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There will be time when you have to be away from your shrimp tanks for a few days and sometimes a week or more. This can be due to work schedule or your shrimp tanks are being located in another place where you only can visit once every few days. This is totally possible given that the setup has to in a way that is catered towards sustainability.
Power Supply: One of the most important elements about leaving the tanks for a few days is the power supply running the setup. If you are in an area with a lot of power shortage, a backup UPS is probably a good investment. However, fear not, unless there are really very low or high temperatures, a few hours of supply cut will not be of any concern in general. However, there are many portable USB Airpump where it can run for a few hours per charge.
Filtration: if you like me enjoy over filtration, this is yet another critical element because if you need to have a peace of mind, a good filtration goes a long way. Sponge filters are great for multiple tanks as they are functional and inexpensive. There are also other types of filter like the lift sponge filtration which is also a good way. The reason for a good filtration when you are away is that it will have the capacity to ensure that the water is being taken care of. One of the more worrying point is there is a few dead shrimp when you are away and the rest of the shrimp hardly clear it causing a rise in ammonia. A good filtration will be able to reduce the risk of an ammonia spike. Drop in an airstone – this will be a lifesaver too. I have a few on standby just in case. Also i have a few large powerbank to ensure there are sufficient juice.
Link: https://amzn.to/3eHtwal
People often ask me what sponge filter do i recommend, actually there are many types of sponge filter and if you are just beginning to start with shrimp breeding and looking up and down for a sponge filter, you can try the tested and proven Qanvee filter. So what filters do i use? I actually use Totto filter which is a Japanese Filtration system that helps reduce nitrate as well. Yes you read it correctly.
I’m not sure if there are any distributor for Totto filter in your country but if you really want to get your hands on it, i have found it on a Japanese website.
https://item.rakuten.co.jp/melossakiki/6v8awki0l2xru9hf/
This is the official website link but no direct sales: http://www.totto.co.jp/en/test.php
Food: There must be sufficient grazing material for the shrimp to consume when you are away. Shrimps graze 24/7 and if you have a small tank without much surface area for biofilm to grow fast enough, it is risky. In addition if you have a lot of shrimp they can strip the biofilm in your tank in a day or 2. When shrimps start to go without sufficient biofilm it triggers cannibalisms, which means they will start preying on each other. This is detrimental if you are doing a selection process as your stock shrimp will be at risk. Hence, having a good source of grazing material not only is critical for a small tank, it enhances the probability of breeding as well.
I tried a variety of grazing material and i think more critically is if the tank is very dense with moss and plants, than additional grazing material isn’t required if the shrimp population is low. However, if you like me like to see a mass number of shrimp in an open area than yes having grazing material is important. Indian Almond leaf is also an excellent source of grazing material and if you would like to speed up the process, soak them 3 days prior to using. It will now be soft for the shrimps to feed on. One of the best grazing material which one can control and contain is the lubao. This is one that i really enjoy using and certainly helps shrimps breed better, increase shrimplets survival and many advantageous elements just in the small ball.
We have discussed on Electricity Power, Filtration and food and the next most important element to this is to go enjoy your holiday or weekend get away! If you are like me, where i use Lubao, the shrimp tank can easily go without feeding for a week. There are times when your work schedule is overwhelming, family need your time and other things you need to attend to. This lil’ method will help you get through those time yet giving you a peace of mind.
Happy weekend!
While i have been talking to a few local and overseas breeder, it appears that for those breeders that have been in the hobby for some time understood the meaning of simplicity.
Simplicity in Shrimp keeping is really tough and difficult because there are a myriad of products out there to disable your potential to greater things. I too walked that path, having this and that with more and more things, i got more and more confuse. Questions start coming up like if i use this can i use that? If i feed this should i then feed that, if i add this can i add that?
This is tough because unless we have ready available information if not the only way is to try. By trying means time, money and resources are invested in it.
In Taiwan it is often said “There isn’t a best way, only better way”, and this rings true for us as well when we keep things simple and only adjust ever so slightly on one element at a time vs changing every other week. Hence, it take time to find a better way that is suitable for you
For me my ‘better way’ is really now about keeping it simple:
- Thin soil (1cm) laid in the tank as i have move away from UGF. Reason for doing that is because the time needed to reset a UGF setup takes a much longer time. Resetting a tank with thin soil setup only takes 30 mins per tank.
- Feed a good staple food and supplement with a reliable grazing material
- weekly water change using RO water
- Every few months i’ll give the Totto filter a wash and change 10% of the filter media to allow new colonization of beneficial bacteria.
With that, even with the busiest schedule i’m able to at least still keep the hobby going. So for those out there who are feeling that you don’t have time to continue on this hobby, i would urge you to try another process that will suit you rather than being slave to the hobby.
Hope you guys enjoy this post!
Today i had a couple of newly acquired friends where i had the chance to share shrimp keeping information first hand to them. Till today, i still believe in this. Information should be shared openly and as accurately as possible regardless if you are a hobbyist or breeder. First is to learn, unlearn and than relearn so to have all the information to be put into practice.
I always like putting myself in the person shoes and without holistic information, it is going to be difficult to setup a tank and breed shrimps. It takes a lot to grasp all the concept of shrimp breeding in one sitting. Hence, i always believe in a 1:1 sharing or learning session and i invite you if you are keen to learn on shrimp breeding!
For our Overseas friends, you are invited as well and keep those email coming.
Hello this may be unrelated but those who are following my articles have sent me request to actually see how Singapore is like since traveling isn’t possible at this point of time. Hence, i think this a fabulous idea to share what a tiny nation call Singapore looks like. Understand that some of you are keen in visiting Singapore to see the shrimp scene locally and at the same time take a break and spend your winter months here in hot and sunny Singapore!
Historically Singapore had it’s independence Since 1965 so we have progress from a quiet small fishing island into a metropolitan country over the course of 50+ years. It is remarkable how such development was implemented thanks to the forefather who have build Singapore to what they are today.
Alright! fast forward to this post, i’ll like to share instead of Shrimp pictures i’ll be sharing some pictures about Singapore. Enjoy!
