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Old 26-07-2003, 06:02 PM
LeighMo
 
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Default Good thread algae eater for 15 gallon tank with live plants

It's weird because on the net the general consensus is to add fish right
away but in France the golden rule is to wait 1 month.


It's okay to wait if you aren't seeding the tank with live bacteria. But if
you hope to keep the bacteria on the filter material from your friend's tank
alive, you can't wait a month. The bacteria will die within days, if not
hours, without ammonia and nitrite to eat (provided by fish, shrimp, or snails
in the tank).

Anyway I asked the my favorite LSF what to do and he suggested two
shrimps. I didn't even know what they were, but it was all he had so I took
them. He claimed they were great for algae. Well I just looked up the
common name from the receipt and I was pleasantly suprised to find that I
bought Caridina japonica - Amano Shrimp! I guess I got lucky on that one.


Amano shrimp are great. However, be very careful about adding anything else to
the tank right now. Shrimp are not a good choice for cycling a tank. They are
very sensitive to ammonia and especially nitrite. It should be okay, since
you've got filter material from an established tank, but be very careful not to
overload the tank yet.

This is a big potential problem. I have a 15 watt Grolux. I know I should
have 30 watts but the aquarium was given to me and it only has a place for
one bulb. I've asked the LSF and they said just to pick plants that do well
in low light.


That's a good idea. Your Amano shrimp will be very happy if you add some java
moss to the tank. It will be fine with your lighting level. Also try Anubias,
java fern, or Bolbitis.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/