New Project: Brine Shrimp Tank

I have really no idea why, just trying it cause I can. So absolutely no end objective for this project.

So using a 20L tank. And mostly stuff i have accumulated. Been running for over 2 months now.
Using a cheap hydrometer to measure salinity, and works fine for this project.


Using quite a deep fine aragonite and volcano rock substrate. Then covered with a layer of pumice stone to create as much bio filter as possible in conjunction with the sponge filter. Did add a few small sea rocks and shells under the pumice, and seachem stability as well.
In theory the slope is there for me to blow sediment etc from top to bottom with turkey baster.
And then vacuum at the bare section to the right. Will see if it works or not.

First 2 colonies failed miserably. The current one is going for 2 weeks now. I will try keep water change to once a week. And will try some seaweed if all is stable next week to take care of nitrates. There is also a purigen pack in the corner
If all goes well, i want to then extend the water change to 2, then 3 weeks etc. To see if I can get all balanced, will let you know how it goes.

I started this whole thing to use extra stuff lying around and told myself I am not going to spend money, yeah, right......

 

Good luck. I also have a shrimp tank.

 

Check in with the marine guys and get their old wc water it should have more tan enough nutrients to feed brine being dirty water.

 

sweet, good idea. I have a friend with a big marine tank, and will ask him. Thanks a lot

 

hello folks, just an update.
Been a week since last water change. Took measurements and readings are:
Nitrates - about 60; Nitrites - 2.5; PH - 8
So nitrites were the big issue the last few crashed, so happy that it seems to be stable.

Will not change water, and will try find some seaweed this weekend to put in. Will take measurements every few days and see how the nitrate levels react to it.
Shrimp are growing quite nice and are quite big. Will see if they start reproducing

 

added a clump of chaeto today. Will see what effect this will have on water over the next week.
Everything was left the same after the last reading, and did not change water as well.

 

Hello folks, update time.

So the colony crashed after the last update. All died.
Started a new one, most probably last try to see if they grow and reproduce.

Good news is that tank is very stable. Nitrates are under 5, and nitrites not measurable.
And Ph constant 8. Just top up once a week.
Lets see if this round works........

 

Sorry to hear @Radesh..

Good luck with this round

 

thanks a lot @MariaS , looks like i need a fair amount of luck this time

 

Hello kind folks, so just an update on this one as it has been many moons

So they have been reproducing for a few months now. Not a lot, but they substain the colony.
And i dont do any water changes. Just top up, and all is well balanced. Been really lucky with this one.
I only clean the sides when it gets really dirty, but it seems to not get too bad. So a no maintenance tank

The chaeto did not srvive, it just slowly seeemed to die, so I threw it away after a while to put it out of its misery.