Does anyone use shrimp anymore for algae control?

[tsmith_old_guard]

I have been using ammo shrimp to nurse back a large batch of bucephalandra back to health. I ordered a large batch from Indonesia. (For the amount I was looking to use this was the only sane route $$$ wise to do it.) Anyway, they had to go to an importer, then to me. Much of the buce was not looking too hot. I got a 36 x 16 x 7 long and shallow storage bin, put the buce in there with water and placed on my back porch to get sun and recover while my aquarium was doing a dark cycling. After a few days, leaves were dying and hair algae was exploding due to the heat and sun. I moved the container inside, made a quick filter and put my Chihiros WRGB II on top of it at 10% power. I added about a dozen amano shrimp and each day the buce got better and better. The shrimp cleaned up the hair algae, the cooler inside temps and lower light kept new algae from growing and the amano shrimp also ate the residual detritus. Within a month the already healthy Buce was growing, unhealthy Buce stabilized and some rhizomes I thought were dead started sprouting new leaves. I think cleanup by the amano shrimp were an important part of this process. Think of it as micro husbandry...lol. Here is a picture of all the Bucephalandra I laid out as I finally planted my tank. Those shrimp stayed busy.

 

[JayP]

I think a few of us have soured on Amano shrimp because they like to munch on AR Mini. I have 4 large Amanos left in my 25g Brazilian scape (no AR Mini) and they bully the neocaridina. I think I'll be passing on them going forward. I've become much more interested in keeping different colors of neos.

 

[tsmith_old_guard]

I think a few of us have soured on Amano shrimp because they like to munch on AR Mini. I have 4 large Amanos left in my 25g Brazilian scape (no AR Mini) and they bully the neocaridina. I think I'll be passing on them going forward. I've become much more interested in keeping different colors of neos.

AR mini?

 

[Koan]

shrimp because they like to munch on AR Mini. I have 4 large Amanos.. and they bully the neocaridina

This is so random, the personalities you get with amanos. I have at least eight snows that grew up from juvenile in my 60P, and they certainly keep it scrubbed clean but they don't bother the neos.

Maybe because I rarely feed pellets for them to squabble over, use nano-granular foods instead

I will say they're hell on Nymphaea I don't keep them in any lily tanks.

AR mini?

Alternathera rennecki mini, usually mini type-4,

 

[JayP]

AR mini?

The plant, Alternanthera Reineckii Mini. Quite popular in aquascaping.

 

[Capraquaria]

I will say they're hell on Nymphaea I don't keep them in any lily tanks.

Uh oh. I know Amanos demolish AR, and Nyphoides Taiwan, but Nymphaea, too? I added 16 Amanos to my current build to help clean up some melted buce, and moss. Am I going to regret that choice when they finally come all the way out of hiding? I also have three Nymphaea in the tank

 

[Koan]

Am I going to regret that choice

There's no predicting my juveniles didn't bother the Taiwan, but thought my Micranthra was deleeecious