How to: Setup an Aquarium for Cherry Shrimp [Beginner Shrimp Keeping]

Aquarium setup for shrimp keeping is the single most important factor for success. Shrimp need a specific environment to thrive and breeder prolifically. In this video, I walk you through start to finish on a Neocaridina tank designed for house cherry shrimp, fantasy blues dreams, bloody marry, black rose, orange pumpkin and carbon rili shrimp. This is going to be our 125 gallon baby tank for our entire Neocaridina room. If you're looking to setup a breeding tank, you do not need one this big but all the steps and principals remain the same.
Here is our 7 Step Guide to Setting up a Neocaridina Tank:
Step #1 - 1:58
Step #2 - 8:45
Step #3 - 16:03
Step #4 - 24:04
Step #5 - 29:10
Step #6 - 30:10
Step #7 - 34:47
Beginner Shrimp Keeping Guides:
• Playlist
Buy freshwater shrimp from us:
flipaquatics.c...
Become a shrimp family member:
/ @lupdiesel
Check out Mikes Channel:
/ @crypticrifts9686
Check out Zenzos Channel:
/ @tazawatanks
🔴All items used in the video:
🔴Flipper Glass Cleaner: flipaquatics.c...
🔴Matten Filters: flipaquatics.c...
🔴GH/KH Remineralizer: flipaquatics.c...
🔴Snails for Keeping Tank Cycled: flipaquatics.c...
🔴Plants for Shrimp Tanks: flipaquatics.c...
🔴Leaves and Cones: flipaquatics.c...
🔴Malaysian Driftwoods: flipaquatics.c...
🔴TDS EZ Meter: www.amazon.com...

[@LupDiesel]

Thanks so much for watching all! Here is a complete guide to setting up an aquarium for Neocaridina Shrimp: Step #1 - 1:58 Step #2 - 8:45 Step #3 - 16:03 Step #4 - 24:04 Step #5 - 29:10 Step #6 - 30:10 Step #7 - 34:47 Don't forget to show Mike a little love and check out his channel: kzbin.info/door/pUNfW0D7W_8YTQPXBNBSHQ

[@sanderkielich9571]

Very helpful video. Can you make the same video for caridina shrimp?

[@daveg458]

Will the Snails eat the Sword plants?

[@gerbaLFUCK]

if only other youtubers did this on their video guides

[@rickspringer4814]

Pro tip for those without ro/di Most ice filling kiosks sell ro/di water (for water cooler jugs) for average 1 dollar per 5 gallons.

[@sqruimp]

So do you absolutely need a TDS as well as remineralization product or will the shrimp do fine with de chlorinated tap water and or distilled water?

[@madeleineperry9679]

Susswassertang is a great alternative to moss. It’s a fern and stays in a ball/clump where you put it.

[@TradeMarkCorp]

“You will be doing this on a much smaller scale” I think you underestimate my nonsense when it comes to the animals I house 🤣

[@MarksShrimpTanks]

This was a very good video I dont know how I missed it 👍

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you Mark! We appreciate the support. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Shano84Mac]

Most people don't realize .. Vinegar is also an amazing glass cleaner too. Anytime you get a film on the outside , oils and all.. I look through the tank to see the glass from the outside as I'm cleaning . You'll see all the oils and external films come off the glass easier. Once the glass becomes squeaky ,I know it's clean. It works better and is safer than anything else.

[@lpdb1995]

It's actually a base ingredient and many many cleaners companies have just started using lab made versions they own patents on. Windex smells like vinegar ffs lol. I agree tho plain white vinegar is in my top 3 household cleaning products.

[@Scott-hq3df]

If you forget to pull your wash out of the washing machine and it sits overnight pour a cup of vinegar and rewash it and the smell will be gone!

[@tinasweeney4392]

I like that little "bloop" you added when dumping the vinegar in. Most effective.

[@ndrwgrffn3]

thank you so much i have finally started a succesful tank without spending hundreds of dollars on stock... Always thought of Snails as nuisances and pests i was wrong i love my orange mystery snail

[@zods1964]

Rob. Your are truly gifted young man. Keep up with the videos. Very instructional. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at the next fish show. God bless young man

[@88RSam]

With a love to see you acclimate, and put the shrimp in the tank. Other than that great and informative video

[@tauncfester3022]

Should note: Mike can remove a little over half of the Swordplant's root's length. It doesn't hurt them at all and kind of kickstarts them started growing new roots. Red Flame Swordplants grow massive amounts of roots when fully established, and they look beautiful.

[@budwilliams6889]

Ugga duggas are an official unit of measurement for tightening objects with an impact wrench. Bloops will become an official measurement for pouring liquids now.

[@garrymiller2769]

That's 5% vinegar. Then further diluted in that much water! Placebo comes to mind. Test the pH of that water and see if it made any difference. Use Chlorine. It will completely dissipate. Always works except for some cysts... not likely you will have those cysts in potable water.

[@TCSDartFrogs]

I always enjoy watching your videos, you are so positive and it is awesome to see how you've grown your business and continue to help the hobby grow. I just started making videos this past year and watching channels like yours with good content always encourages me to keep making videos.

[@user-tb4sl4ex2q]

Lol dude I’ve been researching dart frogs and I really like your favorite dart frog video. It’s cool to see all these people in different places!

[@TCSDartFrogs]

@@user-tb4sl4ex2q Thanks! Yeah it is nice to see the hobby growing, let me know if you ever have any questions.

[@user-tb4sl4ex2q]

TCS Dart Frogs thanks 🐸

[@parkersaquatics3513]

Thanks Rob, love your videos!!! Your upbeat attitude is contagious and it’s amazing that you’re so knowledgeable and willing to share your knowledge!! I am curious on your choice of snail, do you prefer mystery snails over nerite or Malaysian trumpet snails? A detailed snail video might be cool when things slow down. Thanks again for all that you and the crew do!!!

[@dar1963]

Thank you for the setup video, setting up a 10 gallon and i just need a snail before adding shrimp, hopefully I will be able to successfully keep shrimp! Definitely will share this video! God Bless & Happy Holidays 🙏✝️😊

[@sal9842]

I love these types of videos... really learning a lot and definitely going to get some of that salty shrimp minerals for sure ... thanks so much really help me out !

[@zp944]

Cherry shrimp always die on me in a week or two. Ghost shrimp live forever, but the cherries never seem to survive. I'll wake up one morning and they're just gone

[@BigShrimpin416]

Flourite black raised my tds through the roof!!!!!

[@KaveManAquatics]

Nice setup, I can feel the MTS creeping up on me! Lol Subscribed

[@TheFunkytrapper]

Rob mate that is one heck of a tank for shrimp

[@shadowfox1779]

This is a great video. Very informative. Can’t wait for the next video in this series

[@jackiefitzpatrick2906]

Theres so little hiding spaces in that huge tank for shrimp.

[@janetgebhart1209]

I am 62 always white vinagur for aquariums even bird cages. Safe, and will kill germs. I used it also on dog crates to cat bedding rinse.

[@BigShrimpin416]

Interesting. Never thought of doing this! My family runs a shelter/pitbull rescue and we are always buying expensive disinfects to scrub kennels and floors and crates. I’ll have to look into the vinegar method!!!

[@purplephoenix4969]

I use it to clean the cat litter tray too and all of the hard surfaces in the house.

[@brettkreider18]

Also you should look into getting magenta mystery snails 🐌

[@chalupanotomatoes9609]

Came here for knowledge. Liked for the NF hoodie.

[@NewJerseyTom]

DJ Magic Mike... we like the cars that go boom or we like the keratina shrimp that go boom and our fish tanks...Tom from New Jersey ♡♡♡

[@thestrawberryaniahomegarde7228]

Great tip about snails

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you 😊

[@MikeinEtna]

Great video, thanks guys !!

[@exnuke1972]

Good to know about the Magnolia leaves.. very abundant around me :-)

[@nancyboyer2086]

Thank you so much appreciate it. It was a Lotta good information.

[@marilynanderson166]

Do shrimps require, heating in the tank

[@spottingnature3123]

Thanks for sharing!. I'm worried about your sanitation protocol though. No chances 8oz of vinegar in this volume of water will make any difference, vinegar kills bacteria because it is acidic (it is acetic acid diluted in water to ~5%) . So do the math: 5% from 8oz that's 11mL of pure acetic acid in your 125Gal aquarium. My suspicion is that at best you are reducing the pH by 1 or 2 points. not enough.

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

Thank you for sharing! - Little Bobby

[@cristiandtr]

Hi! So many products packed nice with also nice prices. :))) Use the damn sand from a river. Will work same and way more cheaper.

[@AQUAGUYUK]

Great information looks great trying shrimp but having issues with worms

[@chriswilson7688]

Thank you for specifically expessing not to use buffering substrates for neocaridina shrimp, i'm currently planning a 20 gallon shrimp tank and this stratum i bought will now instead be used for a small south american cichlid breeding tank! 😁

[@marcomendoza7502]

Great tips and tricks! Waiting for your next big restock....! I hope it’s soon!!

[@haroldferguson1392]

that was a damn good video

[@LupDiesel]

Thanks so much Harold :)

[@brettkreider18]

To break down the powder faster you should throw in a wave 🌊 maker in the bottom! That’s how I mic stuff really fast and really well!! Give it a try it’s awesome!

[@user-tb4sl4ex2q]

Audio is just right! :)

[@bernandoturner4840]

Yall the real deal.. Gonna start ordering from here👻

[@Craig-777]

Prime Time aquatics sent me😂

[@RLCAquatics]

Awesome! Can’t wait to get my cherry shrimp!

[@LupDiesel]

Thanks RLC :)

[@kylelaughinghouse1893]

Very similar to setting up hydroponic water.i use mycorrhizae in my soil for rapid root growth also strength. my plants tend to show better coloring with my flame swords

[@bipolaraquatics]

Very good video brother can't wait to see how it all turns out

[@estella.dsantos]

This was so so insanely helpful, thank you so much!!

[@tombradyandme]

A lot of shrimp specialists say 8 weeks before adding shrimps but you guys say just one week if we follow these 7 steps? 🤞 Please confirm and i will put in an order with you guys right away!!!

[@lancer4224130]

Guy is blazed as fuck

[@saifulamir10]

Nice bro 😁

[@indranil2838]

very helpful video. thank you

[@positiveaquatics5050]

I really feel like this guy is high as hell and its awesome

[@Typonzz99]

Its those blood shot eyes, and he's always so happy to see the shrimp lol

[@jackyou3145]

Its the smirk....

[@fishroombum3771]

As a Kite!

[@icj1mg]

He's stoned

[@accidrainn1334]

So... am I 😁

[@wabajack8250]

Great info! But tbh all my neo tanks I never once used a tds meter I’ve seen people chase tds levels and kill off established shrimp colony’s what works for me might not work for others i do top offs at room temp water I dose with prime and stability every top off I add a half a teaspoon of calcium carbonate once a month for calcium these tanks have been running for 5 years with minimal issues and very few losses but like I said what works for me may not work for the next guy or gal

[@aimlowbowfishing6497]

Subed both channels. Yall rock. Im wanting to add cherry shrimp to my 55 gallon guppy grow out tank. Maybe one day.

[@yes5g311]

Everytime i need to setup new tank i always take the sponge filter from others tank n just clean it in new tank and add some water then left it 24 hour basically the bacteria from others tank got in new tank including the water, so far none died..

[@deucemcallister99]

When yall dropped the bottle in the water i started dying hahaha

[@dack4545]

You could of just sprayed the tank with SMB slightly more expensive but way way faster spray and rinse and your done, saves on water too 👍🏻🇦🇺

[@soezere3177]

dude because of that bottle drop I ve screamed at work xD 17:00

[@biqingtan4926]

I am a new subscriber, just saw your video and you guys are awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@snaglog]

Even makes my skin crawl watching other people mess with dry sponge 🤣

[@ProducedbyPDot]

i been caring and reproducing neos with out using any mineralization of the water

[@gabb8890]

This was really helpful !! I want to have a 10 gallon shrimp tank but I’m not sure what filter/heater to buy

[@outasightaquatics1905]

Hey Rob. Thanks for the tip on putting the snails in a corner to see which arrived alive and which arrived . . . well . . . not 😟. I just finished acclimating dozens of Malaysian trumpets (another seller, sorry, I did not realize!) for my endler grow-out tanks and, since I ordered, it has been almost all negative feedback for the seller, yikes! Your "test" should reveal the truth; although I am happy to report that after just 15 minutes in the dark, two are starting to climb the wall! Maybe I'm the lucky one!!! Thinking of adding shrimp next (definitely yours), then some marketable plants (do you sell? Hang on, I'm off to your website again. Be right back . . .. ) Tell you what, to keep you from waiting around on me to return, I'll keep watching if you'll keep teaching. Coffee-on!

[@5446francisco]

Thank you.....

[@astro8boy]

love your vids and thnx for sharing your knowledge, rob. i'm a beginner and trying to keep and breed cherries in a 3 gallon low-tech nano tank (marineland contour 3), with lots of plants and some drift wood and mineral rocks. it's taken me 2.5 months of learning, trial and error, and sadly killing a bunch of shrimps in the process. i finally have the water parameters within range, with ph @ 7.1, kh @ 4, and gh @ 7. however, the tds likes to stay around 250. i tried water changes and lowered it to 200; it eventually slowly creeps back up to 250. i don't know if tds will continue to rise; i guess time will tell. so my question is how accurately should i monitor the water parameters, esp. tds? i keep hearing to do less and keep it stable. at which point do i need to lower tds? and besides water changes, what else can i do to lower tds? 2nd question is my water temp fluctuates from 72 to 75 everyday, depending on day/night natural room temp. is that ok? last question, how many shrimp in a 3 gallon tank is too many for them to breed? many thnx, rob. your fan, david

[@BrushesInBloom]

all great questions I would love an answer too

[@nancyboyer2086]

Watch out for corner silicone. I nicked it with those cause the leak in my silicone

[@anthonypautin]

Awesome very informative love it! 👏👊

[@dknohoward6933]

Step 3..🤣lol Great catch & splash mike🤙 Hey guy's link up with myself & my 36yr old daughter...we live in Washington state, and have been trying our luck with the tank hobby! We'd love to network with you'all 🤞 Leave us a link.

[@lexilove4683]

Awesome dude grate info

[@ericsewell6915]

When you clean the filter how do you prevent your substrate from shifting? Or do you not need to remove that kind of filter to clean it. Never used one?

[@Nigelaquaticsfish]

I won’t lie I’m looking at a lot of space on snails

[@Dovietail]

I use iustrial strength white vinegar (yes, that is a thing) to remove calcium deposits off the side of glass left from our hard water. 2 birds, one stinky stone. 🙂

[@ZachsFishM57]

I just started keeping Neo’s and have a ten gallon with some cherries, blue dreams and jade greens. I’m excited as hell to get into this side of the hobby. Quick question, what is that you use for your aquarium tops? Is that a light diffuser?

[@LupDiesel]

It's called twin wall polycarbonate paneling. It's made for green houses. It works great!!! Glad you're getting into this hobby :)

[@ZachsFishM57]

Got a quick question, I’ve been having random shrimps die lately. Not a lot, just ones here and there. One of my new blue dreams passed and that’s a bummer... I’ve got babies swimming around. My tank is 78F, with live plants a sponge filter and a small powerhead. I use tap water with Seachem Prime. My water is treated well water and it’s hard as hell. What do? Really not wanting to have to spend the money on RO.

[@tiffanyoneal5440]

Zach’s Fish Have you done a water test? For PH and everything? I believe you might want your water a little cooler. Like 70-75?

[@shawnthomas6782]

To get start is a 10 gallon tank good

[@evie5375]

yes, mine is about ten gallons and it is a good beginner size

[@alexeilevinzon2916]

Hi, thanks for the video! good job. you should ship outside the U.S also... how can I buy from you otherway?

[@artiliciousv]

Wait you said cardina shrimps in the start and now im in the midle and you say neocardina?

[@cesarcabanillas9333]

I did some research and I found that substrate isn’t inert and it does raise PH

[@JohnnyRelentless]

Set up

[@LupDiesel]

Tomato potato :D

[@sqruimp]

So do you absolutely need a TDS as well as remineralization product or will the shrimp do fine with de chlorinated tap water and or distilled water?

[@chidori5011]

the shrimp need the minerals in the water to survive, its definitely something that they require. Tap water may contain levels of KH and GH present but they might not be at the levels the shrimp need. He mineralized the RO water because RO water is super pure so he brought those levels from 0 to the amount that the shrimp would need

[@sqruimp]

@@chidori5011 Ight thanks bro

[@SphynxCrochet]

Can you do snails in a rimless aquarium or do they just climb out? I do not need my cats finding snails everywhere to play with 🤣

[@flyalaska1973]

A water pump would mix better than the stir stick.

[@troyetherton5869]

Thanks for the video. I used salty shrimp gh/kh w/ distilled water. Got the TDS to 200, water temp 72, added some plants that feed off the water column and inert substrate... got the bio cycle going. My plants came with pond snails which are quite reproductive, but I’m leaving them for now as they’re ensuring the cycle stays alive. Anyway my main concern at the moment is the ph. The salty shrimp jumps the ph from neutral all the way up to almost 8. I do have some cholla wood in there. No leaves yet. But I keep reading RCS like it 7-7.2 or so. How can I lower it but also keep my TDS up?

[@sharonjones-pierce3478]

Hi..I have some Amano shrimp in a 20 gal tank. From watching this vid in the past, I ordered a TDS monitor. just checked that tank and it's reading 569. wow...but the 2 shrimp I have in there seem to be doing ok. I want to get some cherry shrimp, but how do I bring this reading down? this is just my tap water with Prime.

[@royeyk]

Beginner Shrimp Keeping - 125 gal tank?

[@redcorsair14]

I'm curious as to why you dont use aragonite gravel. Neocaradina are a hard water species arent they?

[@telos8111]

Would you always recommend snails in your breeder tanks? I’m doing two 3 gallon tanks and would I be able to substitute the snails with a good amount of plants instead?

[@brazycovid]

Whats the best bacteria to use for Caridina shrimp?

[@DetectiveLopez.]

Do you have a link for the pump ? What make it is please

[@angelm8387]

where do you get your Malaysian driftwood? I need some genuine large pieces for my tank.

[@parkerbenz]

Hey Rob, when mixing in the salty shrimp, you should use a high flow powerhead. I bought a 3800gph powerhead for $20 on amazon. Threw it in the bottom of my brute trashcan when mixing saltwater which made it super super easy

[@LupDiesel]

Great suggestion! I'll have to order one for little projects like this. Thanks for the tip :)

[@parkerbenz]

Flip Aquatics no problem!

[@anthonypautin]

Great tip 🤝

[@ranjanty]

I heard Rob say you can use distilled water?? I have very hard water, can I mix 50/50 for my fish tank too? Some other KZbin channel said you can't use distilled water in fish tanks. Is that true?

[@mvvinds]

Are there a complete book for neocaridina shrimp beginners setup and care

[@udaydas6291]

Which soil can i use for neocardina?

[@donsfishvideos752]

Where do you get the foam sheets?

[@saltyryan8280]

Can u do a video of keeping cherry shrimp without ro water ? And.hiw u do your water changes

[@justmyopinion5234]

What is the foam and where did you get it

[@ShaqEalOatmeal]

So this is just a casual shrimp tank right? This is just for fun not a tank you sell out of?

[@njbaquatics4827]

Vinegar is not a sanitiser it won’t kill bacteria. Yes it will kill some but definitely not all vinegar is actually made by bacteria I think somewhere you’ve got your wires crossed it’s a good glass cleaner also great for removing limescale and in Marina thanks it’s good for removing coralline algae. So if anyone wants to sanitise their equipment don’t use vinegar 3% hydrogen peroxide will do the job and it’s safe in low concentrations but white vinegar is great as a non-toxic glass cleaner

[@ShaqEalOatmeal]

So this is a breeding tank? Can u explain or do a breakdown of all the different phases your shrimp go through along with the tanks you transfer them through? Im very confused ab this.

[@wendytowelltrzeciak5045]

Hey! Thank you for this video, I am so anxious to order my shrimp from you guys but want to make sure I have everything dialed in, so this is perfect timing. Q: how do you determine how many snails is appropriate AND say you add MTS, and they breed like nuts before you add shrimp, do you need to remove a ton?

[@LupDiesel]

For Malaysian trumpet snails and ramshorn snails, their population will fluctuate with the increase or decrease in shrimp population. So if you have a ton of shrimp, the snail population will fall due to the lack of food. As for determining the proper amount, I always favor less is more. 10-30 Malaysian trumpet snails is usually good for most common tanks but I would recommend 1-3 per gallon.

[@dondutch4107]

i use that salt, its about 1ml per gallon.. to be exact its like 1.6666 per gallon.

[@LupDiesel]

Perfect! It's a great salt for sure!