150 gallon shrimp pond?

[daphilster08]

Hey guys,

My name is Phil and I am a hobbiest in Minnesota (although I come down to Dallas about once a year). I heard this was a great place to get info from some other people down in Texas so that is why a random Northern guy joined. Hope I am welcomed here


I have two 150 gallon plastic bins I was thinking about either setting up for betta macrostoma or a shrimp breeding paradise. Or maybe both
Here is the thing, I am from Minnesota. So I was going to set it up now since all the snow is pretty much melted and throw some wood in there to start growing some algae. It gets pretty hot here in the summer but the nights can get a little cool as well. Do you think most kinds of bee or tiger shrimp could do in here? Don't want to do cherries because they are too common around here.


In the end, I was hoping to build up enough micronutrients and algae by june to have a self sustaining shrimp breeding paradise. Give me your thoughs/ideas/criticism for this project. If you have seen this exact post on another forum, it is because I have posted it on like 4.. Looking for a wide variety of advice!


Thank you very much!


~ Phil


PS if anyone in the US has any extra bee or tiger variations they are willing to start me off on this project let me know It would be greatly appreciated. Not looking to make money off of this, just trying to see if I can provide a self sustaining shrimp paradise. If all goes as planned, will probably give away the rest of the stock. Just a fun experiment to keep me from getting too bored!

[mnemenoi]

Hmm, sounds like a great experiment indeed. Welcome to the Box, we have folk from all over the country and world hit up this forum, the more the merrier...

A few things I can see that might be an issue with this...
1. Ph? What is yours up there? TDS? We down in Houston deal with liquid rock that does not facilitate any soft water critters. Both the macrostoma and tigers/CRS really do breed far easier in a lower Ph (6.5) and a small TDS (100-140ppm), the betta even preffering more acidic waters. Certain shrimp do better with differing water chemistry, if you let us know your normal we can help choosing one that works best.
2. Temp, with the fluctuation you will be having I see this as your next obstacle. Tigers and CRS both like 72-76 degrees and the Betta prefer 78-82. I have heard both are finicky when it comes to any difference in that. Either they don't breed or the eggs will not develop properly. A heater set low/or higher would alleviate this issue.
3.Plants, get as many as possible and get them growing, they provide the area you'll need to develop your macroorganisms that will eventually feed your shrimp/betta fry.
4. Territorial - The betta will be the trickery here. They do well in smaller tanks, but I've never seen them done in a tank that size, so the males having enough space for territories would be critical to develop more then one spawning pair. Plants will help in this regard by providing cover and breaking the line of sight.
5. Breeding season - timeframe might be your largest issue. The shrimp only reproduce every 28-30 days, so even a perfect spot needs to be maintained for a few months to develop into a colony. with only reproducing for 3-4 months you'd be hard pressed to have enough time to do this. Betta are even longer between brooding and being mouthbrooders stripping can be tricky. Having enough mature and ready pairs at the start of the season could be a challenge as well as really only having time for a single batch of offspring.

Not sure if I answered anything directly, but hopefully helped and any answers to those can assist in me helping you more. Good Luck either way and keep us updated on how it all goes for you

[fishman1]

actually tigers don't need low ph they do fine at 7 and also I think the macs might eat the baby shrimp

[mnemenoi]

I've never had any experiance with tigers, just assumed they were the same as OEBT's and would have similiar requirements. I had assumed the tiger shrimp would be the available food source for the Macrostoma and their young...

[daphilster08]

Hmm, sounds like a great experiment indeed. Welcome to the Box, we have folk from all over the country and world hit up this forum, the more the merrier...

A few things I can see that might be an issue with this...
1. Ph? What is yours up there? TDS? We down in Houston deal with liquid rock that does not facilitate any soft water critters. Both the macrostoma and tigers/CRS really do breed far easier in a lower Ph (6.5) and a small TDS (100-140ppm), the betta even preffering more acidic waters. Certain shrimp do better with differing water chemistry, if you let us know your normal we can help choosing one that works best.
2. Temp, with the fluctuation you will be having I see this as your next obstacle. Tigers and CRS both like 72-76 degrees and the Betta prefer 78-82. I have heard both are finicky when it comes to any difference in that. Either they don't breed or the eggs will not develop properly. A heater set low/or higher would alleviate this issue.
3.Plants, get as many as possible and get them growing, they provide the area you'll need to develop your macroorganisms that will eventually feed your shrimp/betta fry.
4. Territorial - The betta will be the trickery here. They do well in smaller tanks, but I've never seen them done in a tank that size, so the males having enough space for territories would be critical to develop more then one spawning pair. Plants will help in this regard by providing cover and breaking the line of sight.
5. Breeding season - timeframe might be your largest issue. The shrimp only reproduce every 28-30 days, so even a perfect spot needs to be maintained for a few months to develop into a colony. with only reproducing for 3-4 months you'd be hard pressed to have enough time to do this. Betta are even longer between brooding and being mouthbrooders stripping can be tricky. Having enough mature and ready pairs at the start of the season could be a challenge as well as really only having time for a single batch of offspring.

Not sure if I answered anything directly, but hopefully helped and any answers to those can assist in me helping you more. Good Luck either way and keep us updated on how it all goes for you

Thank you thank you thank you for the great reply! This is all very relevant information. You are correct on all of these topics. I thought about pretty much every one. And thank you for welcoming me in to this community! I am super pumped!
I think there is a plug in by the garage where this will be going so with a small extension cord, heat shouldn't be an issue. We tend to have softer water and I have bred shrimps many time in it before but those were just cherries and crystal reds. So those two issues should be taken care of.
You are right though, it may be overkill in a place like Minnesota since they will only breed a few times in the 3 warm( if that) months we have there. Texas might be an easier place.
On a different forum, someone posed the issue of dragonfly babies. These little nymphs would take out the whole colony of baby shrimp. I was planning on putting a net over to protect the bin, but it may have to be a very fine mesh net covering it similar to a mosquito net.
Lastly, I do plan to have tons of plants. Nothing to intense but everything from java moss to various floating plants to provide hiding spots and micronutrients. I think they will be happy
As for the bettas, those were just an idea since a buddy was selling some. I think it would be cool to try it. I think I could do 2 or 3 pairs in the 150 gallon tote.

Maybe one of you guys can try this down in Texas should be a lot easier for you and certain places cell these huge bins for super cheap. Just look around!
Thanks again

actually tigers don't need low ph they do fine at 7 and also I think the macs might eat the baby shrimp

The water should be pretty good for tigers considering I will have driftwood and almond leaves in there.
Oh and the macs and shrimp won't be in the same tote

[76dragon]

welcome to the box.

I am actually gonna be trying out what you are doing, but I am in Louisiana. I am picking up a bunch of CRS /CBS this weekend for my brood stock. I have a 75G Rubbermaid tub cycling for them now. I will put them in a 20G tub for a week or so until the big tub is ready and cycled. I am also getting plants and such to filter and clean the water.

I am using a diy undergravel filter with sponges plumbed to a Emperor 400.

Phung

[daphilster08]

welcome to the box.

I am actually gonna be trying out what you are doing, but I am in Louisiana. I am picking up a bunch of CRS /CBS this weekend for my brood stock. I have a 75G Rubbermaid tub cycling for them now. I will put them in a 20G tub for a week or so until the big tub is ready and cycled. I am also getting plants and such to filter and clean the water.

I am using a diy undergravel filter with sponges plumbed to a Emperor 400.

Phung

Hey Phung,
Glad to hear someone else is trying it! Honestly, it should be very successful! Add some floating plants as well!

Are you doing yours indoors or outdoors?

[OEBlueTigerShrimp]

how cold are the winters? would suck to spend all summer setting up to end up with 1000 dead shrimpsicles

[76dragon]

I have been struggling with that actually. I was going to put it inside,but the room was too small and I didn't want it in the garage again, so I put it on the side of the house for now. If it gets too warm, then I will bring it inside to the garage. It is on the side of the house that is shadded with both sides of houses. so it shouldn't get too much sun so it won't over heat and stay cool. If need be, I can put a fan on it to cool it down some

Phung

Hey Phung,
Glad to hear someone else is trying it! Honestly, it should be very successful! Add some floating plants as well!

Are you doing yours indoors or outdoors?

[fishman1]

you can just add a heater just like koi ponds but during the summer it might get way too hot.

[bikeguru]

Awesome Idea, I have many ponds setups for breeding koi only but did introduced about 8 years ago some of my Amano's and cherrys in there and yes now days it's a shrimp paradise year round. Have enough hiding places, like put 1" to 2" gravel on the bottom so the shrimp can go between the gravel and be protected from temp swings. In my ponds I have now I Amano's and they breeding, cherries.... breeding, tigers and some kind of blue morph shrimp. Never was able to get the CRS or CBS going in the ponds but again have about 250 CRS s+ ready to try it again. This time the 400 gallon will be in grounds to have a more stable temp during the summer here in Houston. And YES the koi feast on them but that's ok. The shrimp population is so large that in the summer when I try to net a koi for a client a have also about 300+ shrimp in my net, no kidding.

[daphilster08]

how cold are the winters? would suck to spend all summer setting up to end up with 1000 dead shrimpsicles

Very cold. I have plans though. either move them in side into ten gallons or put a couple heaters outside!

I have been struggling with that actually. I was going to put it inside,but the room was too small and I didn't want it in the garage again, so I put it on the side of the house for now. If it gets too warm, then I will bring it inside to the garage. It is on the side of the house that is shadded with both sides of houses. so it shouldn't get too much sun so it won't over heat and stay cool. If need be, I can put a fan on it to cool it down some

Phung

I am putting mine in a similar place! By the garage in the shade! I will probably not put a heater on until october and we will see if that keeps it warm all winter! Kind of scary though if the heater were to break!

you can just add a heater just like koi ponds but during the summer it might get way too hot.

That is exactly what I was going to do! Is there specific pond heaters or should I just get a mega aquarium heater?

[R_sustaita]

i want to try it out too. but i will be going small. 50g tub.

[bikeguru]

Two scoops with a small net 40+ Amano pond shrimp, some yellows, greens, blue belly's. Lots of them saddled up and berried and it's not even the season.



pond shrimp.jpg

[bikeguru]

Btw, I know this is not a FS thread but shoot me a offer for them or other wise I'll feed them to my RBTA.