1412]

I seem to have issues with my Blue Dream shrimp. I bought 10 back in July 2022 and decided I didn't like the tank as it was hard to view them as it was octagonal. Did a new tank in Feb 2023 and I had 16. Did up a new tank in July as I rarely could see more than 2 or 3 at any one time and it turns out I had 14. Even now, almost 7 weeks later, I rarely see more than 5 at any one time. Parameters pH 7.6; GH 8; KH 3; Temp 22.4°c (72.3°f); TDS 135. Lights on from 7:30am to 10:30am and from 2:30pm to 6:30pm I have Fissidens (Phoenix) moss on driftwood with some small Java Fern and usually do a crumbled flake of fish food, occasional algae wafers or zucchini, and snowflakes. Not much algae growing on glass. Should I add some Daphnia rather than wait for them to appear? Should I buy 10 more from a different seller to diversify the gene pool in case these are poor quality ones? Should I try BacterAE although I heard it's super easy to overdose? BTW the tank is a "Super fish QuibiQ 60" (but goes by a different name here in Australia) Any advice would be grateful.

[@shrimplyexplained]

I can think of a couple of things that might help here. First - Shrimp can be pretty shy when there are only 10-15 of them in the tank. They're great at hiding so seeing 5 at a time isn't abnormal. Second - Shrimp can take a while to adjust to a new tank. It's not abnormal for Neos like blue dreams to need up to 3 months before they start breeding, especially if they were young when you bought them. Of the shrimp you see, are you noticing any saddles developing, like what's shown in this image: www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fgitsh%2F8657493968&psig=AOvVaw0WnbnU8TR_LMyB-mYUrSSA&ust=1692803211251000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCPiNzcLF8IADFQAAAAAdAAAAABAS Third - How often do you feed them? When you feed them, do they swarm the food or ignore it? That gives us an idea of how much food is present in the tank naturally. Fourth - How long did you have the tank set up before adding shrimp? As for your questions: If you know a trusted hobbyist who has a successful tank with microorganisms in it, then it might be worth asking for some small plant cuttings to seed your tank with more microorganisms. It could be worth buying some daphnia or copepods but it's better if you're also getting all the other fauna on the plants. You shouldn't need to diversify the gene pool right now. Maybe if you're doing a lot of cross-breeding and seeing problems in the future, but deformities from inbreeding are rare for most hobbyists. BacterAE could be a really good option to help your tank, as long as you use a small dose. Here's more information on it, if you're curious: www.shrimplyexplained.com/2022/09/29/what-is-bacter-ae/

[@madmax1412]

@@shrimplyexplained Thanks for replying. Yes I would agree I'm not seeing many as my numbers are low. I guess I was hoping the population would have increased by now. Timeline was: July 2022 - bought 10 Feb 25, 2023 - caught 16 July 7, 2023 - caught 14 I changed tanks in Feb as my original tank was a tall octagonal tank and the narrow panes made viewing hard without distortion. When I caught the 16, some were shrimplets. Changed tanks again in July as I would have expected an increase in population to the point where I would see a dozen at any one time but rarely could see more than a couple. As you can see, my number actually dropped by a couple in those 4+ months even though, once again, some were babies. Each tank build had the shrimp going straight in (after drip acclimatised) using the same sponge filter and hardscape, so tanks were cycled (obviously not matured though). Current tank has algae on glass. As for feeding, I crumble one or two fish food flakes so they settle over things (mostly end up on top of sponge filter). They don't swarm to anything but will check out new food such as zucchini or snowflake. In fact, I have a small pile of snowflake in the corner which they occasionally go to. It has bio film growing on it. I guess I could not feed the tank for a week and they wouldn't starve. There's an almond leaf that's been in there for about a month. As for saddles, I just went to look and had to turn the light on. In that instance I saw a shrimplet about 1.5mm long on the white pebbles at the front but it soon scurried into the dragon stone. So I must have had some breeding. Of the 5 shrimp I could see, only 3 were close enough to determine they were males. I guess I was hoping they would populate like my yellow shrimp have done. I had about 28 shrimp 3 months ago and now would have at least 3 times that many. There are shrimplets of varying sizes everywhere. If you interested, my channel is youtube.com/@bitsandbobs356 Thanks again for replying. I really appreciate it.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@@madmax1412 If you're seeing shrimplets in the tank then that's a good sign! I'd suggest just leaving them alone for a while, and potentially even taking out the snowflake food if you notice a spike in ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates. Can you think of any differences between your yellows tank and this blue dream tank? For example, did you get the shrimp from a different supplier, wait a bit longer to add shrimp, add plants from a different source, or pre-cycle your filter in a different tank? Also, what's your maintenance routine like?

[@shrimplyexplained]

@@madmax1412 By the way, your yellows tank looks fantastic! That's a beautiful piece of driftwood.

[@madmax1412]

@@shrimplyexplained I got the Blues and Yellows about 8 months apart. With all my shrimp, it was basically just aquasoil, driftwood, rocks and plants (mostly Java Fern and some grass like plants such as hair grass or Lilieopous), in a layout I thought looks nice but gives hiding spots for babies. Maintenance is basically just water top ups. I'll leave my blues alone. BTW, I've heard snowflake didn't foul the water which is why I had left it. I will take it out.

[@markfranklin8831]

A great information video thanks for sharing ✌️💗👍💯

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thanks for the support and happy shrimpin'! :D

[@יִשראלִי-ב1ח]

Hi sir thanks for helping us in keeping shrimp I have a question how to have or add good bacteria for our shrimps except biofilter

[@shrimplyexplained]

There are a couple of options. The most common option is to use a bacterial powder like BacterAE. There are quite a few different ones on the market but BacterAE seems to be one of the most easily accessible in most areas. You can read more about what's in the product and how to use it in this article: www.shrimplyexplained.com/2022/09/29/what-is-bacter-ae/ If you know any local hobbyists or stores you trust don't have parasites, then getting plants and putting them into your tank without treating them is another way. Good luck and LMK if you have any other questions!

[@יִשראלִי-ב1ח]

@@shrimplyexplained Thank you so much🙏🙏🙏 I really don't know how to appreciate it

[@TheHeathbr]

How long can you keep shrimp without a cycled tank?

[@shrimplyexplained]

@TheHeathbr In theory, indefinitely - at least for neocaridina. Uncycled tanks don't have any food naturally growing for shrimp and they don't take care of waste so feeding and maintenance would be entirely on you. You could keep them in an entirely empty tank full of water, provide food constantly while removing any old food before it breaks down, vacuum out waste 1-2 times a day, and change water every few days to maintain water quality. That routine basically describes what scientists do to keep their shrimp in extremely controlled conditions. How many hobbyists could maintain that routine for any length of time though? I suspect not many. Shrimp need good water quality and a constant supply of food. Cycling starts to take care of the water quality but letting your tank "mature" for longer is most important. This time allows the ecosystem to develop so there's a diverse set of microorganisms to support healthy nutrient cycling and a food web for shrimp. It eliminates the need for constant feeding and maintenance that would otherwise be required in an uncycled tank. Hope that answers your question! Lmk if you've got any more :)

[@TheHeathbr]

@ yes, thank you!🙏

[@iwagunroku10]

What kind of water purifier do you use?

[@shrimplyexplained]

@iwagunroku10 Good question! I currently use a MegaHome Distiller. As my tank collection expands though, a higher throughput RO system is starting to look like a better and better investment.

[@JeysFishTanks]

Very Good Video 🎉

[@shrimplyexplained]

@JeysFishTanks Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a kind comment! It means a lot :) Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions - Happy shrimpin'!

[@JeysFishTanks]

@@shrimplyexplained definitely!! thanks for replying back as well..

[@jamesfranklin2120]

Late to the video, but I've had a tank setup for about 12 months and have never seen any microfauna except a detritus worm when i was over feeding. I do have green spot algae and some pretty explosive growth on all my plants.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Sounds like you've got a healthy tank! If you see detritus worms when overfeeding then that means there's at least a small population around to help break down waste. Those population explosions from overfeeding don't always look good but they're better than the whole tank dying! When you look really closely at the glass and substrate you don't see any other tiny specks moving around? If not, do you have fish that might be eating other microfauna?

[@jamesfranklin2120]

@@shrimplyexplained late reply. No I don't see anything on the glass, but I absolutely have fish that would eat the micro fauna. Unfortunately I've not had good luck with shrimp at all. I have two left from the ten I bought. They're doing great, not sure what's up with the 80 percent die off. Has to be something with my water, all my tanks are heavily planted and been running for over a year to cycle and mature before removing the fish to start my colony. Lucky I've been watching your videos and will have to test a few things

[@BigFadZ]

Question 🙋🏻‍♂️ I have floating plants in my 10gal with cherry shrimp. They get over grown to the point where I have to take some out the tank. Are there baby shrimp in there ? I always see them upside-down eating. Don't know if I'm tossing out babies. 😬😁

[@shrimplyexplained]

Good question! Shrimp of all sizes play around in floating plants and eat biofilm on them so it's totally possible babies are there. I usually go in and wiggle a net around to knock any shrimp off before netting the floating plants out.

[@BigFadZ]

@@shrimplyexplained thank you for the advice. That's usually what I do. Also, I keep the removed floaters into a little holding jar over night to see if anything sinks down. 😁 love your content. Keep it up!!

[@shrimplyexplained]

@@BigFadZ Good call to put them in a holding jar just in case! Have a great day and happy shrimpin' :D

[@jl644]

I moved from a house with a well water to a house that have municipal water source.. And I am having one by one die offs. Not that quick though..It seems like every I top off or do a small water change once a week, I see 1 or 2 dies off. My tank is 1 year old now lush in plants. Moved to the new house a month 1/2 ago. So idk what I did wrong. Also took half of the water from the old water. Had to drip refill the tank to add in the new water.

[@jl644]

I do a 1 gallon water change once a week and my tank is a 20 gallon high. My plants are healthy. The only issue I have is my IR plants are being eaten by ram snails lol.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Do you have any idea what the parameters were before and what they are now, including pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temperature, and TDS if you have it? Also, I'm not familiar with IR plants. Could you explain what those are?

[@shrimplyexplained]

I'll do my best to help!

[@edgarc7613]

Check the gh and kh of the water you are using and if it's within parameters for your shrimp. The one a day dienoffs are the weaker ones that aren't able to adjust to the changing water parameters fast enough

[@jl644]

@@shrimplyexplained Thanks for the Reply. Update: My current GH is 7-8 and KH-6 stable. My TDS hovers around 170-200, at least on my shrimp tank that is now 15 gallon. It seems that my tank is not matured like you said. I can't seem to grow green algae on my glass walls in my shrimp aquarium. I have a 40 breeder and I had brown then green algae grew in it but this 15 gallon tank is not growing green algae. !(Deaths are mostly from failed molt)! The only thing that's growing and annoyingly is hair algae. Tried to research online but dyslexia kills my motivation lol... I can only gather so much info and put it to good use. But from what I can finally understand is. My shrimp tank isn't matured and thus my parameters aren't stable in it. Even if I drip top off and water change my tank. I even season my water for water change (Put in a clean bucket and let it sit for 24 hours to a week with Seachem Safe for topping and water changes. And still having problems. Some shrimps survived and some aren't that lucky. And the ones are dying the most are the nicest looking ones 😭😭 lol. I'm thinking of adding a little bit of Shrimp Minerals on my seasoned water to maybe mineralize the water and maybe up the GH a bit to see if that helps. But not sure about it because people usually use this method with RO water.

[@dictionaryguy5521]

Anyone know how to get slave growing on my tank? I havent seen a single smudge and I have a pretty intense light

[@shrimplyexplained]

@dictionaryguy5521 I know what I said in the video but, honestly, if you've had the tank up and running for 2 months and don't see algae growth but do see healthy plant growth and some microorganism activity, then I wouldn't worry too much about forcing algae to grow by adding extra light.

[@CoolNumber1]

Do they eat hair algae?

[@shrimplyexplained]

Some shrimp do better than others with hair algae. For example, amano shrimp demolish most kinds of algae, whereas we find neocaridina and caridina don't have much of an impact until the hair algae starts to die off.

[@CoolNumber1]

Should I stop feeding my caridina so that they will go for the hair algae?@@shrimplyexplained

[@karlnapier-barr2360]

Great video, I just bought 5 Amano shrimp but can’t ever see them. They seem to have disappeared 😆

[@shrimplyexplained]

That can definitely happen if they find a food source out of view. Do you see them come out when you add food to the tank? Mine normally sense it immediately and rush out to steal it away from all the other shrimp lol

[@NzvzOG]

Great video!

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you so much! We appreciate the kind words :)

[@NzvzOG]

@@shrimplyexplained of course. Are you familiar with the product bacterae? I was thinking of putting a bit in my 20 gal tank to anticipate shrimp being in there, but the tank probably wont be ready for the shrimp for about 18 more weeks

[@space_ghost_z941]

Well explained!

[@shrimplyexplained]

@space_ghost_z941 Thanks - I hope you learned something interesting! Happy shrimpin'!

[@Handygrrl]

Excellrnt content snd delivery. I learned a lot! Subbed also

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you so much for the kind words and support! Happy shrimpin' :D

[@an-insane-llama]

I put shrimp in my tank 2 years ago and then moved early this year. All I've had time to do is go do water changes and some glass cleaning maybe once every two months. My shrimp are still getting berried and spawning. Must me doing something right lol

[@an-insane-llama]

(I know it's pretty neglecting but major car issue and I moved almost an hour away. Plus work 6 days out of the week). Tank is moving in the next month and coming back home don't worry!

[@du_20_24]

HI Rick, I would like to know if there is a way to have a conversation with you on a project I am working on. Your video's cover alot about shrimps and I appreciate that. My project is basically this, Shrimps, Fish and Crabs all in one tank. I would like to ask you for some advice. Do let me know if you are interested in helping out.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@madhuempranthiri2803 Sure, I'd love to hear what you're working on! Do you have discord? If so, please send an email to [e-mail] with your discord name or an invite link and we can chat there.

[@scribbleshrimp]

Super helpful!

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're really happy to hear that! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an encouraging comment :) Happy shrimpin'!

[@Shiboshirah]

i just threw aqua soil and some home depot rocks that were washed with some moss now its a healthy tank lots of breeding and molting perfectly

[@shrimplyexplained]

I'm glad to hear your shrimp are happy. The tanks don't have to be complicated! How long did you wait to put shrimp in after adding the substrate and moss?

[@Mattcc3]

I got lucky day 4 added my shrimp and they were ok but I will never add to uncycled tank again I had a nitrite spike and used prime until it was done this is why you don’t add to a tank that’s not mature

[@shrimplyexplained]

@user-ef6cm7vu4m Yep, it's certainly possible to add them earlier but just makes things harder. I'm glad it worked out in the end for you at least!

[@kinglyzard]

4:05 Cyanobacteria are not green algae. Its often called blue green algae, but its more of a bacteria. Not an algae.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Whoops, thank you for the correction!

[@jasonyang5296]

Bc of that Intro, i subscribed 😂

[@shrimplyexplained]

Lol do you mean the goofy song??

[@jasonyang5296]

@@shrimplyexplained nah, right off the bat when I clicked the video

[@shrimplyexplained]

@@jasonyang5296 Haha a bit different energy level than how a lot of shrimp videos start out right? Trying to keep it fun :D That sort of feedback is super helpful so I appreciate you taking the time to leave it!

[@WhatsNext10]

More videos please!

[@shrimplyexplained]

We're working on more and appreciate your support :)

[@ricardosmythe2548]

Ive setup multiple shrimp tanks and never cycled for longer than 7 days using water, snails, stem and floating plants from my other established mature tanks to seed the new ones. Ive never had any problems with shrimp dying off apart from an unfortunate episode of planaria that stunted breeding rates after buying some new plants that was soon dealt with. Ive never tested my water either. Neocaridina shrimp are pretty hardy creatures.

[@shrimplyexplained]

@ricardosmythe2548 Honestly, I agree with that sentiment more and more as I continue to test different shrimp setups. If you add enough plants - especially ones that don't get treated and have their biomes destroyed - then you can set up a tank pretty quicklyy. I do think there's something to be said for taking your time if it's your first shrimp tank though - at least if you don't have access to a good ecosystem culture from a fish tank. Like if someone is trying to set up a tank and has to put a bunch of sterilized plants in that have lost all of their surface microorganisms, then I suspect waiting a while to let those redevelop and let everything establish will lead to a more stable tank that's easier for first-timers to keep. What do you think about that theory?

[@ricardosmythe2548]

@@shrimplyexplained yeah I totally agree. If someone doesn't have access to matured planted tanks it will be a much longer process. If I was in that situation I'd probably be inclined to test the water to to be honest. When I first started I wasn't removing the chlorine sufficiently from tap water and that had a detrimental effect in terms of balancing the tank. For people just getting into the hobby there are multiple factors that could be causing them problems that they will identify as they gain more experience. Slow and steady is certainly the safe option to start with.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Cool, I'm glad we're on the same page! I do pretty much the same thing of just throwing in a bunch of plants, maybe testing ammonia and nitrates once after a week or two, then adding shrimp. I tried to make a generalized video that could work for pretty much everyone. It didn't address all the subtleties it probably should have though, so I appreciate you taking the time to point this out. Happy shrimpin' :D

[@karlgriff8]

I had a failure with my first shimp tank I lost 2 thirds quite quickly I've put my surviving shrimp in a breeding net box in my main aquarium and have completely reset their tank it'll be a while before they return to their home im just hoping i don't loose any more shrimp before their home is ready for them i really want them to thrive

[@shrimplyexplained]

I'm really sorry to hear that! If you'd like, I can try to help diagnose the problem for you. 1. How long was the tank set up? 2. What's your pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates? 3. How did you cycle the tank? What was your ammonia source? 4. How soon after putting them in the tank did they die? 5. Where did you get the shrimp from? 6. How did you acclimate them?

[@karlgriff8]

@shrimplyexplained tank was set up for 6 weeks after the fry were added I don't quite remember my values now as I've stripped the tank down but all were in normal range from the research I have done apart from the spikes I had that let me to strip the tank down and reset it see my last paragraph The tank was cycled with about 12 platty fry after it was stable for the fry to be in the tank and then 6 weeks before I put shrimp in. I used fry that were two weeks old and free swimming my fish shop recommended it as a good way to get the nitrogen cycle going and were removed a few days before adding the shrimp I lost one or two within a few days but expect some loss as they settled. Then lost one to two every couple of days. I got 24 in two batches from my local fish shop about 3 weeks apart (a good chain type here in the uk called maidenhead aquatics) 12 I received from a supplier online hoping if I mixed sources I'm not putting all eggs in one basket. I drip acclimated them over a one hour period at roughly 3 drips every couple of seconds. Two weeks ago, the nitrate and nitrite levels spiked. I did the recommended 15-20% water change daily until the levels dropped to a safe level, but 24 hours later, it spiked again to the point I thought it safer to reset the tank and hope they survive in the breeder basket in the main tank than watch them die off Out of 36 bought I have roughly 8 left Hope this helps

[@karlgriff8]

@shrimplyexplained also some looked like they had white ring of death and some just layed on their back and died so a bit lost at what I'm doing wrong

[@shrimplyexplained]

@@karlgriff8 A few things come to mind after reading your comments. First, it sounds like you've put a lot of time into trying to make this a good tank, and I'm sorry you're going through this frustrating experience. Second, it sounds like something disrupted the cycle two weeks ago. Did you do a water change or modify anything in the tank at that time? If not, then have you noticed anything like a build-up of uneaten food or unhealthy plants? Third, how frequent were the deaths? Did some happen before you added the second batch? Did they all happen after the nitrite/nitrate spike? Fourth, good observation the white ring of death. It's possible the shrimp aren't getting quite the right food or water, even if the parameters seem to be in range. You can learn more about GH and why tap water with GH in the right range can still be a problem here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3rKoWmqidpreK8 Fifth, what are you feeding your shrimp, if anything?

[@karlgriff8]

@shrimplyexplained nothing seemed wrong up to the point I noticed a white powdery substance in the tank appeared overnight only on a piece of wood that had been in the tank from day one hence the reason for the test, which showed the spike in the bad stuff The deaths we a couple of days apart some were multiple in a day there was no pattern to it I'd say I lost about 8 before the spike but most over the course of the following 2 weeks after the spike. I don't think it was due to adding the other shrimp as they seemed to do really well until the tank spiked, and the same with the third batch they were added roughly a week apart to allow the tank to adjust. Food I let them mainly focus on the bio film but I did supplement the tank twice a week with about 6 shrimp sticks the tiny ones and some other food about 6 tiny pellets as I was recommended alternating between the two to give them a varied diet. I have a 160 liter main tank with bamboo and giant African shrimp thriving as part of a community tank on the same foods as the cherries I really am at a loss with it

[@chicanoaquatics143]

Solid video! Easily digestible.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@jl644]

The question is. How to grow green algae without causing Green Hair algae to grow at the same time.

[@zhangfukun1770]

i don't have plants in my tank. all i got are driftwood with algae that starts looking like a forgotten rain forest. My shrimp thrives!!! :D

[@shrimplyexplained]

Great - In the end, it's whatever works best for you! Mind if I ask how often you do water changes without any plants? Do you ever notice nitrate building up?

[@beekay4848]

Nitrates are low but not 0 due to the algaes on the back and driftwood, this is a good sign. 0 nitrate is not good for your tank especially with macroalgae present. I am mainly a reef aquarist with macroalgae so I am just applying what i do with my reeftank. I don't really have to do water changes if I want and let nature take its course. The only reason why i would is when i see dirt when i mildly blow the gravel surface.

[@triecampbell1159]

Am I the only one who can't hear anything...even though I checked my settings and they're all normal?

[@ArchangelHornet]

ooh new channel to subscribe to!

[@vivernpadiachy3528]

I just cycled my tank for 5 weeks and I noticed micro organasms on the glass

[@shrimplyexplained]

According to the study cited in this video, the microorganism populations started to take off after around 4 weeks so that's right on time. Good luck on your shrimp keeping journey!

[@Hydrahandle7]

I use shrimp to cycle tanks, weekly..

[@shrimplyexplained]

@Hydrahandle7 That's interesting! What kind of shrimp? Also, what ammonia levels do you let it get up to?

[@laurie_gemacosta6368]

I learnt that the hard way and felt like a horrible person...

[@shrimplyexplained]

Don't worry - It happens! Losing some shrimp in the beginning sucks but you're learning so you can give the next ones a great home :)

[@CrimbleSlub]

Shrimp daddy

[@JadeWinters02]

I breed shrimp to feed my dwarf cichlids

[@shrimplyexplained]

That's a great way to give them a nutritious food source

[@GradyTalaga]

I really hate those worms but ok

[@shrimplyexplained]

@GradyTalaga I do kinda understand but would love to hear a little more about your perspective. What kind of worms are you referring to and why do you hate them? Are there are lot in your tank?

[@martiie4792]

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea...😂

[@jshin7]

talk. faster. oh. my. god.

[@shrimplyexplained]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@plinkleplonk]

Just up the speed yourself on the video?

[@ridhai295]