Plants and algae
Choose and introduce plants, assess surface growth and coordinate lighting, additives and maintenance.
Plants or rocks for Sulawesi shrimp? Start with the exact species
For Cardinal shrimp, Caridina dennerli, stable accessible hard surfaces are a reasonable starting point: the species was described among rocks in Lake Matano. Dense planting is not…
Plant fertiliser with shrimp: assess product, dose and water
Assess the full product name, composition, instructions and actual water volume. “Plant fertiliser” covers different products. Trace copper on a label does not automatically mean the…
Melting aquarium plants: assess leaf loss and remove decay
Selectively remove clearly disintegrating leaves and loose decaying material. Check filtration and gas exchange, and ammonia/nitrite where breakdown is substantial. “Plant melt”…
Shrimp tank maintenance: plan from observations
Schedule regular checks, but choose the intervention from the state of the aquarium. Daily observation helps detect change. A weekly maintenance slot can be useful without requiring…
Shrimp deteriorating after new plants: what to check
Stop new additions, check filtration and gas exchange, and measure temperature, ammonia and nitrite. Carefully remove a suspect recent plant addition if this can be done without major…
Moss with shrimp and juveniles: placing, trimming and checking
Attach a manageable amount of moss in an accessible place. It provides structure and grazing surface, but cannot guarantee sufficient food or protection from fish. Leave room to…
Choosing a lighting schedule for a shrimp tank
Match lighting to the plants, lamp and incoming daylight. Use a timer so actual duration is known. A dim lamp running longer and a strong lamp running briefly are not automatically…
Removing green hair algae without stripping the shrimp tank
Gently wind accessible green threads onto a clean brush and lift them out. Support the plant where needed and stop if roots or moss are being pulled loose. Check each clump for shrimp…
Cleaning a shrimp filter: first locate the flow restriction
Locate the restriction first: intake, prefilter, sponge, pipe, outlet or drive. Reduced output does not automatically mean all biological media need replacement. Clean the affected…
Brown films and diatoms in a young shrimp tank
A wipeable brown coating is common in young aquariums and may contain diatoms, as Aqueon also describes in its algae guidance. Brown colour does not prove this: dust, debris and other…
Siphoning substrate with shrimp and juveniles present
Selectively siphon visible deposits using manageable flow and a clear view of the opening. Collect water in a clean, light-coloured bucket so you can check it for shrimp. Do not…
Possible cyanobacteria in a shrimp tank: observe, remove and check
Carefully remove accessible slime mats, check filtration and gas exchange, and investigate recent changes. Blue-green colour, musty smell or a peeling sheet can be a clue, but…
Biofilm, mulm and debris: what should stay in a shrimp tank?
Preserve useful grazing surfaces, but remove decaying food, disintegrating leaves and accumulation obstructing flow. There is no visible dividing line where a coating is always “good…
New aquarium plants with shrimp: origin, rinsing and separation
Before buying, ask about origin, product form and pesticide treatment. Rinsing removes loose material; keeping plants separately allows inspection. Neither demonstrates that an unknown…
Attaching Anubias, Bucephalandra and Java fern in a shrimp tank
Position these rhizome plants on wood or rock and leave the creeping rhizome exposed. The rhizome is the firmer stem from which leaves and roots arise; it is different from the fine…
Algae in a shrimp tank: match the response to what you see
Start with the animals and the type of growth. A coating on glass calls for a different response from spreading slime mats with distressed animals. Remove obstructive growth…