By Lorraine | 18 March 2020 | 0 Comments
Best Filter for a Shrimp Tank
A properly equipped filter will provide a quality water environment for your shrimp. This article will attempt to take a closer look at the exact features and benefits needed to choose the best filter for your shrimp tank (and avoid common mistakes).
Keep Shrimp and Filtration Needs
For those new to the aquarium, setting the right filter in the aquarium can be confusing and impossible for them to get started. You can begin to provide a clean and healthy environment for your pet shrimp from the water itself by setting the right water conditions.Shrimp are much more sensitive to water conditions than much tropical fish, so it would be helpful to understand how aquarium filters affect water conditions.
Water Chemistry
pH: is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline the water is. That measurement is expressed as a number on the P/H scale. Most shrimp will prefer pH levels ranging from 6.5 to 9.5, depending upon the species.KH: is also referred to as temporary hardness, and measures the water’s ability to absorb increased acid without changing the pH level.
GH: is also referred to as general hardness and indicates the temporary hardness levels combined with dissolved ions.
It is helpful to study the types of shrimp you plan to keep, as you will have basic knowledge about the pH, kH, and GH ranges they can tolerate. Chemical change of water is usually done through the chemical processes before it is added to the tank. But you still need to know that some materials used in filter media can change the level of the three numbers mentioned previously. There are some testing tools to help you monitor the chemical composition of the water in the tank.
Water Cycling
When you have set up your new aquarium and the water in it has completed the required circulation, you can add your shrimp into it. The water cycle helps build a nitrogen cycle, a process that converts ammonia, which is fatal to your shrimp, into less toxic nitrite and then into safer nitrate. This process is done with the help of beneficial bacteria that settle in your shrimp tank.Although good and beneficial bacterial species can grow over most surfaces of fish tanks, filters are often their ideal settling place. Beneficial bacteria are a key component in biological filtration. This short video provides a diagram breakdown of the Nitrogen Cycle.
Water circulation in a new water tank is achieved by adding ammonia to the water column. In the past, this process could have taken months, and some amateurs would use live fish as a source of ammonia. Thankfully, cycling can be accomplished without sacrificing pets by using a piece of food or chemical starters.
Filtration Methods
To keep the water column clean, your aquarium equipment will provide three methods of filtration: biological, chemical and mechanical filtration. Many shrimp keepers value the biological and mechanical filtration of shrimp aquariums, but your shrimp or water may require additional chemical filtration from time to time.Biological Filtration: is accomplished through the Nitrogen cycle discussed previously. Filter media used for biological filtration are designed to provide surfaces where bacteria can establish healthy colonies. Keeping ammonia and nitrite levels low will allow your shrimp to thrive.
Chemical Filtration: uses materials such as activated carbon to leach chemicals from the water column. Introducing materials like peat can influence pH levels as well. Most shrimp keepers adjust water chemistry outside of the tank and use chemical filtration on occasions such as removing excess medicine from the water.
Mechanical Filtration: will use items like filter floss or foams to strain the water column as it types of Filters
Some filter designs work better than others in a shrimp tank. Filters types to consider include:
The fish aquarium sponge filter is placed inside the aquarium. It is a tool that provides good biological and mechanical filtration. Some shrimp keepers prefer sponges to prevent fry and shrimp from being sucked into the filter, which is a wise action.
Hanging filters or hob filters are placed on the tank wall to provide all types of filtration. Shrimp will benefit from the additional aeration provided by these filter models.
The aquarium canister filter is an external system, which means it needs to be installed outside the tank. It can provide all types of filtering methods. This type of filter device can handle a large amount of water, which may be very redundant for a smaller shrimp aquarium and is not recommended.
The under gravel filter is located under the substrate in the tank. If you plan to use a better substrate than many shrimps prefer, this type of filter may struggle to function properly under them.
Most filters use intake to absorb water. Be careful, shrimp and fish fry may be sucked into the filter. You can choose to use a sponge or an elasticated pantyhose to help prevent this from happening. Otherwise, you will have a lot of tedious work to do to save your shrimp and fish fry.
There are also some filter intakes specifically designed to prevent fry from entering the filter intake. You can also buy this model directly.
Here’s the best filter for a shrimp tank. If you have any questions, please contact our aquarium expert now! Or you can go to aquarium product category pages for more information about filters.
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