RE: Banded Cleaner Shrimp

Hailey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:45:10 GMT

Oh, and if you are new to freshwater aquariums too, I would start with a freshwater aquarium, which is much easier, cheaper, and more forgiving of beginner mistakes.

RE: Banded Cleaner Shrimp

Hailey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:43:59 GMT

This really isn't the way to go. Tanks under 20 gallons are better for expert reef aquarists to handle because the number one thing saltwater livestock needs is consistency, and in a tiny tank like that is it extremely difficult to keep the parameters constant. You would have to work on the tank daily (maybe twice a day...one gallon is very little) doing a full battery of tests (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, pH, kH, salinity) and topping up with RO water (in a tank that small you can not use tap). It's really too much for most beginners IMO. Plus, that tank size is not adequate to keep any shrimp, fish, or other motile invertebrate in...people who keep pico tanks like that keep only a few small corals. This set up sounds like a major gimmick set up by the pet store to make some quick $$$, and is likely a disaster waiting to happen (especially with an anemone in there...sheesh).

If you want a good reefkeeping experience, I'd pick up a larger tank (40g is a good place to start...not too big and not too small, plus the 40g breeders have a good footprint for aquascaping). I know it sounds strange, but with saltwater, the bigger the tank (within reason) the easier it is to maintain and keep livestock alive in. And you can find amazing deals on Craigslist and at local reef society meeting so it doesn't have to be that expensive (I got my 72g reef almost the way I want it for about $700 total).

Start off with some good books like The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner and The New Marine Aquarium (and anything else by Michael Peletta), and read everything you can on WetWebMedia (especially everything in set up 1-2, maintenance/operation, and about livestock). http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm

Really take your time learning about this first and don't jump into anything. It took me years of research to get to the point where I felt comfortable starting my reef, and though it is still going strong after over a year, I have lost some fish and invertebrates, and had major algae issues that were very tough to resolve. There's a steep learning curve for this hobby, but it is worth it.

RE: Banded Cleaner Shrimp

FastFoward5k — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:37:46 GMT

Oh and sorry, the tank is a one gallon that comes with a light and filter. At the fish store near me, Optimum Aquarium, they have it there for $140. It includes the tank, the shrimp, the light, the filter, a nice piece of coral, a sea anenome, and a few little things. Do you think it's worth it also, or should I just buy the shrimp, and get everything by itself?

Banded Cleaner Shrimp

FastFoward5k — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:31:19 GMT

Hi. I'm kind of new to aquariums, and I would like just to purchase a small tank, some easy coral, and a Banded Cleaner shrimp. I would just like to know what to feed it, if I should use live sand, if I should ever do a 100% tank change, and other stuff like that. (I will do other research but I can't find anything so far.)

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RE: Banded Cleaner Shrimp

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